Dematerialization of civil registration documents: experiment launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On an experimental basis and for a period of three years, the Central Civil Registry Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for creating a centralized electronic register of civil status documents which will consist of all electronic documents drawn up by the diplomatic and consular authorities, under conditions which guarantee their integrity and confidentiality and also their unalterability, legibility and traceability.

With a view to simplifying and making users' procedures more secure, a digital civil status document by means of an electronic signature should be given the same authentic value as a paper document signed in hand by a civil status officer. The electronic register will contain newly established electronic acts with a high level of security giving them an authentic character.

The decree specifies the conditions for drawing up and updating these acts, in particular with regard to the use of electronic time-stamping and signature procedures. It establishes the arrangements for the teletransmission of civil status declarations and the electronic issuance of documents to users. It shall also lay down the conditions for verifying their authenticity.

The calendar

The experiment will begin in the last quarter of 2020 with the dematerialization of the delivery of extracts and copies of acts. The application can be made online at Service-Public.fr, the digitally signed document will then be made available to the user in his personal space.

In the first half of 2021, a second stage provides for the creation and updating of electronic documents which will mark the creation of the electronic register.

In the second half of 2021, a third step will implement an online service that allows a user to register a civil registration event online for transcription without traveling to their consulate.