National Order of Merit

Verified 23 March 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You would like to know what the conditions are to obtain the National Order of Merit, if you can ask for it for yourself, how the ceremony takes place,...? We'll give you the information you need.

After the Legion of Honor, the Ordre national du Mérite is the second national order to honor French citizens.

It rewards distinguished merit acquired either in a public, civil or military service or in the exercise of a private activity.

The National Order of Merit consists of:

  • 3 grades (knights, officers, commanders)
  • and 2 dignities (grand officers and grand crosses).

FYI  

you can't apply for it yourself. You must be nominated by someone else.

You must meet the following 2 conditions:

  • Have distinguished merits in exercise, during at least 10 yearscivil or military service or private activity
  • To be proposed by a minister, after consideration of a file established at the request of a central administration, a prefect, an association, a political figure (mayor, member of parliament, etc.) or a group of at least 50 persons (for the citizens' initiative).

FYI  

You don't necessarily have to be a French national. Persons of foreign nationality may be awarded the National Order of Merit. However, they cannot become members of the Order.

The dates vary depending on whether you're a civilian or a military person.

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General case

There are 2 annual promotions: May and November.

Military

There are 2 annual promotions: April-May and November.

You cannot wear the distinctive signs associated with the National Order of Merit front a ceremony (public or private) during which the decoration is given to you.

Choosing the person who will give you the badge

Depending on whether you live in France or abroad, the people who can give you the badge differ.

You live in France

The decoration must be given to you by one of the following people:

  • Member of the National Order of Merit or the Legion of Honor
  • Member of the government

If you do not know one of these individuals, you can contact the Association of Members of the National Order of Merit or the Legion of Honor Business.

You live abroad

The decoration must be given to you by one of the following people:

  • Member of the National Order of Merit or the Legion of Honor
  • Ambassador of France

If you do not know one of these individuals, you can contact the National Association of Members of the National Order of Merit or the Legion of Honor business.

Please note

If you are a foreigner, the reception ceremony is not mandatory.

Application for authorization to receive

You must send to the Grand Chancery a request for authorization of receipt, accompanied by the payment check for the chancery fees.

Application for authorization to issue a national order of merit insignia

Who shall I contact

  • Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor

    By mail

    Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor

    1 rue de Solferino

    75700 Paris 07 SP

    By telephone

    01 40 62 84 00

The medal is not provided by the administration.

You can buy the medal from the Monnaie de Paris or from private manufacturers.

Who shall I contact

The President of the Republic shall decide on the appointment to the rank of Knight of the National Order of Merit. He shall sign an order in council for appointment, which shall be published in the Official Journal.

The National Order of Merit is an honorary distinction and is not accompanied by any material or financial benefit.

A patent, signed by the President of the Republic, is granted to you after the presentation of its decoration.

The patent attests to your membership in the National Order of Merit.

Please note

the daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters of french decorators can ask to be part of the Legion of Honor educational institutions.

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