Introduction

Giving birth in France is one of the most reassuring experiences for foreigners within the French system — but it also tests your document management skills. Medical follow-ups are mostly free, delivery costs are fully reimbursed, PMI (Protection Maternelle et Infantile) supports you for the first 6 years, and CAF provides maternity and various family allowances. However, the accompanying administrative procedures (town hall registration, passport from the country of origin, birth certificate for relatives back home) need to be organized promptly in the first few weeks after birth.

This article covers the complete path from pregnancy to the baby being 18 months old, along with differences across countries. It applies to both dual-national couples and single parents, whether you are an employee, a student, have residency, or are in the process of legalizing your status.

Prenatal Follow-up: PMI, Midwives, Obstetrics

As soon as you confirm your pregnancy, schedule an appointment with a general practitioner, an independent midwife, or the more cost-effective option — PMI (Protection Maternelle et Infantile). PMI is a public service at the departmental level, available in every district and large municipality. Regardless of your residency status, it is open to pregnant women — this is particularly important for mothers in the process of legalizing their status.

Medical follow-up in France includes:

• 7 prenatal check-ups + an early prenatal consultation (EPP) in the 4th month
• 3 mandatory ultrasounds (12, 22, 32 weeks)
• Delivery preparation classes: 8 reimbursed sessions (with an independent midwife or PMI)
• Free oral check-up in the 4th month

From the 6th month of pregnancy, health insurance (Assurance Maladie) reimburses 100% (excluding excess charges from private clinics). Those with a CPAM health card (Carte Vitale) have zero out-of-pocket costs. Those with AME (Aide Médicale d'État) are also covered.

Public vs Private Obstetrics: Most foreigners choose public university hospitals (CHU or hôpital). The out-of-pocket costs: those with CPAM or AME pay €0, except for private rooms (between €50 and €90 per night). Private clinics may charge excess fees ranging from €800 to €2,500 that are not reimbursed. Commercial mutual insurance (mutuelle) reimburses part of the costs according to the contract.

Vietnamese mother Hoang in Nantes used painless delivery at CHU, stayed in a double room, and had zero out-of-pocket costs. Brazilian mother Léa used her company mutual insurance and chose a private clinic in Neuilly, paying €1,800 out of pocket. Moroccan mother Karima, still waiting for her residency approval, successfully gave birth at Bichat Hospital in Paris with AME, incurring no upfront costs.

Birth Registration: Must Be Completed Within 5 Days

After the baby is born, the hospital will issue a medical birth certificate. You must complete the registration at the town hall of the baby's birthplace within 5 working days (including Saturday, excluding Sunday and public holidays).

If you miss the deadline, you will have to go through the judicial court process (jugement supplétif), which will delay subsequent procedures for passport, CAF subsidies, and nursery registration. Do not procrastinate.

Documents to bring to the town hall:

• Medical birth certificate issued by the hospital
• Identification documents for both parents
• Family book (livret de famille) — if you don’t have one, you can create one on-site
• If the parents are unmarried: prenatal acknowledgment (reconnaissance prénatale, recommended to be done beforehand)
• Choice of baby’s surname (since 2005, you can choose freely: father's surname, mother's surname, or a combination — once decided, it applies to all subsequent children of that couple)

After registration, you will receive three copies of the birth certificate (please keep them safe, as CAF, social security, consulates, and nurseries will require them). You can also request a multilingual birth certificate (CIEC form), which can exempt you from translation for procedures if your country is a member of the Vienna Convention.

Baby's Health Insurance Card and CPAM

The town hall registration will automatically trigger the establishment of the baby’s social security file. The baby will be registered under both parents' Carte Vitale, but only one parent can claim reimbursements at a time (to be chosen by the parents).

The baby’s temporary social security number will arrive within 1 to 3 weeks, and the official social security number (starting with 1 or 2, distinguishing by gender, followed by the birth date) will be sent within 2 to 4 months. The baby will not receive a separate Carte Vitale in the short term — they will share the parents' card until they turn 12, when they will have their own card.

If one parent does not have CPAM (for example, still in the process of obtaining residency or only has AME), it is better to register the baby under the parent who has CPAM for more stability and speed.

Baby's Nationality: How Does France Calculate? How Does Your Country Calculate?

This is one of the most frequently asked and often misunderstood questions. Key points for 2026:

• France: A child born in France to foreign parents does not automatically acquire French nationality at birth. Once conditions are met, they can automatically acquire nationality at 18 years old (having lived in France for 5 years since age 11, Civil Code Article 21-7). From age 13, they can apply with parental consent (Article 21-11), and from age 16, they can apply independently.
• If one parent is French: The child is a French citizen from birth, regardless of where they are born.
• Country of origin: Most countries grant nationality based on descent (jus sanguinis) — the child will automatically hold citizenship from China, Morocco, Senegal, Vietnam, Brazil, etc.

Is dual nationality possible? France does not require renunciation, so from France's perspective, it is possible. From the perspective of the country of origin, it varies:

• China: Does not recognize dual nationality. Generally, between ages 16 and 18, one must choose one nationality. Many families actually hold two passports but do not declare it.
• Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria: Accept dual nationality
• Vietnam: Tolerates dual nationality
• Senegal, Brazil: Accept dual nationality
• Portugal: Accepts dual nationality

Baby's Passport in the Country of Origin: Time and Costs

To take the baby out of the EU, a passport is required. If both parents are not French nationals at birth, the passport will be issued by your country's consulate or embassy in France.

