Census of Citizens

Verified 21 March 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You're French and you'll soon be 16? You're wondering what the citizen census (sometimes called by mistake military census)? Making your citizen census at the age of 16 is obligatory, that you lived in France or abroad. We tell you everything you need to know.

In France

The period of the citizen census depends on your situation:

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Young French born

If you were born French, you have to do your citizen census from your 16th birthday. You have to do it within 3 months. You have until the end of the third months to do it.

Example :

If your 16th Anniversary is January 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between January 12, 2024 and April 30, 2024.

FYI  

If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.

Young man turned French

If you became French between the ages of 16 and 25, you must be registered within one month obtaining French nationality.

Example :

If you obtain French citizenship on January 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between January 12, 2024, and February 12, 2024.

FYI  

If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.

Young person who can reject French nationality

If you have the opportunity to to refuse French nationality and that you choose to be French, you must be registered between the day you turn 16 and the month after your 19th birthday birthday.

Example :

If your 16th Anniversary is January 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between January 12, 2024 and February 12, 2026.

FYI  

If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.

He is obligatory to carry out the citizen census.

After you've done your citizen census :

  • You get a census certificate.
    This certificate is essential to be able to register you before the age of 18 years for an exam (BEP, Bac...) or an administrative competition in France.
  • You are called to the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC). You must have done the JDC (or been exempted from it), to be able to register you from 18 years of age for an exam (BEP, Bac...), or an administrative competition, or for the examination of the driving license in France. This obligation ceases from your 25th birthday.
  • You are automatically registered to vote from your 18th birthday and then you can vote.

The rules are different depending on your situation:

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General case

You can do the citizen census at your home town hall or on the internet:

Census at City Hall

You must complete your census at town hall of the municipality of your home.

FYI  

If you are homeless or homeless (homeless), this is the municipality of the municipality where the organization with which you have done business is located address for service.

You have to do the census yourself.

But if you are a minor, one of your parents can do this for you and in your absence.

You have to go to the town hall with the following documents:

  • Valid national identity card or passport
  • Up-to-date family booklet
  • Proof of domicile

Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.

Internet Census

You must use this online service:

Census of Citizens

You must have the following documents:

  • Valid national identity card or passport
  • Up-to-date family booklet

Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.

In case of disability or disability

The approach to take depends on your situation:

You have the "mobility inclusion" card with the mention "disability"
Census at City Hall

You must complete your census at town hall of the municipality of your home.

FYI  

If you are homeless or homeless (homeless), this is the municipality of the municipality where the organization with which you have done business is located address for service.

You have to do the census yourself.

But if you are a minor, one of your parents can do this for you and in your absence.

You have to go to the town hall with the following documents:

  • Valid national identity card or passport
  • Up-to-date family booklet
  • Proof of domicile

Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.

After completing your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participating in the JDC.

To do this, you must present your "mobility inclusion" card marked "disability" in the CSNJ: titleContent closest.

If your application is accepted, you will receive a individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC.

Internet Census

You must use this online service:

Census of Citizens

You must have the following documents:

  • Valid national identity card or passport
  • Up-to-date family booklet

Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.

After completing your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participating in the JDC.

To do this, you must present your "mobility inclusion" card marked "disability" in the CSNJ: titleContent closest.

If your application is accepted, you will receive a individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC.

You have a disability card
Census at City Hall

You must complete your census at town hall of the municipality of your home.

FYI  

If you are homeless or homeless (homeless), this is the municipality of the municipality where the organization with which you have done business is located address for service.

You have to do the census yourself.

But if you are a minor, one of your parents can do this for you and in your absence.

You have to go to the town hall with the following documents:

  • Valid national identity card or passport
  • Up-to-date family booklet
  • Proof of domicile

Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.

After completing your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participating in the JDC.

To do this, you must present your disability card to the CSNJ: titleContent closest.

If your application is accepted, you will receive a individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC.

Internet Census

You must use this online service:

Census of Citizens

You must have the following documents:

  • Valid national identity card or passport
  • Up-to-date family booklet

Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.

After completing your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participating in the JDC.

To do this, you must present your disability card to the CSNJ: titleContent closest.

If your application is accepted, you will receive a individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC.

You're disabled
Census at City Hall

You must complete your census at town hall of the municipality of your home.

FYI  

If you are homeless or homeless (homeless), this is the municipality of the municipality where the organization with which you have done business is located address for service.

You have to do the census yourself.

But if you are a minor, one of your parents can do this for you and in your absence.

You have to go to the town hall with the following documents:

  • Valid national identity card or passport
  • Up-to-date family booklet
  • Proof of domicile

Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.

After completing your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participating in the JDC.

To do this, you must provide either a medical certificate dated less than 3 months and describing your handicap, or a copy of the cerfa certificate no. 15695.

This document must be inserted in an envelope marked Medical Confidential. You must deposit this envelope in a 2nd envelope. You must send this 2nd envelope at CSNJ: titleContent closest.

If your application is accepted, you will receive:

  • Let's say one individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC,
  • Or, in the case of temporary incapacity, provisional certificate providing for the postponement of your participation in the JDC.
Internet Census

You must use this online service:

Census of Citizens

You must have the following documents:

  • Valid national identity card or passport
  • Up-to-date family booklet

Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.

After completing your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participating in the JDC.

