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Minor foreigner Movement Document (MCD)

Verified 28 March 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

You're parents of a foreigner minor who must travel outside France (or you are a person with parental authority)?

You must request a Minor foreigner Movement Document (MRD).

The ECMD allows the minor to return to France (or to the external borders of the Schengen area). It has to be presented in addition to the passport. The DECM is issued for a maximum period of 5 years.

We present you the information you need to know to complete the process.

Step-by-step approach

General case

The application must be made by at least one of the parents (or the person with parental authority) who holds a valid residence permit.

The European parent settled in France for more than 3 months does not have to have a residence permit.

In Mayotte

The application must be made by at least one of the parents (or the person with parental authority) who holds a valid residence permit.

The European parent settled for more than 3 months does not have to have a residence permit.

Warning  

The CEM issued in Mayotte only allows the return to Mayotte.

Documents common to all situations

  • Proof of regularity of the applicant's stay (if you are a third-country national): valid residence card
  • Passport (or otherwise: national identity card, consular identity card, etc.) of the applicant and of the child
  • Family booklet or birth certificate containing the established filiation of the child
  • Documents proving that the applicant exercises parental authority over the minor:
    • Married parents: marriage certificate
    • Divorced parents: divorce judgment
    • Unmarried parents: birth certificate of the child mentioning recognition of the minor before the age of 1 year, or joint declaration of joint exercise of parental authority made to the registrar of the court of justice or copy of the court decision ruling on parental authority (if the child has been recognized after the age of 1 year)
  • If parental authority is exercised by a third party: copy of the court decision delegating parental authority or the decision of the family council
  • School or nursery certificate or any other document for young children that can prove habitual residence in France
  • Proof of domicile on behalf of the applicant if the minor resides with him or on behalf of the minor if he or she does not live with the applicant
  • 2 photos of the minor
  • Tax stamps of an amount of €50 to be given at the time of delivery of the DCEM

FYI  

civil status documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by their translation into French by an accredited interpreter.

Additional documentation depending on the minor's situation

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Minor under 16 years of age in the child welfare service

Judicial Judge's Decision on Placement on Social Assistance for Children Under 16

Minor recognized as a refugee or beneficiary of subsidiary protection

Decision of theOfpra: titleContent or the NDA: titleContent recognizing refugee status or subsidiary protection

Minor who entered France on a long-stay visa as a child of French (or adopted)

  • Visa of more than 3 months duration mention French family or international adoption
  • Proof of the parent's French nationality: valid passport, valid national identity card or certificate of French nationality less than 6 months

Minor who entered France before the age of 13 with a long-stay visa as a visitor

  • Copy of visa for more than 3 months mention visitor and stamp of entry into France before the age of 13
  • Proof of habitual residence in France (school certificates) since the age of 13

Minor residing in Mayotte born in France

  • Valid residence card of at least one of the 2 parents
  • Proof of birth in France of the minor

Minor resident in Mayotte born abroad

  • Valid residence card of at least one of the 2 parents
  • Proof of regular entry to Mayotte before the age of 13

The parent (or the person with parental authority) must file the application for the CEM on the Internet:

After the deposit, a deposit confirmation is transmitted. This confirmation does not allow the foreigner minor to be readmitted to France or to the Schengen borders. A visa is required.

The issue of the DCEM is subject to payment: €50 is to be paid by tax stamps at the time of delivery of the security.

You can buy the tax stamp on the internet or at a tobacco office.

On the Internet

You can purchase your tax stamp using the following online service:

Online Tax Stamp Purchase - foreigner Title

Payment is possible with the following bank cards:

  • Blue Card (CB) and e-Blue Card
  • Endorsement
  • Mastercard

However, payment by Paypal or American Express card is not accepted.

The electronic stamp can be issued on 2 media:

  • A PDF document with a 2D code that can also be scanned directly from a phone or tablet by the service responsible for receiving your request
  • A text message containing the 16-digit stamp identifier that will be accepted by the officer in charge of processing your file

Request a refund of a tax stamp

In a tobacco office

You can buy a tax stamp from a tobacco office, if the store is equipped to edit them.

Warning  

do not buy a fine stamp by mistake.

Your application for a movement document for a minor foreigner is examined by the competent prefecture or sub-prefecture according to your declared address of residence.

Processing times vary by jurisdiction.

An online service allows you to know the status of your application. You need to sign in to your personal account:

Login to your personal account administration foreigner in France

Depending on your prefecture, you will receive for withdrawal

  • either a text message or an email inviting you to make an appointment,
  • or a summons.

The applicant for the title must come to the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) to withdraw it accompanied by the beneficiary child.

The procedure differs depending on the age of the child.

If the child is under 13 years old

The DCEM is valid 5 years and can be renewed.

  • If the parents have a residence permit that will expire before 5 years of age, the child's CDR. end date is the same as the parent's.
  • If the parents have a residence permit that will end before 1 year, the child's CDR. end date is 1 year.

FYI  

if parents have titles with different end dates, the later end date is used

The CEMD may be removed when the child no longer meets the conditions for issuance.

If the child becomes French or obtains a residence permit, the DCEM must be returned to the prefecture.

From the age of 13

The DCEM is valid until 18 years of the child.

If the parents have a residence permit that will expire before the child's 18th birthday, the child's CDR. end date is the same as the parent's. However, the child's DCEM may not be less than 1 year.

FYI  

if parents have titles with different end dates, the later end date is used

The CEMD may be removed when the child no longer meets the conditions for issuance.

If the child becomes French or obtains a residence permit, the DCEM must be returned to the prefecture.

Application for a movement document (ASD) for a minor foreigner

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • For more information

    Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service

    For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.

    Cost: free service

    The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.

    Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.

    The service is available at the following times:

    • Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
    • Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
    • Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
    • Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
    • Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m