In Brief
- Registering a birth is a legal obligation for any child born in France.
- It allows the civil registrar to issue the birth certificate.
- The standard deadline is 5 days, extended to 8 days in certain municipalities in Guyana.
- The process must be done exclusively at the town hall of the place of birth.
- Failing to register within the deadlines requires regularization before a judge.
Who Can Complete the Process
Contrary to popular belief, this obligation does not fall solely on the mother. The law specifically designates the following individuals as responsible for the registration:
- The father
- The second parent in a couple of women
- The head of the birthing clinic (or their representative)
- A doctor
- A midwife
- Any other person who attended the birth
Note: When a mother gives birth alone in a hospital setting, the responsibility falls to the birthing establishment. This rule also applies in the case of the mother being transferred to another medical facility.
The declarant can be another person, such as a family member, provided they carry the birth certificate and possibly the family record book.
Steps
1. Respect the Legal Deadline
The deadline depends on the place of birth. The day of delivery is not counted in the registration period.
General Case (Metropolitan France and other departments) The registration must be done within 5 days following the day of delivery.
If the last day for registration falls on a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday, or non-working day, this deadline is extended to the next working day.
Examples provided by service-public.fr:
- Birth on Monday, June 3, 2026: registration by Monday, June 10 at the latest.
- Birth on Tuesday, June 4, 2026: registration by Monday, June 10 at the latest.
- Birth on Friday, June 7, 2026: registration by Wednesday, June 12 at the latest.
In Guyana For the municipalities of Apatou, Awala-Yalimapo, Camopi, Grand Santi, Iracoubo, Mana, Maripasoula, Ouanary, Papaïchton, Régina, Saint-Elie, Saint-Georges, Saint-Laurent du Maroni, Saül, and Sinnamary, the registration must be done within 8 days following the day of delivery.
The same extension rule applies if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday, or non-working day.
Examples:
- Birth on Monday, June 3, 2026: registration by Tuesday, June 11 at the latest.
- Birth on Tuesday, June 4, 2026: registration by Wednesday, June 12 at the latest.
- Birth on Friday, June 7, 2026: registration by Monday, June 17 at the latest.
2. Go to the Town Hall
The birth registration is done at the town hall of the place of birth. The birth certificate is drafted immediately by a civil registrar.
Special Case: Birth During Travel If the child is born during a trip, the registration must be done at the town hall of the place where the mother interrupted her journey.
- Birth on a train: town hall of the municipality of the first main station.
- Birth on a plane: municipality of the airport.
- Birth aboard a ship in a French port: municipality of the port or harbor.
Documents
The documents required vary depending on the family situation.
General Case
- Identification documents of the parents (or the parent)
- Medical birth certificate (generally, a certificate from the doctor or midwife)
- Declaration of name choice (if the parents are making this declaration)
- Acknowledgment act (if it was established before the birth)
- Family record book (to register the child, if the parents already have one)
If the parents are not married and the child has not yet been acknowledged by the father, he must provide proof of residence (or domicile) less than 3 months old to acknowledge his child.
Birth of a Child in a Couple of Women
- Identification documents of the mothers
- Medical birth certificate (generally, a certificate from the doctor or midwife)
- Joint acknowledgment established before a notary
- Declaration of name choice (if the mothers are making this declaration)
- Family record book (to register the child, if the mothers already have one)
Note: If you want to choose your child's last name, you must submit a joint declaration of choice.
Cost
This information varies depending on the situation.
Deadlines
The deadline is 5 days (general case) or 8 days (certain municipalities in Guyana) after delivery. The certificate is drafted immediately upon submission of the registration.
Pitfalls to Avoid
- Exceeding Deadlines: If the birth registration is not done within the regulatory deadlines, a judicial declaration of birth is necessary. The civil registrar cannot regularize the situation themselves.
- Confusion About the Declarant: The mother is not legally required to make the declaration, although she can do so. The responsibility lies with the individuals listed above.
- Place of Registration: It is always the town hall of the place of birth, not that of the parents' residence.