To do this, you must provide either a medical certificate dated less than 3 months and describing your handicap, or a copy of the cerfa certificate no. 15695.

This document must be inserted in an envelope marked Medical Confidential. You must deposit this envelope in a 2nd envelope. You must send this 2nd envelope at CSNJ: titleContent closest.

If your application is accepted, you will receive:

  • Let's say one individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC,
  • Or, in the case of temporary incapacity, provisional certificate providing for the postponement of your participation in the JDC.

Once your census is done, the city hall gives you your census certificate.

Generally, an information brochure on the national service is also provided.

Warning  

none duplicate of your census certificate will be provided.

Menstrual periods vary depending on your age:

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You're under 25

You must request a certificate of administrative status at your National Youth Service Center (NYSC). You can ask:

  • Either by email (with a scan of your valid ID card or passport),
  • Or by mail (with a photocopy of your valid ID card or passport).

You are 25 years of age or older

You cannot get of attestation of administrative status after the age of 25.

The census certificate is used to prove that you have completed your citizen census.

To register before the age of 18 for an exam (BEP, Baccalaureate...) or competition organized by the french administration, you must present one of the following documents:

  • Your census certificate
  • In case of loss or theft of your census certificate, a certificate of administrative status (which you must ask your national service center)
  • A document proving your situation regarding the citizenship defense day (JDC). This may be your individual certificate of participation in the JDC or your individual exemption certificate to the JDC.

After the citizen census and as long as you are not 25 years old, you must inform your CSNJ: titleContent of any change in your situation:

  • Change of residence (moving). You should also report any absence from your usual home for more than 4 months.
  • Changing your family situation (for example, you are getting married or passing through, you have a child)
  • Change in work status (for example, from student to employee)

You can report your change of situation:

By email
Via the Internet

You can make your statement on the online service My JDC.

To do this, you must first have created your personal account:

My JDC

By mail

You must use the cerfa n°11718 form:

Declaration of change of situation at the National Service and Youth Center (CSNJ)

You must send this form to your CSNJ: titleContent.

Abroad

The period of the citizen census depends on your situation:

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Young French born

If you were born French, you have to do your citizen census from your 16th birthday. You have to do it within 3 months. You have until the end of the third months to do it.

Example :

If your 16th Anniversary is January 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between January 12, 2024 and April 30, 2024.

FYI  

If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.

Young man turned French

If you became French between the ages of 16 and 25, you must be registered within one month obtaining French nationality.

Example :

If you obtain French citizenship on January 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between January 12, 2024, and February 12, 2024.

FYI  

If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.

Young person who can reject French nationality

If you have the opportunity to to refuse French nationality and that you choose to be French, you must be registered between the day you turn 16 and the month after your 19th birthday birthday.

Example :

If your 16th Anniversary is January 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between January 12, 2024 and February 12, 2026.

FYI  

If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.

He is obligatory to carry out the citizen census.

After completing your citizen census:

  • You get a census certificate. You have to present this certificate to be able to register before the age of 18 years for an exam (BEP, Bac...) or an administrative competition in France.
  • You are called to the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC). You must have done the JDC (or been exempted from it) to be able to register you from 18 years of age for an examination (BEP, Bac...), or an administrative competition, or for the examination of the driving license in France. This obligation ceases from your 25th birthday.
  • You are automatically registered to vote from 18 years. You can vote from the age of 18.

FYI  

If you are registered on the register of French nationals established outside France, your citizen census is automatic. So you don't have to do anything.

It all depends on your situation:

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Young person registered in the French register established outside France

If you are registered on the register of French nationals established outside France, your citizen census is automatic. So you don't have to do anything.

Warning  

If you have several nationalities, you must report it to the consulate.

Unregistered youth

You have to do it yourself.

If you are a minor, one of your parents can do this for you.

The consulate must be visited with the following documents:

  • Valid national identity card or passport
  • Up-to-date family booklet

If you have more than one nationality, you must it is imperative to report it to the consulate.

Please note

you can make your citizen census until the eve of your 25th birthday. The approach to be taken is the same as the one to be taken at the age of 16.

The census certificate is used to prove that you have made your citizen census.

How do I get the census certificate?

Following the citizen census, your embassy or consular authority will give you a census certificate. It shall not be issued with duplicate.

What should I do in case of loss or theft of the census certificate?

You can request a certificate of administrative status at the Perpignan National and Youth Service (CSNJ) Center.

When is the census certificate required?

The census certificate is used to prove that you have completed your citizen census.

To register before the age of 18 for an exam (BEP, Baccalaureate...) or competition organized by the french administration, you must present one of the following documents:

  • Your census certificate
  • In case of loss or theft of your census certificate, a certificate of administrative status (which you must ask your national service center)
  • A document proving your situation regarding the citizenship defense day (JDC). This may be your individual certificate of participation in the JDC or your individual exemption certificate to the JDC.

After your citizen census and as long as you are not 25 years old, you must inform your National Service and Youth Center (CSNJ) of any change in your situation:

  • Change of domicile (any absence from habitual domicile for more than 4 months must also be reported)
  • Change in family situation
  • Change of employment status

You can file your change of situation report:

By email

You have to send it to Perpignan's CSNJ.

By mail

You must use the cerfa n°11718 form:

Declaration of change of situation at the National Service and Youth Center (CSNJ)

You have to send it to Perpignan's CSNJ.

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