French National ID card

● 1. The Secure French national ID card (CNIS)
● 2. Required documents
● 3. Minor children
● 4. Schedule an appointment

 

 

The French national ID card is an official document which allows citizens to justify their identity and, for as long as 2 years after its expiration date, their French nationality. It is not an obligatory document, is provided free of charge (except for in case of loss, theft, or disappearance of the former card), and is valid for 10 years.

When abroad, the ID card is delivered or renewed by the head of chancery at the Consulate to those registered on the List of French nationals living abroad. In case the applicant is not registered at the moment he or she files for an ID card, the person will be automatically added to the register, in compliance with the rules.

For French citizens living in the consular circumscription, demands for a secure national identity card (CNIS) are reviewed by the Consulate General of France in New York. Printing and issuing the card, however, is done in France. Hence, this centralized procedure may take up to 8 weeks, between applying for the ID card and retrieving it.

Every application must be done in person, in order to:


 identify the person and

 take a digital fingerprint of the left index finger (or the right one if necessary).

After the ID card is issued, the individual is invited to retrieve it in person at the Consulate General of France in New York, or from the closest honorary consul to his or her residence.

Older national ID cards (cardboard paper) remain valid until their expiration date.

(a) An application form, completed and signed onsite.



(b) One justification of identity among the following:

 For a renewal, the former national ID card (if it is missing, the applicant must pay the chancery fee according to the current exchange rate);

 For a first-time request, an ID card or any other official document bearing a photo.



(c ) A civil status justification among the following:
 

 an extract of the applicant’s birth certificate, with filiations;
 

 ➢ or, if it is missing, a full copy of the applicant’s birth certificate;
 
● birth in France or in a French overseas department or territory: you should contact the municipality you were born at (some municipalities accept online requests: go to www.acte-naissance.fr for more information and the list of such municipalities);
● birth abroad and not in the New York consular jurisdiction (birth certificate issued by a French embassy or consulate, or reconstituted by the Civil Registry Central Services in Nantes): contact the Civil Registry Central Services directly;
● birth in the jurisdiction of the Consulate in New York (birth certificate issued by the Consulate General of France in New York): the Consulate will take over the responsibility of obtaining a copy of your Civil Status, which should be in its records.



(d) Proof of French citizenship among the following:

 if the applicant was born in France and at least one of his/her parents was born in France, the civil status justification provided in section (b) will be sufficient;

 or a full copy of the birth certificate, mentioning the person is of French nationality;

 or a declaration of acquisition and registry of the French citizenship;

 or a naturalization or restoration certificate of French nationality (a duplicate copy, an Official Journal edition, or an official document from the Ministry in charge of naturalizations);

 or a judgment certifying the person belongs to the French nationality;

 or a certificate of French citizenship.



(e) Proof of address of the following:

 proof of property ownership, or rent lease;

 or a rent slip, electricity bill or gas bill;

 or proof of house insurance;

 or, for students who live in student dorms, an official, stamped letter mentioning they reside in the United States.

 or a visa or green card or other ID card delivered by the American Authorities with mention of the current U.S. address.



(f) 2 ID photos (please write the name and surname of the person on the back of each photo)

For more information on ID photo norms and regulations, please go here.

Attention, not respecting this format will entail a refusal of your request for a national ID card.



(g) In case of loss, theft, or disappearance of the former national ID card, a declaration of loss or theft.


(h) In case of loss, theft, or disappearance of the former national ID card, payment of chancery fees (according to the current chancery exchange rate):

 directly at the Consulate: in cash (please bring the exact amount);

 by mail: using a credit card number given on an authorization form.



(i) In case you should retrieve the ID card from an honorary consul, 2 envelopes:

 one prepaid “express mail” or “registered mail” envelope. The ID card will be sent in this envelope to the closest honorary consul to your residence, and he or she will be in charge of delivering it to you.





In addition to the documents mentioned above, a request for a national ID card requires the authorization of a legal representative. In order to justify the legality of the minor’s representative, please provide the following:


 for married parents or concubines:

● minor’s birth certificate bearing the name and surname of the parents (the certificate provided in section 2 may suffice);
● or a copy of the family record book (livret de famille);
● or a joint declaration.


 for separated parents:

● a copy of the legal judgment concerning parental authority;
● or a proof of separation, bearing the conditions of parental authority.


 for a third party who has parental authority over the minor:

● a copy of the justice decision for loss of parenthood; ● or of the decision authorizing the delegation of parental authority.


 for minors under custody:

● or of the judge’s designation of custody


If there is a disagreement among the parents, only a written contestation by one of them would discontinue the request.





In order to improve public reception and reduce waiting delays at the Consulate, an appointment scheduling system was implemented on March 15, 2010, for national ID card requests. To schedule an appointment, click here.