Frequently asked questions
The increase in the time taken to process, manufacture, and deliver identity cards and passports is due to a very sharp rise in applications. In fact, in 2020 and 2021, many users postponed their requests for such documents.
The gradual lifting of restrictions and the desire to obtain the new identity card led to a sharp rise in applications for documents in 2022.
Faced with this increase in the time taken to issue identity documents, the Ministry of the Interior has taken a number of measures to speed up the process and minimize the time taken.
Please note that if your identity card expired less than 5 years ago, you can still use it for administrative purposes.
For more information, visit the public service website:
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/actualites/A15674
If you would like to check how long your identity card is valid for, click on the link below:
It was possible to include a nickname on the old national identity card. (If its validity has been confirmed by constant uninterrupted use, and subject to the discretion of the authorities).
The same does not apply to the biometric passport or the new national identity card.
For passports:
In order to comply with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and to combat identity fraud more effectively, France has decided to include only details of a person's civil status in the passport.
Nicknames, sobriquets and pseudonyms cannot be entered on the biometric passport.
For new ID cards:
With the new national identity card, the information included is changing.
You will no longer be able to use a nickname. The prefect's signature has also been removed.
However, for minors with shared residences, it will now be possible to show two home addresses.
If you have any questions about digital tax stamps, or how to reuse them, please consult the DGFiP website: https://timbres.impots.gouv.fr/
The biometric passport (which is gradually replacing the electronic passport) and/or the National Identity Card can be applied for at a municipal government office in all French departments.
You can submit your application at any such office equipped with a fingerprint scanner, even if it is not in the municipality where you reside.
In Paris, you must submit your application to an administrative police station.
Nationals living abroad should contact their consulate.
It is advisable to find out before making the trip.
Consult the map of authorised offices to find out which one equipped with a fingerprint scanner is nearest to you.
In principle, the procedure is quicker, since the system allows data to be recorded and sent in telematic form between the various agencies concerned (the municipal government office and the processing department).
The processing time also depends on the number of applications received.
- Applications are collected by municipal government offices.
- The processing departments are responsible for checking the documents and deciding whether or not to issue the document.
Abroad, the consulate performs both functions.
Since 26 June 2013, children under the age of 12 (previously 6) have been exempt from the requirement to be fingerprinted when applying for a passport or national identity card.
Yes, your head must be uncovered, facing forward, with your head not tilted, and not smiling. This is required by the ISO standard and also by the decree of 30 December 2005.
In addition, nothing has changed on the posters already available from municipal and prefectural offices, which include examples of what to do and what not to do, and which have been widely distributed in these offices.
You can apply for a passport and/or national identity card (CNI) at any municipal government office (place of residence, work, etc.) if it is equipped with a fingerprint scanner (DR).
You will pick up your passport or CNI at that same office.
Anyone wishing to apply for a permit can do so at any municipal government office equipped with a fingerprint scanner (DR), making life easier for everyone.
On the other hand, you must pick up your passport and/or CNI from the office where you applied; you cannot pick them up from any other location.
No, if you move house, changing the address on your passport, identity card or driving licence is optional.
As the change of address on the passport is optional, there are no problems when travelling.
However, you must change your address on your vehicle registration certificate within one month.
If you would like to obtain a biometric passport even though you have a valid optical passport, you must apply to renew your passport.
You can do so at any municipal government office (Mairie) equipped with a fingerprint scanner (DR). To find such a suitably equipped office, you can consult our location map.
You can also find out how to renew your passport in our Renewal, Loss and Theft section.
Optical passport
An optical passport can be recognised by the word "PASSEPORT" not being underlined, with no security symbol underneath. This passport was issued until April 2006.
Biometric passport
A biometric passport can be recognised by the word "PASSEPORT” being underlined, with a secure symbol below it (a circle inside a rectangle)
This passport has been issued since 31 March 2009
Yes, it is possible to have two passports.
You should contact the prefecture to check the conditions for issuing the second passport and the supporting documents to be included with the application.
A second passport can be issued in addition to the ordinary passport in one of the following two cases:
- the need to hold two passports at the same time (for the trip itself or for examination by the consulate of the third country before a visa is issued) for two business trips that are concurrent or close together in time.
- Supporting documents required: Certificate from employer
- trip planned to a country that does not accept travellers with a passport bearing a visa issued by an identified third country. This is known as "visa incompatibility".
- Supporting documents required: An ordinary passport bearing a visa incompatible with the visa to be issued by another country and a plane ticket for that other country.
Minors aged between 12 and 18 must be accompanied by their legal guardian.
The guardian signs the on-site delivery statement.
Minors over the age of 13 may sign the certificate of delivery of the passport or national identity card (CNI) if their legal representative does not object.
The document must be collected within 3 months of it being made available. After this deadline, it will be destroyed.
For a renewal:
- The new CNI is issued on return of the old one.
- The new passport is issued on return of the old one. If it includes a visa, and can be kept for as long as the visa is valid.
It is not compulsory to hold a national identity card in France. Passports can be used as proof of identity.
A system for sending a mini-message (text or e-mail) has been set up to alert you on your mobile phone.
You will be informed when your document is available at the municipal office.
However, there is no guarantee that mobile operators will deliver these texts; in some cases ANTS might be unable to send them. The office where you submitted your application can also provide information.
You can also track the production of the documents from your space.
If no loss or theft has been reported, the new passport or National Identity Card will be issued on return of the old document.
The old passport may be kept if it contains a valid visa, for as long as the visa is valid.
Yes, children must have a personal passport. It is no longer possible to register a minor child on the passport of one of their parents.
Passports can be applied for by minors of any age (even babies), provided they are of French nationality.
A biometric passport is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors.
Yes.
Changing the address on your passport is optional.
As the change of address on the passport is optional, there are no problems when travelling.
Yes.
You can apply to renew your passport before (or after) its expiry date.
However, if the new passport is applied for before the expiry date, the amount paid for the period during which the old passport went unused will not be deducted from the cost of the new passport.
It is advisable to contact the municipal government office, the French consulate, or the administrative police office in Paris before going there to find out how to submit your application and, if necessary, to make an appointment.
For contact details, see the location map.
Before applying for a passport, it is important to know whether you already hold a secure document.
If you have such a document, you do not need to provide documents relating to your civil status and French nationality again.
Secure identity documents
- plastic national identity card
- rigid rectangular card
- colour: blue-green gradient
All identity cards issued since December 1995 are secure cards.
- electronic passport
- on the cover, the word "passeport" is not underlined.
- under the word passport is a secure symbol (circle inside a rectangle)
- photo reproduced twice on the same page
From 13 April 2006 (depending on the département)
- the biometric passport
- on the cover, the word "passeport" is underlined.
- under the word passport is a secure symbol (circle inside a rectangle)
- photo reproduced twice on the same page
From 31 October 2008 (depending on the département) All passports issued since 29 June 2009 are biometric passports.
Non-secure identity documents
- national identity card (old model)
- folding stiff-paper card
- colour: beige
Last issued: December 1995
- Delphine passport (optical machine-readable)
- the words "Union européenne" are inscribed on the cover.
- photo page is in landscape mode.
- 36 numbered pages
Last issued: April 2006
- Delphine passport (old model)
- the words "Communauté européenne" are inscribed on the cover.
- photo page is in landscape mode.
Last issued: Late 2002