How to get a social security number and carte vitale in france

OBTAINING A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IS TYPICALLY ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS TO DO UPON ARRIVAL IN FRANCE AS IT ALLOWS YOU TO ENTER THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM When you arrive in France, one of the

first things you will want to do is to apply for a social security number. If you are coming to do an employed or self-employed job then this is part-and-parcel of your set-up formalities;

otherwise, for example if you are a retiree or early-retiree, you need to apply to your local _Caisse primaire d’assurance maladie _(Cpam)_,_ which you can do with a paper form or sometimes

online. Cpam is your local state health insurance body. Once you have a social security number you can also apply for a _carte Vitale_, which simplifies your healthcare reimbursements in the

state system. HOW TO APPLY FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IN FRANCE? If you are not applying via work, then you need to complete a form and send it to your local Cpam (state health insurance

offices). Usually you need to print this off, fill it in and post it, or take it to the Cpam offices, though it is worth contacting them in advance to see if an email or online process is

possible, and to check the documents required. Their number is 3646 and they are generally open between 8:30 and 17:30. There is also a Cpam English-speaking helpline on 09 76 77 36 46

(Monday to Friday). WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER? Generally, you will need to provide copies of the following: * Passport or national identity card (if you

are French) * French bank account details * Residency card if you are a non-EU foreign citizen * birth certificate * Evidence of work status such as work contract or payslip * Or if you are

not working, proof of stable life in France such as the three last electricity bills HOW TO GET A _CARTE VITALE_ Once you have obtained your social security number (you will at first be

given a temporary number before your permanent one is issued later on), you can use it to apply for a _carte Vitale_. Visit this site to create an Ameli account, which stands for ‘_Assurance

maladie en ligne_’ and is the website for the network of Cpams This is where you will manage your _carte Vitale_ request and later track reimbursements for medical costs. To create your

Ameli account, you must register your name, date of birth, social security number and postcode which indicates which Cpam region you belong to. Once you have created an account, click on my

account (mon compte) > my procedures (mes démarches) > my carte Vitale (ma carte Vitale) > order my _carte Vitale_ (commander ma carte Vitale). In this section you will be prompted

to declare the beneficiary (you). Ensure that all of your personal information is correct and upload a digital passport style photo of yourself as well as a scan of an ID document. The

documents must be in jpg or pdf format. The system will ask you to validate all the information you entered before allowing you to file your request. CAN I ORDER MY _CARTE VITALE_ ON MY

PHONE? If you already have your social security number, it is possible to order your _carte Vitale_ on your smartphone through the Ameli app which you can download from the App Store or

Google Play. The process is the same regardless of the platform you use. RELATED ARTICLES EXPLAINER: PAYING TO SEE A DOCTOR OR HEALTH SPECIALIST IN FRANCE HOW TO FIND A DOCTOR IN FRANCE WHO

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