National Order of Merit

Verified 05 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

The National Order of Merit is the second national order to honor french citizens and foreign persons. Would you like to know the conditions for obtaining the National Order of Merit, how it is awarded and whether it can be withdrawn from you? We present you the information to know.

After the Legion of Honor, the National Order of Merit is the second national order to honor French citizens and foreign persons.

It rewards distinguished merits acquired either in a civil or military service or in the exercise of a private activity.

The National Order of Merit consists of:

  • 3 grades (knight, officer, commander)
  • And 2 dignitaries (grand officer and grand cross).

FYI  

You can't apply for it for yourself. You must be nominated by someone else (citizens' initiative or ministerial procedure).

Appointment in the National Order of Merit differs depending on whether it is a citizens' initiative or a ministerial procedure:

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Citizens' Initiative

An adult of French nationality may propose a person he considers deserving for appointment in the national order of merit. That's what we call a proposal for a citizens' initiative.

To be admissible, the proposed citizens' initiative must be motivated and signed by 50 adults of French nationality enjoying their civil rights. The proposal must be accompanied by a memory detailed description of the merits of the proposed person.

The proposal must be addressed by post :

  • To the prefect or the territorial collectivity of residence of the proposed person (or to the consular or diplomatic authority for the French of the foreigner)
  • And at grand chancellor.

Who shall I contact

  • By post

    Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor

    1 rue de Solférino

    75700 Paris 07 SP

    By phone

    01 40 62 84 00

The number of nominations from a citizens' initiative is limited. This number is fixed by decree of the President of the Republic for 3 years.

Please note

The citizens' initiative cannot be proposed for a deceased person, a foreign person or a serving member.

Proposal Dossier

After examining the proposal, the representative of the State or the diplomatic or consular authority shall send the competent minister a first opinion on the action to be taken on the proposal.

The competent minister shall forward his opinion on the proposal to the Grand Chancellor.

The Grand Chancellor examines the file and decides what action he will take.

Examination of the file

Each member of the council of the order consider proposals that fall within its area of competence.

Deliberation

Under the chairmanship of the Grand Chancellor, the Council of the Order meets to deliberate and decide on the admissibility of the proposal.

Decision

The Head of State validates the final list of decorated. As grand master, it can remove names, but it cannot add names.

FYI  

For the rank of commander and the dignitaries of grand officer and grand cross, the council of ministers must give its consent.

Ministerial Procedure

Mayors, parliamentarians, prefects, ministerial cabinets, territorial administrations and economic and associative actors may submit candidates for appointment to the National Order of Merit.

The prefects then send the various applications to the ministries concerned.

Please note

The number of nomination or promotion proposals that ministers may propose is limited. This number is fixed by decree of the President of the Republic for 3 years.

Proposal Dossier

The files are reviewed by the ministers.

Only the ministers are authorized to propose persons for the appointment and promotion of the ranks of knight, officer and commander. Proposals are then sent to the Prime Minister. He sends them to grand chancellor with its views and observations if it deems it necessary.

Candidates for the dignity of Grand Officer and Grand Cross are proposed only by the Prime Minister.

FYI  

Each department has a predetermined number of decorations, proportional to the areas of activity it represents.

Examination of the file

The services of the Grand Chancery check the regulatory conditions for the admissibility of appointments and analyze the files before they are sent to the council of the order.

Deliberation

Under the chairmanship of the Grand Chancellor, the Council of the Order meets to deliberate and decide on the admissibility of proposals.

Decision

The Head of State validates the final list of decorated. As grand master, it can remove names, but it cannot add names.

You must complete the 2 following conditions :

  • Have distinguished merits in the exercise, during at least 10 years, a civil or military service or a private activity
  • Be proposed by a minister, after studying a file made at the request of a political figure (mayor, parliamentarian, ministerial office, etc.), a territorial administration, a prefect, an association or a group of at least 50 people (for the citizens' initiative).

The proposal must be validated by the council of the order, chaired by the grand chancellor.

FYI  

You do not necessarily have to be a French national. A person of foreign nationality may be awarded the National Order of Merit. However, she cannot become a member of the order.

The National Order of Merit includes 5 steps.

They are awarded progressively according to seniority, merit and service.

The 3 grades and 2 dignitaries (from lowest to highest) are as follows:

  • Knight: awarded after a minimum of 10 years of distinguished service
  • Officer: assigned after at least 5 years in the rank of knight and in recognition of new merits
  • Commander: assigned after at least 3 years in the rank of officer and for even more distinguished merits
  • Grand Officer: assigned after at least 3 years in the rank of commander and for services of exceptional importance
  • Grand'croix: awarded after at least 3 years in the dignity of a grand officer and for even more exceptional merits.

