Do you have to live in France to receive family benefits?
Verified 15 November 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Principle
Yes, in order to be entitled to family benefits (examples: family allowances, back-to-school allowance), you must be a stable resident of France.
You must be in one of the following situations:
- Have your habitual residence in France
- Staying in France for more than 6 months (consecutive or not) during thecalendar year payment of benefits.
Residence in France can be proven by any means.
Warning
There's no no nationality requirement.
The persons of foreign nationality are entitled to family benefits under certain conditions.
Exceptions
A right to family benefits may be recognized even in the absence of residence in France because of Community regulations or international conventions.
You can find out more from the Center for European and International Social Security Liaison (Cleiss).
Who shall I contact
- Center for European and International Social Security Liaison (Cleiss)
General information on social security abroad and assistance in the application of individuals
By telephone
+33 (0) 1 45 26 33 41
Hotline:
- mondays and wednesdays: 9am to 12.30pm
- tuesday and thursday: 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
- Wednesday from 9 am to 12:30 pm.
By E-mail
Access to contact form
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
If you are dependent on the general diet
Family Allowance Fund (Caf)If you are dependent on the general agricultural scheme
Mutual Social Agricultural Organization (MSA)
- Social Security Code: Article L511-1List of family benefits
- Social Security Code: Articles R111-1 to R111-4Condition of residence in France: article R111-2
- Allowances for familiesService-Public.fr