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I must register to the French social security. Three main steps at etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr
First, I need a temporary certification
I need to provide:
- My registration certification for the current academic year or my student card.
- My S1 form.
Let’s be practical: I will receive a temporary social security number, I will still pay my medical expense, and must ask for reimbursement to my “Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie” (CPAM, local healthcare insurance office).
I complete my registration
I need to provide:
- A civil status certificate (birth certificate, for example). A translation will be requested from non-European students. No translation will be required for European students (except for Greek and Bulgarian students).
- My banking information (“RIB”, for Relevé d’Identité Bancaire). If I don't have a bank account in France, I can enter the bank details (IBAN) of an account abroad.
I receive my “carte vitale” (health insurance card)
To receive my card, I must create a personal account at ameli.fr. I’ll be able to manage my reimbursements in my personal space.
Carte vitale
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Let’s sum up
- My first step is to start the process on the website of health insurance dedicated to international students as soon as I am registered in my institution.
- I complete my file as soon as I open a bank account in France.
- I create a personal account at ameli.fr
The registration process at the French social security can take time, so there’s no need to panic. My health cover is backdated to the date of registration in my higher education institution. All care received after my registration is covered.
