Identity card / Passport: is it mandatory to be present at the ticket office?
Verified 12 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
In general, it is mandatory to go to the ticket office to apply for an identity card or passport, except in exceptional circumstances or exceptions. For the withdrawal, it depends on the place of the request, in France or abroad and the type of title requested (identity card or passport). We present you the information to know.
Identity card
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In France
The situation varies depending on whether the person is an adult or a minor:
For a major
Yes, your presence is mandatory to file the file. You must also travel to collect your identity card.
FYI
Exceptionally, an agent can travel to your home if a medical reason or infirmity prevents you from traveling. In this case, you must provide a medical certificate of less than 3 months that indicates this impossibility.
For a minor
The situation varies depending on whether the submission of the application or the withdrawal of identity card :
Submission of the application
The minor must be present and accompanied of sound legal representative for the filing of the file.
FYI
Exceptionally, an officer may travel to his or her home if a medical reason or disability prevents him or her from traveling. In this case, you must provide a medical certificate of less than 3 months that indicates this impossibility.
Withdrawal of identity card
The presence of the minor is optional.
The legal representative must go to the ticket office to pick up the identity card.
The legal representative must go to the counter with the minor to retrieve the identity card.
Abroad
The situation varies depending on whether the person is an adult or a minor:
For a major
Yes, your presence is mandatory to file the file. You must also travel to collect your identity card.
For a minor
The situation varies depending on whether the submission of the application or the withdrawal of identity card :
Submission of the application
The minor must be present and accompanied of sound legal representative for the filing of the file.
Withdrawal of identity card
The presence of the minor is optional.
The legal representative must go to the ticket office to pick up the identity card.
The legal representative must go to the counter with the minor to retrieve the identity card.
Passport
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
In France
The situation varies depending on whether the person is an adult or a minor:
For a major
Your presence is mandatory to file the file. You must also travel to collect your passport.
FYI
Exceptionally, an agent can travel to your home if a medical reason or infirmity prevents you from traveling. In this case, you must provide a medical certificate of less than 3 months that indicates this impossibility.
For a minor
The situation varies depending on whether the submission of the application or the withdrawal of identity card :
Submission of the application
The minor must be present and accompanied of sound legal representative for the filing of the file.
FYI
Exceptionally, an officer may travel to his or her home if a medical reason or disability prevents him or her from traveling. In this case, you must provide a medical certificate of less than 3 months that indicates this impossibility.
Withdrawal of passport
The presence of the minor is optional.
The legal representative must go to the ticket office to pick up the passport.
The legal representative must go to the counter with his child minor to collect the passport.
Abroad
The situation varies depending on whether the person is an adult or a minor:
For a major
You live in Australia or Canada or Spain or Portugal
If you are applying for a passport renewal from Australia, Canada, Spain or Portugal and you meet the conditions, you don't have to go to the counter.
If you do not meet the requirements, you must go to the embassy or consulate.
You live in another country
Your presence is mandatory to file the file.
To withdraw the passport, it depends on the country from which you apply and what you indicated at the time of filing.
Sending the passport by post only concerns the EU countries, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and some countries in the world.
You must personally withdraw your passport either at the place of filing the file, or at a authorized honorary consul or a head of diplomatic or consular post.
At the time of filing the file, if you have requested to receive the passport by mail, you will receive an email notification of dispatch in which a secret code appears.
As soon as you receive your passport, you will have to acknowledge receipt using this online service:
For a minor
The situation varies depending on whether the submission of the application or the withdrawal of passport :
Submission of the application
The minor must be present and accompanied of sound legal representative for the filing of the file.
Withdrawal of passport
To withdraw the passport, it depends on the country from which the application is made and what was indicated at the time of filing.
Please note: the sending of the passport by post only concerns the countries of the, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and some countries in the world.
The situation varies according to the age of the minor:
The presence of the minor is optional.
The legal representative must go to the ticket office to pick up the passport.
The legal representative must go to the counter with his child minor to collect the passport.
At the time of filing the file, if you have requested to receive the passport by mail, you will receive an email notification of dispatch in which a secret code appears.
As soon as you receive your passport, you will have to acknowledge receipt using this online service:
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