How to Obtain a French Birth Certificate

Birth certificates serve as an important official and legal document used to obtain passports and conduct other types of business. If you are a French citizen or a citizen of another country but were born in France, you'll need to contact the proper offices to request a copy of your French birth certificate. There are three different scenarios upon which you may need a French birth certificate, each with its own contact information and its own set of specific instructions. Remember to include all requested information and documentation.

Write a letter to the Office of the Mayor (La Mairie) if you are a French citizen seeking a French birth certificate. Include your birth date, full name at birth, birth place and your parents' full names, including your mother's maiden name. Send your letter plus a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

Monsieur le Maire, Bureau de l'Etat-Civil,
Mairie de Boulogne sur Mer,
62200 Boulogne sur Mer, France

There is no fee.
2

Write a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministère des Affaires Etrangères) if you are a French citizen who was born in another country. Include the same information as listed in Step 1 in your letter. Mail it with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

Ministère des Affaires Etrangères,
Direction des Français à l' Etranger Service Central de l'Etat-Civil
11, Rue Maison Blanche, 44000 Nantes

There is no fee.
3

Write to the U.S. Department of State Passport Services Office if you are an American citizen born in France to request a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. Include the same information as indicated in Step 1, as well as your parents' places of birth and the name, passport number and issue date on the passport you used to enter the country. Attach a copy of your current passport or state identification. Take your letter and identification documents to a notary to verify your identity and have the notary sign your letter. Send your request and a $30 fee to:

U.S. Department of State
Passport Services
Vital Records Section
1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 510
Washington, DC 20522-1705

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