Get your carte Vitale
What is it?
The carte Vitale is a card you have to present to the doctor, so as not to pay health costs in advance, or automatically obtain reimbursement of your health costs.
The carte Vitale is issued for free to anyone who benefits from a health insurance. It is linked to your final social security number (a 13-digit number starting with "1" for men, "2" for women).
Please note: With a provisional social security number, you cannot apply for a carte Vitale. You must wait until you get your final social security number to apply for a card and get it.
The carte Vitale is personal. You can get it in the following situations:
- You are 16 years old or over: you can have your personal carte Vitale.
- You have a child under the age of 16: you can link your child to your social security number, as well as to that of their other parent, so that he or she also benefits from your rights thanks to your carte Vitale (your child will then be called your “ayant droit"). Once you do it, you can use your carte Vitale at the doctor's office for your child.
- You have a child who is between 12 and 16 years old: you can request a personal carte Vitale for them. You therefore have the choice either to keep your child on your carte Vitale, or to give them a personal carte Vitale.
Who is it for?
France entière
France entière
What to do?
First option—Apply for a carte Vitale by mail
As soon as you obtain your final social security number (which begins with the number 1 for a man, and with the number 2 for a woman), you will be sent the form "Ma nouvelle carte Vitale".
To make your request by mail, you just need to use this form:
- Check the information indicated on the form. If there is an error or an oversight, you must call your Caisse primaire d'assurance maladie (CPAM) to report it so that they can change it.
- If the information is correct, sign the form.
- Paste a color ID photo in the location provided.
- Attach a photocopy of your ID to the form (your ID must have a photo).
- Send the form and the photocopy of your ID in the return envelope (this is the pre-filled envelope you received with the form). Finally, you will have to put a stamp on the enveloppe and post it.
Your carte Vitale will then be issued within approximately three weeks.
Please note: If you have your final social security number (which starts with the number 1 for men, and with the number 2 for women), we advise you to apply for your carte vitale online. It's faster (see next steps).
Second option—Apply for a carte Vitale online
To obtain your carte Vitale, you must first have obtained a definitive social security number (which begins with "1" for men, "2" for women and not "7" or "8").
Please note: It can take a long time to get your final social security number. You must provide copies of civil status documents issued by the OFPRA upon receipt, in order to make your final number allocation request.
Once your final social security number has been obtained, you can create your Ameli account (you will need your social security number and a personal password to sign up, and then log in). You can then apply for a carte Vitale from your Ameli account.
- Log in to your account on the Health Insurance (Ameli) website.
- Go to the "Mes démarches" section,
- then to the "Commander une carte vitale" section.
Select the person for whom you request a carte vitale
Select the person you want to obtain a carte Vitale for.
Check that the information displayed is correct (marital status, postal address, email address, telephone number, etc.).
Add the documents requested
You must attach these digitized (scanned) documents in order to validate your request:
- an ID photo (=mug shot)
- your ID
Check the information and confirm your request
If the information is correct, confirm your request.
Please note: At the end of your request, a recap of your data is displayed on the screen. You have to keep it in case of problems concerning your request.
You will receive your carte Vitale by mail within approximately 2 weeks.
Please note: Your carte Vitale will be accompanied by a hard copy of your personal information. Keep this document which will be useful if you lose your Carte Vitale, or if you need to prove your heath insurance rights.
And after?
Update your carte Vitale once a year
You have to update your carte Vitale once a year or every time your situation changes (renewal of C2S, change of address, marital status, etc.).
This can be done in pharmacies, health insurance organizations, or in certain health establishments.
Report the loss or theft of your card
In the event of the loss or the theft of your carte Vitale, you must notify your primary health insurance fund either from your Ameli account by clicking on the "Déclarer la perte ou le vol de carte vitale" section, by phone, by mail, or from a reception point of you health insurance fund.
You can request a new carte Vital for free.
olga b.
konstantine
houssam kokach
hicham
noor
rohullah expertmargotglt
etienne develay
aman expert
a mugnier
Comité de la Démarche Accessible