Declaration of birth
Verified 27 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You just had a child? The declaration of birth is mandatory for any child born in France. It must be done by a person who attended the birth. It is used to establish the birth certificate. If a French child is born abroad, the declaration must be made according to specific formalities. We tell you what you need to know.
In France
The declaration of birth is mandatory within the time limit set by law. It allows the registrar to establish the birth certificate of the child.
The time limit depends on the place of birth:
General case
The declaration must be made within 5 days which follow the day of delivery.
The day of delivery is not counted in the time limit for the declaration of birth.
If the last reporting day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or non-working day, this period shall be extended until 1er business day next.
Example :
Your child is born on Monday, June 3, 2026. You must declare his birth no later than Monday, June 10.
Your child is born on Tuesday 4 June 2026. You must declare his birth no later than Monday, June 10.
Your child is born on Friday 7 June 2026. You must declare his birth no later than Wednesday, June 12.
In French Guiana
The time limit depends on the place of birth:
General case
The declaration must be made within 5 days which follow the day of delivery.
The day of delivery is not counted in the time limit for the declaration of birth.
If the last reporting day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or non-working day, this period shall be extended until 1er business day next.
Example :
Your child is born on Monday, June 3, 2026. You must declare his birth no later than Monday, June 10.
Your child is born on Tuesday 4 June 2026. You must declare his birth no later than Monday, June 10.
Your child is born on Friday 7 June 2026. You must declare his birth no later than Wednesday, June 12.
In Apatou, Awala-Yalimapo, Camopi, Grand Santi, Iracoubo, Mana, Maripasoula, Ouanary, Papaïchton, Régina, Saint-Elie, Saint-Georges, Saint-Laurent du Maroni, Saul, Sinnamary
The declaration must be made within 8 days which follow the day of delivery.
The day of delivery is not counted in the time limit for the declaration of birth.
If the last reporting day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or non-working day, this period shall be extended until 1er business day next.
Example :
Your child is born on Monday, June 3, 2026. You must declare his birth no later than Tuesday, June 11.
Your child is born on Tuesday 4 June 2026. You must declare his birth no later than Wednesday, June 12.
Your child is born on Friday 7 June 2026. You must declare his birth no later than Monday, June 17.
The birth is declared by one of the following persons:
- Father
- 2from mother in a couple of women
- Head of the delivery clinic (or its attendant)
- Doctor
- Midwife
- Another person who attended the birth.
The declaration of birth is made at the town hall of the place of birth.
The birth certificate is drafted immediately by a registrar.
Who shall I contact
If the child was born during a trip, you must make the declaration of birth at the town hall of the place of birth (which corresponds to the place where the mother interrupted her trip).
For a birth in a train, it is the town hall of the commune of the first main station.
For a birth in a plane, it is the municipality on which the airport depends.
For a birth on board a ship in a French port, it is the municipality on which the port or harbor depends.
The documents to be provided depend on your situation:
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General case
The documents required to register a birth are as follows:
- Parent (or parent) ID
- Certificate medical of childbirth (usually attestation of the doctor or midwife)
- Declaration of choice of name if the parents do this
- Act of recognition if it was established before birth
- Family booklet to register the child, if the parents already have a booklet.
If the parents are not married and the child has not yet been recognized by his father, the latter must provide proof of domicile (or residence) less than 3 months to recognize his child.
Most hospitals, clinics and maternity wards have set up births registration services in town halls.
However, the father may freely make the declaration himself if he so wishes.
FYI
If you want to choose your child's last name, you must file a joint declaration of choice.
Birth of a child in a couple of women
The documents required to register a birth are as follows:
- Identity documents of mothers
- Certificate medical of childbirth (usually attestation of the doctor or midwife)
- Early Joint Recognition established before notary
- Declaration of choice of name if mothers do this
- Family booklet to register the child, if the mothers already have a booklet.
FYI
If you want to choose your child's last name, you must file a joint declaration of choice.
If the declaration of birth is not made within the prescribed time limits, a judicial declaration of birth is necessary.
The registrar cannot regularize the situation himself.
Regularization before the judge
You must hire a lawyer to obtain a declaration of birth.
Who shall I contact
You have to go to the court.
