Whether you are a student, a doctoral student or a researcher, if you come to France with your spouse and/or children, they must all be covered by health insurance from the moment they arrive in the country. This section explains whether, depending on your circumstances and theirs, they are entitled to state health insurance coverage, or whether they are required to take out private health insurance.
European (EU/EEA) or Swiss spouse and children
Before your family arrives in France, contact the health insurance office in your country to find out whether each member of your family accompanying you will remain covered by their country's health insurance during their stay in France, what steps they need to take, and whether they need to bring a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or an S1 form, for example.
> You can visit the European commission website for more information about
the EU social security coordination, and
the European Health Insurance Card.
> You can also visit the website Your Europe for more information about
Your health insurance cover in the EU.
On arrival in France, depending on your family members' situation, certain steps may need to be taken.
For your minor children (aged under 18), if you yourself are registered with French state health insurance, you can ask your health insurance organization to add your minor children to your account.
> Access the form to add minor children to your account ("Demande de rattachement des enfants mineurs à l'un ou aux deux parents assurés")
For your spouse, the potential steps to take will depend on his/her situation, and in particular his/her professional situation.
If your spouse obtains a French employment contract during his/her stay in France, he/she will have to register with French state health insurance by completing a registration request form.
Depending on his/her situation, and particularly if your spouse is considered "inactive", they may need to register with French state health insurance via
the health insurance registration platform for nonworking European nationals.
Do not hesitate to contact the French health insurance (CPAM) directly for further information.
If your family members cannot remain covered by their country's health insurance during their stay in France, nor benefit from French health insurance, you will need to take out private health insurance for them to cover their medical expenses in France.
> Taking out private health insurance
Spouse and children of a different nationality
If you have a “Passeport Talent” visa and a French employment contract
The request for registration with French state health insurance for your children and spouse must be submitted to the CPAM (health insurance organization) in Paris at the same time as yours, i.e. as soon as you obtain your employment contract.
If they arrive in France later than you, you can send their registration requests upon their arrival.
As is the case for yourself, you will have to download a form, fill it in, attach the supporting documents requested, and send everything:
- Either by post, to the following address:
Assurance maladie de Paris
SRI/talents
75948 Paris cedex 19
- Or online, via the CPAM Paris DépotDoc platform (even if you and your family do not live in Paris).
> The health insurance cover application form for your spouse ("Demande d'ouverture des droits à l'assurance maladie")
> The form for requesting addition of a minor child to an account ("Demande de rattachement des enfants mineurs à l'un ou aux deux parents assurés")
Allow 6 to 10 weeks for your application to be processed.
Other situations
If you yourself are entitled to French state health insurance
You can obtain coverage for your minor children (aged under 18) too, by sending the form requesting that they be added to your account to your health insurance organization.
> The form for requesting addition of a minor child to an account ("Demande de rattachement des enfants mineurs à l'un ou aux deux parents assurés")
Under certain conditions, your spouse could be entitled to French state health insurance. He/she can apply to your local CPAM (health insurance organization), by filling in an application form and submitting it along with the supporting documents requested.
> The health insurance cover application form for your spouse ("Demande d'ouverture des droits à l'assurance maladie")
Important
The processing times are long (at least 6 to 10 weeks). While you wait for your children and spouse to be registered with French health insurance, or if they are not entitled to it, they must take out private health insurance.
> Taking out private health insurance
If you yourself are not entitled to French state health insurance
You will have to take out private health insurance for your spouse and children to cover their medical expenses in France.
> Taking out private health insurance
