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Registration Process for the French Social Security System

In order to qualify for reimbursements of your medical expenses during the academic year, you must be affiliated to the general French social security system.

If you have already been affiliated to the French social security system in the past, or if you were born in France, you need to contact the CPAM by phone at 3646 (FR) or at 09 74 75 36 46 (ENG) or go directly to your local CPAM branch, in order to get information on how to recover your social security number and create an account on the platform ameli.fr.

All new registrations are submitted online via a dedicated website available in French, English and Spanish: https://etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr/#/.

It may take a few weeks before you receive your certificate of affiliation to the French social security system. We recommend taking out an international health insurance to cover you the first few months in France.

1 - Create your account on the website

You must register with a French postal address.

2 - Upload the required documents

  • Passport;
  • Student visa;
  • Certificate of enrolment in education;
  • Long copy of your birth certificate or a standard birth certificate with your parents’ names and the certified translation;
  • Residency permit or visa validation certificate;
  • IBAN number (French bank account number).

3 - Download your provisional certificate of affiliation to the french social security system

You will immediatly be eligible for reimbursement of your medical costs by the French healthcare system.

The provisional certificate of affiliation will enable you to finalise your Sciences Po administrative registration online.

4 - Receive your official certificate of affiliation to the french social security system

After receiving your official certificate of affiliation, your account on the etudiant-étranger website will be closed and your details transferred to your local CPAM branch.

5 - Order your Carte Vitale

Create an account on www.ameli.fr (FR): your account login details will be sent to you in the post. Order your Carte Vitale health insurance card and manage your reimbursements online.

In an Emergency

  • Dial 112 for emergency services throughout the European Union
  • Dial 15 for the SAMU (French emergency medical services)
  • Dial 18 for your nearest fire station, which also administers first aid
  • Dial 3624 for SOS médecin, a round-the-clock house visit service (calls cost 12 c/minute)
  • Dial 3114 for any advice or emergency about Suicide
  • Duty chemist/night pharmacies in Île de France (FR) or around France (FR)
  • All hospitals have emergency services (FR)

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