The competent court is the the place of birth of the child.
If this place is unknown, the competent court is the court of your domicile.
Who shall I contact
The public prosecutor, informed by the registrar, may also apply for the declaration of birth.
The declaratory judgment declares the birth and orders the transcript on the registers of the municipality of birth.
Penalties incurred
If you do not make your birth declaration within the required time, you risk a prison sentence of 6 months and a fine from €3,750.
You also hire your civil liability in respect of the child (damages and interest for harm caused by non-reporting).
In summary: summary of the steps during a birth
Infographie - Parents: the 7 essential steps during a birth
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Title - Parents: the 7 essential steps during a birth
1/ Civil status
Declare birth
· When? Within 5 days.
· Where? Civil registry office of the hospital or town hall.
· Who takes care of it? The father or someone else.
· Documents to be provided: Doctor's or midwife's certificate, parents' identity cards.
2/ Social security
Declare birth and then update the Vital Card.
Possible (and advised) to request the attachment of the child to the vital cards of the 2 parents.
· When? Within 5 to 8 days after the declaration of birth.
· Where? On the ameli.fr website or by phone (at 3646).
· Who takes care of it? The two parents.
· Documents to be provided: None.
3/ Caf
Declare birth
· When? From birth.
· Where? On the caf.fr website or on the Caf-My account app. If no Caf account, send by post the change of situation form (available on caf.fr).
· Who takes care of it? One of the two parents.
· Documents to be provided: None.
If you fall under the agricultural regime, the MSA must be contacted.
4/ Complementary health
Report birth
· When? From birth.
· Where? With the mutual.
· Who takes care of it? Every parent if the mutual insurance companies are different.
· Documents to be provided: Variable according to the mutual.
5/ Birth leave
Applying for birth leave
It is 3 days (excluding Sundays and public holidays) minimum. Those days are paid.
· When? On a date close to birth.
· Where? With the employer of the 2nd parent.
· Who takes care of it? On 2nd parent.
· Documents to be provided: Copy of the child's birth certificate.
6/ Paternity leave
Request paternity and foster care leave for the child
It is 25 calendar days to be taken in 1 or more times within 6 months of birth.
· When? Request 1 month before the date of delivery or 1 month before the start of leave.
· Where? With the employer of 2nd parent, and, for leave compensation, with Social Security.
· Who takes care of it? On 2nd parent.
· Documents to be provided: For mail to the Social Security: copy of the child's birth certificate (or family record book) + document justifying the link with the mother (if leave is not requested by the father).
7/ Taxes
Report birth, to adjust the withholding tax rate to the number of dependants
· When? After birth (within 60 days).
· Where? On the website impots.gouv.fr.
· Who takes care of it? One parent or both, depending on the situation.
· Documents to be provided: None.
Abroad
The declaration of birth can be made either before the civil registrar of the country, or before the French consular authorities.
In many countries, local legislation requires foreigner nationals to report births to the local registrar.
What is the deadline for declaring a birth?
You must inquire with foreign authorities the place of birth to know the deadlines and methods of declaration.
Also check the consequences if the deadline is exceeded.
What is the procedure for declaring a birth?
When the declaration of birth before the foreign authorities is mandatory, you must declare the birth to the local registrar.
The documents you must provide are those required by local authorities.
Please note
If you are a couple of women, check if the local authorities recognize your family situation and, if so, if they ask for a early joint recognition.
How to request the transcription of the local birth certificate on the French consular registers?
Registration of birth by the French consular authorities is not mandatory.
In particular, it makes it possible to obtain a French birth certificate.
No time limit is imposed.
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General case
In countries where registration with the local registrar is mandatory, you can request the transcription of the local birth certificate by the registrar of the embassy or consulate.
Who shall I contact
Your request must be accompanied by supporting documents following:
- Copy of the foreigner birth certificate
- Proof of French nationality (for at least one of the parents)
- Family booklet, if you have one (for update)
- Copy of the act relating to the recognition subscribed by the french father for children born out of wedlock.
If it is written in a foreign language, the birth certificate must be translated by a sworn translator
Depending on the country concerned, it must also be legalized or apostillate.
The embassy or consulate may request additional documents.
Please note
If you are a couple of women, you must provide the birth certificate or proof of the use of a MPA: titleContent.
Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia
The request for transcription and the list of documents to be provided comply with specific rules.
You need to ask for the list of supporting documents to the French Consulate General responsible for the country concerned.
Who shall I contact
You must send your transcript request only by post to the following address:
Who shall I contact
Attention: the Central Civil Registry Service does not welcome any public.
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a French person abroad
Only by mail to the following address:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate via a online service.
For further information, you can:
Consult the site diplomatie.gouv.fr
Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4pm.
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing.
Use the following online form: https://etat-civil.diplomatie.gouv.fr/rece-informationusager-ui/
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Poland, Switzerland
The request for transcription and the list of documents to be provided comply with specific rules.
You need to ask for the list of supporting documents to the French Consulate General responsible for the country concerned.
Who shall I contact
Transcript requests should be sent only by post to the following address:
Who shall I contact
Attention: the Central Civil Registry Service does not welcome any public.
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a French person abroad
Only by mail to the following address:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate via a online service.
For further information, you can:
Consult the site diplomatie.gouv.fr
Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4pm.
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing.
Use the following online form: https://etat-civil.diplomatie.gouv.fr/rece-informationusager-ui/
Afghanistan, Libya, Niger, Palestine, Republic of Cyprus, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Golan Territory, North Korea, Western Sahara, Yemen
The request for transcription and the list of documents to be provided comply with specific rules.
You need to ask for the list of supporting documents to the French Consulate General responsible for the country concerned.
Who shall I contact
Transcript requests should be sent only by post to the following address:
Who shall I contact
Attention: the Central Civil Registry Service does not welcome any public.
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a French person abroad
Only by mail to the following address:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate via a online service.
For further information, you can:
Consult the site diplomatie.gouv.fr
Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4pm.
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing.
Use the following online form: https://etat-civil.diplomatie.gouv.fr/rece-informationusager-ui/
You can declare the birth of your child at the French embassy or consulate in countries where local law allows it.
What is the deadline for declaring a birth?
The declaration must be made in the 15 days of childbirth.
The time limit shall be extended to 30 days in the following cases:
- In Europe for Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
- In any country outside Europe.
Please note
The recognition of child by the unmarried father can be made at the time of the declaration of birth.
What is the procedure for declaring a birth?
The declaration of birth is made to the agents of the French diplomatic or consular authorities.
Who shall I contact
Registration of birth by the French consular authorities is not mandatory.
In particular, it makes it possible to obtain a French birth certificate.
You can opt for the declaration with the civil status services of the country of residence.
FYI
In case of birth at sea on a French ship, the act is drawn up on board by the commander, captain, master or boss. The instrument shall be entered after the logbook. It is then transcribed to the central civil registry office in Nantes.
What documents must be provided to declare a birth?
The documents to be provided depend on your situation:
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General case
The documents required to register a birth are as follows:
- Parents' ID
- Certificate medical of childbirth (usually attestation of the doctor or midwife)
- Declaration of choice of name if the parents do this
- Act of recognition if it was established before birth
- Proof of domicile (or residence) less than 3 months if the child has not yet been recognized
- Family booklet to register the child, if the parents already have a booklet.
Birth of a child in a couple of women
The documents required to register a birth are as follows:
- Identity documents of mothers
- Certificate medical of childbirth (usually attestation of the doctor or midwife)
- Early Joint Recognition established before notary
- Declaration of choice of name if mothers do this
- Family booklet to register the child, if the mothers already have a booklet.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Attention: the Central Civil Registry Service does not welcome any public.
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a French person abroad
Only by mail to the following address:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate via a online service.
For further information, you can:
Consult the site diplomatie.gouv.fr
Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4pm.
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing.
Use the following online form: https://etat-civil.diplomatie.gouv.fr/rece-informationusager-ui/
- Family Allowance Fund (Caf)
Validity of foreigner documents (Article 47) and transmission to the Nantes Civil Registry Office (Article 48)
Time limits and competent authorities (Article 55), birth at sea (Article 59)
Declaration of choice of name
Birth on board a ship or aircraft
Online service
FAQ
Service Public
Service Public
Service Public
Service Public
National Family Allowance Fund (Cnaf)
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
