How to obtain your Social Security number in France? – Absolutely French (2024)

Do you want to work in France or do you simply want to take advantage of the French social security system?

So start the process of applying for your social security number as soon as possible.

It takes about 10 months to get it.

My advice:
— You can start working without a social security number, but it makes it harder…
— It’s to you to make all the arrangements and if you’re lucky, your company may be able to help you
— For further information, please visit the following website: AMELI
—You have to be patient and understand that things are like that here, it’s part of the French charm!

To help you :

Sécurité sociale = Sécu = CPAM = Caisse Primaire d’Assurance maladie = Assurance Maladie = Ameli (website)

The different situations to obtain your social security number

depending on your country of origin :

The first thing to do, before making an appointment at the CPAM (primary health insurance fund)
is to gather all the necessary documents for the file.

Here is the list of papers to gather according to your case.

Case 1: European Community + employee

Required documents:

— Complete form S1106
—A copy of your passport
— Original birth certificate or certified copy in French (I advise you to ask for two copies directly)
— Copy of your employment contract
— A first payslip
— French identity bank statement in your name
— Proof of address (energy bill, rental contract …).

What do the numbers on your carte vitale correspond to?

Case 2: European Community + Not Employee

Required documents:

— Request form S1 from your country’s social security system
— A copy of your passport
— Original birth certificate or certified copy in French (I advise you to ask for two copies directly)
— French identity bank statement in your name
— A proof of address (energy bill, rental contract …)

Case 3: Residents outside Europe

Required documents:

—Form S1106 «Application for Health Insurance Entitlement»

— A copy of your passport
— Document proving regularity of residence (residence permit, visa, etc.).
— Birth certificate extract and translation by a sworn translator (NB: you must provide an apostil on your document.)
— Marriage certificate if necessary
— A French identity bank statement in your name
— An identity bank statement
— Proof of address that proves that you have been in France for more than three months if you are not in paid employment
— A photocopy of a pay slip or your employment contract if you are an employee

Submitting of the file to the CPAM

When you have your complete file, you must take an appointment with CPAM that corresponds to you here

Wait your turn, someone will check that everything is fine.
Then you must deposit your file in a mailbox (yes, yes, in a mailbox).

From that point on, you keep your fingers crossed!

Then you have to wait and wait.

You will then receive a letter with your provisional registration number, which is useless ?!

Social security is the CPAM!

The grail : the carte vitale and your social security number

And nine months later (like a pregnancy) you receive a letter at your home asking you to send your photo for the carte vitale.

I strongly recommend that you send it by registered mail.

A month later,always if all goes well,
you get your carte vitale at home and that day you celebrate
because you have your social security number, the carte vitale and you could work!!!

Article written by Elena Manjon,
who is an expatriate spouse and works on permanent contracts for a large French company.
Here, she tells us about her adventures to get her Social Security number.

Absolutely French is the first French school ?? dedicated only to expat spouses.
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To read :

How to find a job abroad : expat Partner, your CV title

5 essential apps to know when you arrive in Paris