I want to accompany my child from 15 to 18 years in his rights and his steps

Verified 17 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Between 15 and 18 years, your child accesses gradually to from new rights while remaining legally minor. During this period, you practice parental authority and remain responsible for supporting her in her choices, administrative procedures and preparation for adult life. The following information allows you to identify main steps to be performed and points of vigilance.

The steps not to be missed by age

At 15

At 16

At 17

  • Registration and preparation on Parcoursup
  • Consolidation of the post-baccalaureate or professional orientation project
  • First steps towards autonomy (banking, health, mobility)

At 18

  • Transition to civil majority
  • Full legal autonomy
  • Personal management of administrative, financial and social procedures

The majority marks a significant change in your child's legal situation. To avoid any difficulty, certain steps must be taken be anticipated before age 18.

Your child should be able toaccess its administrative services autonomously. This implies that he has his personal identifiers for his accounts (health insurance, bank) and that he can access his essential documents.

The creation of these accesses is done online on the sites of the organizations concerned. It is recommended to check that the contact details (email address, phone number) are personal and up to date.

Letters, activation codes and information transmitted to create or access these personal spaces must be kept, as they may be necessary to carry out certain steps or regain access to an account.

In addition, your child will need to be informed of his or her tax obligations as of his majority. From the age of 18, it may be useful for your child to have his personal space on the tax website so that he can access his tax procedures and documents. Even if it remains attached to your tax household, it has a personal tax number.

Between 16 and 18 years, your child must respect thetraining obligation. As such, they must be engaged in a path that allows them to continue their education, to follow an apprenticeship, to exercise a job, to carry out a civic service or benefit from a support system for social and professional integration (local mission, France Labor, second chance school,...).

The year of 17 years is an important step in orientation if your child wants to enroll in higher education, especially because of the registration on Parcoursup. It is necessary to ensure that the timetable is adhered to and that the dossier is complete. Registration and management of the file is done online. Your child must create his personal account, formulate his wishes and validate

One special attention must be taken to risk of early school leaving. Loss of motivation, repeated absences or dropping out of training should lead to a rapid reaction. If such a situation arises, it is necessary to contact the school, to seek a guidance counselor or to approach a local mission to identify an appropriate solution (reorientation, training, accompaniment).

Your teenager may wish to live a 1st professional experience. As a parent, you must give your agreement and ensure that working conditions are compatible with its training course and respect labor law, in particular those concerning the age at which a young person can work.

The employment or internship contract must be verified and kept. The employer takes the declaratory steps. Your child must have a social security number and a bank account in his or her name in order to receive remuneration.

The census certificate and the individual certificate of participation in the JDC must be kept. These documents may be requested for certain procedures, including registration for examinations, competitions or orientation procedures in higher education.

Census

The citizen census is mandatory from 16 years old. It can be carried out online or at the town hall, on presentation of an identity document and the family booklet.

JDC

Following the census, your child is automatically summoned to perform the JDC.

Certain steps are essential to guarantee access to rights.

Identity document and travel

The validity of identity documents must be checked.

The application or renewal of a identity card or a passport takes place at the town hall, with a possible pre-application online.

It is also helpful to check that your child has valid identification documents before registering for an exam, competition or travel that requires the presentation of identification.

For a trip abroad, a Authorization to leave the territory (AST) is mandatory for the minor up to 17 years of age when traveling without being accompanied by his parents.

Registration on the electoral rolls

As we approach the majority, we must ensure thatregistration on the electoral roll.

Registration is automatic from the age of 18 for young people who have carried out the citizen census.

You can check the registration online.

Before any driving authorization, it is necessary to check that the legal conditions are respected, in particular in terms of training and insurance.

Access to the pipe passes through a education and training at a driving school or as part of devices such as accompanied or supervised driving.

Registration for driving training is done at a driving school. The permit can be prepared according to different formulas, depending on the situation and the training path chosen.

In addition, a insurance suitable for the vehicle used must be subscribed. The rules concerning motor insurance and liabilities are specified in the information on insurance contractsinsurance.

Vital Card

Your child can access some care independently while remaining attached to your health insurance coverage. In this case, the care is reimbursed to your account as the primary insured unless he/she applies to be insured in a personal capacity.

From 16 years, the health insurance shall contact the young person and send him the « My new Vitale card » form. He can then have its own Vitale card. This allows to justify rights during care and facilitates reimbursement.

Approaching 18 years of age, it may create your personal account on the website of the Health Insurance to track its reimbursements and manage its health procedures. The Vitale card can also be updated in pharmacies and the Vitale card application provides access to health information.

Sexuality

The sexual health can be approached in adolescence. Access to the contraception is possible without parental authorization, respecting medical confidentiality, with a health professional or a pharmacy.

Tattoos, piercings

Certain practices such as tattoos or the piercings can be carried out with the consent of the parents in the case of a minor. They are governed by health and safety rules applicable to professionals.