Advancement in the National Order of Merit must reward new merits and not already rewarded merits.

FYI  

People who return exceptional services may be appointed or promoted in the National Order of Merit without respecting the usual seniority. In principle, they can't jump grades.

These appointments and promotions are at the discretion of the council of the order.

Foreign persons residing outside France are not subject to the rules of the hierarchy in the national order of merit. The distinctions are attributed to them according to their personality.

The dates differ depending on whether you are civilian or military:

Civilian

It exists 2 annual promotions : 15 May and 15 November.

Military

It exists 2 annual promotions : 1er May and 1er November.

You may not wear any distinctive signs (insignia, ribbon or rosette) that are associated with the National Order of Merit before a ceremony (public or private) during which the decoration is given to you.

Choice of the person who will give you the medal

Depending on whether you live in France or abroad, the people who can give you the decoration differ:

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You live in France

The decoration must be given to you by one of the following :

  • DDignitary having at least the same rank or one member of the order of at least equal rank, as designated by grand chancellor
  • Prime Minister and Ministers for all ranks and dignitaries of the order. This waiver is valid for 6 months after the end of their ministerial duties.
  • President of the Senate, of the National Assembly, of Constitutional Council and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council for all ranks and dignitaries of the order. Such delegation shall be permitted during their chairmanship.
  • State representative in departments and communities for the rank of knight
  • Member of the Legion of Honor of at least equal dignity or rank.

FYI  

There is no legal deadline to organize this ceremony, but it is recommended to be decorated within one year of the date of appointment or promotion.

You live abroad

The decoration must be given to you by one of the following :

  • DDignitary having at least the same rank or one member of the order of at least equal rank, designated by grand chancellor
  • Prime Minister and Ministers for all ranks and dignitaries of the order. This waiver is valid for 6 months after the end of their ministerial duties.
  • President of the Senate, of the National Assembly, of Constitutional Council and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council for all ranks and dignitaries of the order. Such delegation shall be permitted during their chairmanship.
  • Ambassador in post for all ranks and dignitaries of the order to French residents in this country
  • Member of the Legion of Honor of at least equal dignity or rank.

FYI  

There is no legal deadline to organize this ceremony, but it is recommended to be decorated within one year of the date of appointment or promotion.

Please note

If you are a foreigner, the reception ceremony is not mandatory.

Request for approval

You must send to the Grand Chancery a request for authorization of receipt, accompanied by the payment check of the chancery fees.

Application for authorization to surrender a badge of the National Order of Merit

Who shall I contact

  • By post

    Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor

    1 rue de Solférino

    75700 Paris 07 SP

    By phone

    01 40 62 84 00

No, the national order of merit is not accompanied by any real material or financial advantage.

One patentsigned by the President of the Republic and countersigned by the grand chancellor, is issued to you after the delivery of the decoration.

The patent attests to your membership in the National Order of Merit.

Please note

The daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters of the French decorated can ask to integrate the Legion of Honor Education Houses.

The medal is not provided by the administration. You can buy the medal from the Monnaie de Paris or with private manufacturers.

Yes, the National Order of Merit may be withdrawn from you.

The withdrawal criteria differ depending on whether you are French or not:

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You are French

The National Order of Merit may be withdrawn from you in one of the following :

  • Forfeiture of French nationality
  • Conviction for crime
  • Sentence of imprisonmentimprisonment without a stay of one year or more
  • Conviction to a correctional sentence
  • Have committed acts contrary to honor or likely to harm the interests of France.

The decision to exclude or suspend of the National Order of Merit is pronounced by decree of the President of the Republic. The grand chancellor inform the council of the order by order.

Exclusion of the National Order of Merit entails the definitive withdrawal of the right to wear the insignia of any decoration, whether French or foreign, associated with the Grand Chancery.

The suspension of the rights and privileges of a member of the National Order of Merit also entails the suspension of the right to wear the insignia of any decoration, whether French or foreign, associated with the Grand Chancery.

Decrees and orders pronouncing exclusion or suspension are published in the Official journal of the French Republic.

You are a foreigner

The National Order of Merit may be withdrawn from you in one of the following :

  • Conviction for crime (withdrawal of the distinction made by order of grand chancellor)
  • Sentence of imprisonmentimprisonment without a stay of one year or more under a final decision of a French court (withdrawal of the distinction made by order of the grand chancellor)
  • For acts or behaviors that may be declared contrary to honor or likely to harm the interests of France abroad or the causes it supports in the world (withdrawal of the distinction pronounced by decree of the President of the Republic).

The grand master may decide to withdraw their distinction from Heads of State and Government and former Heads of State and Government, members and former members of Government, their staff and decorated members of the diplomatic corps.

FYI  

No withdrawal proceedings may be initiated against a deceased person.

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