The social security certificate, also called the “Vitale certificate” or “certificate of entitlement”, is an essential document for all French residents. It attests to affiliation to the social security scheme and is required for many administrative and medical procedures in France. Find out what it is for and how to obtain it.
An essential document
The social security certificate
The social security certificate is proof of entitlement to health insurance, giving access to essential benefits such as the cover of medical costs including during hospitalisation, maternity, sick leave, and many others. It is also required in many situations, such as enrolment at a nursery or university, for a new job, registration with Pôle emploi or taking out supplementary insurance.
It is also very useful if you lose your Vitale card.
You are often asked to provide a recent document (less than 6 months old).
What information does it contain?
The certificate of entitlement is 2 pages long and contains basic information:
- Identification of the insured person and their dependants: name(s), social security number(s), date(s) of birth;
- Information about the affiliated body: the health insurance scheme code;
- Co-payment (ticket modérateur): exemption or adjustment.
The process
How to obtain your social security certificate?
- Download the certificate from your Ameli account
The first step is to log in to the online health insurance account. Once logged in, here is the process:
- Go to the “My procedures in 2 clicks” section, then “Certificate of entitlement” available on the home page.
- Select the beneficiary concerned by the certificate.
- Tick the option “show additional information” (optional).
You can request to show specific information such as “100 % cover of care – Exemption from the co-payment”, in particular in the case of a long-term condition (ALD) or the Complementary Health Solidarity scheme.
- Click on “Request my certificate” to confirm.
The certificate is generated in PDF format. Note that people who do not yet have an Ameli account can create one by filling in their personal details, including their social security number.
- Download the certificate via the mobile app
The Vitale certificate is also available via the health insurance mobile app.
- Go to the “My documents” section available on the app’s home page,
- Select “Certificate of entitlement”,
- Select the beneficiary concerned by the certificate,
- Tick the option “Show additional information” (optional).
You can then download it in PDF format or share it by email.
- Multiservice terminal or telephone
You can also print the Vitale certificate from a multiservice terminal, available at one of the social security reception points, or request it by phone on 3646 from France or +33 1 84 90 36 46 from abroad.
In conclusion, the social security certificate is a crucial document for many procedures in France. It is important to obtain it in order to benefit from all the advantages offered by the French social security system. To do so, nothing could be simpler: go to the Ameli online account.
MIA Assurances is at your service to support you in setting up social protection for your employees while helping you decipher the codes of insurance.
We are here to listen, by email or by phone.
