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Home/Guides/Health Insurance (CPAM)

Register with CPAM for French Health Insurance: Ameli Guide (2026)

France has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, and as a legal resident you are entitled to coverage under the Protection Universelle Maladie (PUMa). Your local CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie) handles registration. Once enrolled, you receive a carte Vitale — a green smart card that handles automatic reimbursement for doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital stays.

Cost

Free

Processing Time

1–3 months

Difficulty

Easy

Required Documents

  • Valid passport (original + photocopy)

    Required

  • Residence permit (titre de séjour)

    Required

  • Proof of address (less than 3 months old)

    Required

  • Birth certificate (translated and apostilled)

    Required

  • Bank account details (RIB)

    Required

  • Identity photos (3 recent photos, ICAO standard)

    Optional

  • Work contract (contrat de travail)

    Optional

  • University enrollment certificate

    Optional

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1

    Determine your CPAM affiliation

    Official Website
  2. 2

    Submit your CPAM application

  3. 3

    Receive your attestation of rights (attestation de droits)

  4. 4

    Receive your Carte Vitale

  5. 5

    Choose a treating doctor (médecin traitant)

Practical Tips

Register with CPAM as early as possible after arrival. Processing takes 1 to 3 months, and you will not have a carte Vitale until the process is complete.

While waiting for your carte Vitale, request an attestation de droits (proof of coverage). Doctors and pharmacies accept it for reimbursement.

Choose a médecin traitant (primary care doctor) as soon as you are registered. Without one, your reimbursement rate drops from 70% to 30%.

Consider a mutuelle (supplementary health insurance) to cover the remaining 30% that Sécurité sociale does not reimburse. Many employers provide one.

The Ameli app and ameli.fr website let you track reimbursements, download attestations, and manage your account entirely online.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a carte Vitale?
Typically 1 to 3 months after your CPAM registration is processed. You will receive a temporary attestation first, then the physical card by mail.
Am I covered from day one in France?
If you are employed, your employer registers you and coverage begins immediately. Otherwise, PUMa coverage starts after 3 months of stable, legal residence. Private insurance or your home country’s EHIC/GHIC covers the gap.
What does French health insurance actually cover?
Sécurité sociale reimburses about 70% of doctor visits, 65% of prescription drugs, and 80% of hospital stays. A mutuelle covers most or all of the remainder.
Do I need a translated birth certificate?
Yes. CPAM requires an official sworn translation (traduction assermentée) of your birth certificate. You can find sworn translators on your local court’s (tribunal judiciaire) website.

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