Typically required: French birth certificate, country-specific photos (often different from EU specifications), parents' passports, and sometimes a marriage certificate or family book. Please confirm the specific list with the consulate — it may vary.

Estimated time and costs for 2026:

• China: 6 to 10 weeks, €110, consulates in Paris/Lyon/Marseille/Strasbourg
• Morocco: 4 to 8 weeks, €30, multiple consulates
• Vietnam: 4 to 6 weeks, €80, embassy in Paris
• Senegal: 4 to 8 weeks, €60, embassy in Paris
• Brazil: 3 to 5 weeks, €75, consulates in Paris/Lyon
• Portugal: 3 to 4 weeks, €50, embassy in Paris (includes EU citizenship)

Vietnamese mother Anh in Strasbourg received her son's passport within 5 weeks through the embassy in Paris. Brazilian parents Pierre and Maria in Lyon used the Lyon consulate directly to avoid Paris.

CAF: What Can You Claim?

CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) provides various family allowances. You must have legally resided in France for at least 3 months (maternity allowance requires a formal residency card; AME alone is not sufficient). You can register online at caf.fr.

Main maternity and childcare allowances for 2026:

• Maternity allowance PAJE: Paid in the 7th month of pregnancy €1,019.43 (subject to income review, with a couple having two children capped at about €50,000/year)
• PAJE basic allowance: €188 or €94/month before the child turns 3 (subject to income)
• Childcare subsidy CMG: Can receive €230 to €880/month for private nurseries, babysitters, or home care (subject to income and family size)
• Family allowance Allocations familiales: Approximately €145/month starting from the second child (subject to income)
• Large family allowance Complément familial: For 3 or more children, €195 to €295/month, subject to caps

CAF uses quotient familial (family quotient, combining income and population) for calculations. Before submitting an application, simulate on caf.fr to avoid discrepancies.

Childcare Options: Nurseries, Babysitters, Home Care

From 2.5 months old (after maternity leave), you can enroll your baby in childcare. The three main options are:

• Public nurseries (crèche publique): €0.30 to €3 per hour, based on income. Demand is high, so you should register at the town hall during pregnancy. In Paris, the waiting list is very long (only 15% to 30% are selected).
• Private nurseries: Full-day costs range from €1,200 to €1,800/month, but CAF's CMG can reimburse €230 to €880/month.
• Licensed babysitters (assistante maternelle): Care at the babysitter's home, €4 to €8/hour, contracts can be signed through Pajemploi, and they can benefit from CMG.
• Home care (garde à domicile): Care at your home, €12 to €18/hour (gross), the most expensive but the most flexible.

Key Takeaways

• PMI is free and accessible without residency, available during pregnancy and postpartum
• Town hall registration must be completed within 5 days, or you will need to go through the court for re-registration
• In the case of dual foreign parents, the baby is not French at birth (they will acquire nationality upon meeting conditions at 18)
• Consulate passport: 3 to 10 weeks, varying by country
• If eligible, you can receive CAF €1,019 allowance in the 7th month
• Nursery: Start registering during pregnancy, as spots are very limited in large cities

About Pionra

On Pionra, communities from China, Morocco, Vietnam, Portugal, Senegal, and Brazil share experiences such as "Which PMI is the warmest?", "Which pediatrician speaks my language?", and "Which consulate processes passports the fastest?" Feel free to ask questions and engage at /fr/communautes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can our baby access health insurance while we are still processing residency in France?

Yes. As long as one parent has lived in France for three months and has joined CPAM or AME, the baby can be registered smoothly. New parents can also apply for AME for their baby. Public obstetric deliveries are free in any case.

Can foreign pregnant women receive paid maternity leave in France?

Yes, regardless of nationality, as long as they have worked a total of 150 hours in the past 3 months (or 600 hours in the past 12 months). The duration: for the first or second child, it is 16 weeks (6 weeks before birth + 10 weeks after), and from the third child onwards, it is 26 weeks. The allowance is 100% of salary, up to the social security cap (approximately €3,925/month in 2026).

If parents do not have valid residency, can the child still go to school?

Yes. All children aged 3 and older on French territory must receive free compulsory education, regardless of their parents' status (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child + Education Law). Just bring the birth certificate and proof of address to register at the town hall.

How can a French birth certificate be recognized in the country of origin?

Apply for a multilingual birth certificate (CIEC), or find a sworn translator to translate and obtain Hague certification. Then submit it through the embassy to your country's civil registration authority. China requires certified translation + consular certification from the Paris/Lyon consulate (about €60).

Can I give birth in France on a tourist visa?

Yes, but you will have neither Carte Vitale nor AME, and will need to pay all delivery costs out of pocket (public hospitals charge between €3,000 and €7,000, private hospitals are more expensive). Consider purchasing travel insurance that covers pregnancy — most do not cover maternity, so be sure to confirm before signing the contract. Unless it's an emergency, it's advisable to give birth in your country of origin.