The adolescent may gradually learn how to manage money, in particular through a bank account open with your consent. This step is essential to prepare your autonomy.

The opening of the account is carried out at a banking institution in the presence of the parent. Personal identifiers are given to your child.

It is necessary to check that he can access his account alone before he is 18 years old to avoid any difficulty in accessing after his majority.

As you approach the age of majority, your child may have to access housing, particularly to continue his studies or start a professional activity.

This step requires anticipating certain steps, including the search for housing, the constitution of a rental file and the subscription of a home insurance.

The search for accommodation can be done with student residences or private donors. A file is usually requested including an identity document, proof of resources and, most often, a guarantor. Home insurance must be taken out before entering the home.

Of housing subsidies may be requested depending on the situation.

Some procedures may require a proof of residence in the name of the young person or a certificate of accommodation accompanied by a proof of residence and an identity document of the host parent.

When your child is with a disability, specific steps may be necessary, especially in the run-up to the majority.

If your child is able to manage his/her procedures, he/she may have to make his/her own requests to the departmental house of disabled people (MDPH).

Applications (allocation, recognition, orientation) are made by filing a file with the MDPH, online or by form. It is recommended to anticipate renewals before 18 years to avoid any interruption of rights.

Depending on the situation, support from parents or a professional may remain necessary.

Who shall I contact

In certain situations, for example in the event of a disability or significant health or comprehension difficulties, your child may not be able to manage his or her interests on his or her own at the age of majority.

One measurement of legal protection can then be considered (safeguarding of justice, curatorship, guardianship).

The request is made to the judge of protection litigation, with a medical certificate. It is recommended to anticipate this process before the age of 18.

Disagreements may arise between you and your teenage child, including about schooling, going out, screen use, health, career guidance.

There may also be discrepancies between you and the other parent regarding decisions about your child's upbringing.

Parental authority continues to be exercised until the child reaches the age of majority, unless a specific judicial decision (such as a measure of emancipation).

When difficulties arise, you can ask a third party to facilitate exchanges: school (main teacher, guidance counselor), social service, home of teenagers or health professional. Family mediation may also be considered.

Summary of the steps to be taken

Schooling and guidance

  • Check that your child is engaged in a training course between 16 and 18 years old
  • Follow the orientation procedures, including registration on Parcoursup from 17 years old if your child wants to study higher education
  • Ensure follow-up of early school leaving situations if necessary
  • Verify the creation and monitoring of online accounts necessary for orientation procedures

Census of Citizenship and Citizenship

  • Carry out the citizen census from the age of 16
  • Retain Census Certificate
  • Check the Defence and citizenship day Notice (JDC)
  • Retain individual certificate of participation in JDC
  • Verify registration on the electoral roll by majority

Identity documents and travel

  • Check the validity of the identity card and passport
  • Verify that your child has valid identification documents before registering for an exam, competition or travel that requires identification
  • Anticipate necessary renewals before a trip or exam
  • If the minor is traveling without his parents, write an exit permit (AST)
  • Monitoring compliance with safety rules in travel

First professional experiences

  • Give your consent for your first professional experience
  • Check the compatibility of working conditions with training
  • Verify the existence of an internship contract or agreement and keep it
  • Know that your teen has a social security number and a bank account to receive remuneration

Health and access to care

  • Check the update of the Vitale card
  • Verify the creation of the personal health insurance account online
  • Ensure the follow-up of health reimbursements
  • Verify access to health procedures and necessary documents

Mobility and driving

  • Check the conditions of access to driving (training, age, insurance)
  • Check the entry in a suitable driving device if necessary
  • Verify the subscription of an insurance adapted to the vehicle used

Budget and financial approaches

  • Think about opening a bank account in your child's name
  • Verify access to online banking services before your majority
  • Verify that the identifiers and authentication means are accessible and secure
  • Preparing financial procedures from the age of 18
  • Identify majority tax procedures

Accommodation and material autonomy

  • Check the constitution of the rental file (supporting documents, deposit)
  • Verify the subscription of a home insurance
  • Identify the housing subsidies that can be applied for
  • Anticipate the steps related to the installation in a dwelling
  • Provide, if necessary, a certificate of accommodation and the associated supporting documents for the administrative procedures of the young person

If the child has a disability

  • Check the rights opened with the Departmental House of Disabled Persons (MDPH)
  • Anticipate the renewal of the necessary aid or adjustments
  • Check the steps to be taken as the majority approaches

If the child is unable to manage his or her interests by the time he or she reaches the age of majority

  • Assess the need for legal protection by majority
  • Anticipate the steps with the protection litigation judge if necessary

Family relations and support

  • Identify situations of disagreement requiring support
  • Solicit a school, social service or professional if necessary
  • In the event of a significant conflict, consider family mediation