Introduction

You just landed in France and everyone is already asking for your "numéro de sécu": the university student insurance, your part-time employer, the CAF, the GP you visit for the first time. You dig through your papers and either find nothing — or you find a number that starts with 7 or 8, not the usual 1 or 2. Don't panic: that is a NIA, a provisional number, and it is exactly what a newcomer should have.

Confusion between NIA, NIR, the Ameli identifier and the Carte Vitale wastes weeks for thousands of new residents every year. Without a working number you get no medical reimbursements, no proper payroll, no CAF benefits, and no top-up insurance. Here is the practical 2026 guide, updated with real CPAM processing times.

NIA vs NIR: the key distinction

• The NIR (Numéro d'Inscription au Répertoire) is the social security number, 13 digits + 2 control digits. It starts with (men) or (women), then year and month of birth, then an INSEE/department of birth code. You keep it for life.

Key takeaway: a NIA is not a "downgraded" number. It allows you to:

• Receive CPAM reimbursements
• Be properly declared by your employer in social filings (DSN)
• Open an Ameli online account
• Apply for the Complémentaire Santé Solidaire (CSS) or take out a private mutuelle
• Apply for AME (state medical aid) — note: AME does not use the NIA, it is a separate file
• File a CAF request (APL housing aid, RSA income support, back-to-school allowance…)

The only thing the NIA does not allow: ordering a Carte Vitale. That requires the permanent NIR. Between the NIA and the NIR you typically wait 2 to 6 months in 2026, with peaks of up to 9 months in greater Paris.

How to obtain a NIA right after arrival

Three entry paths depending on your status:

1. You are a salaried employee

The fastest route. Your employer enrols you automatically in their first DSN (Déclaration Sociale Nominative) submission. You receive a NIA usually 2 to 6 weeks after your first payslip. Confirm with HR that they sent your translated birth certificate + passport + residence permit or récépissé.

2. You are a student

Since 2018 enrolment is automatic for French and EU students, but for non-EU foreign students you must register on etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr (a dedicated portal). You create an account with your passport, university enrolment certificate, translated birth certificate, and a French RIB (bank details). The NIA arrives 4 to 12 weeks later. Until then you pay consultations upfront; reimbursement is retroactive once the NIA is issued.

3. You are inactive, a spouse, or self-employed

Book a CPAM appointment (via Ameli or in person) and submit a "first affiliation" file. Documents: form S1106 ("application to open health insurance rights"), passport, residence permit, translated birth certificate, proof of address, and — critical — proof of stable residence (3-month minimum under PUMa rules, Protection Universelle Maladie). Timeline: 2 to 6 months.

Real 2026 cases:

Documents to have ready

CPAM systematically asks for:

Practical tip on translation: the trickiest birth certificates are Chinese ones (often too brief from local civil registries) and Malian, Senegalese, Congolese ones, which may need extra legalisation by the French consulate in the country of origin. Plan 1 to 3 months ahead, ideally before you even leave.

Why the NIA is essential

Without a social security number (provisional or permanent), you are blocked on:

A typical case: Linh, Vietnamese, paid intern at €800/month for 6 months, did not receive a security number until the end of her internship. Result: no medical reimbursement (€340 lost), no pension contributions recorded, and a CAF file rejected mid-process. With a NIA from month 1 she would have saved €600 and four months of stress.

The Carte Vitale: next step

Once your permanent NIR is issued (the number without 7 or 8 at the start), Ameli sends you an email or letter invitation to order the Carte Vitale. Since 2024 you can order it:

• Via the Carte Vitale app (smartphone, FranceConnect+ or Ameli identity) — digital version, accepted by equipped doctors
• On ameli.fr → "Mes démarches" → "Commander ma Carte Vitale" — plastic version, 2 to 4 weeks delivery
• At a CPAM branch with appointment

Documents: a compliant ID photo (e-photo) + scanned ID. The card is free (first issue) and expires only when you leave France or pass away.

Bottom line

• NIA = provisional number starting with 7 or 8; NIR = permanent
• The NIA works for everything except the Carte Vitale
• Timeline: 2 to 6 months depending on path (employer > student > inactive)

On Pionra

On Pionra, the Chinese, Moroccan and Algerian communities share trusted sworn translators for birth certificates, real CPAM-by-CPAM timelines (Bobigny, Lyon, Marseille…) and tips for chasing a stalled file. The , , and communities have dedicated threads on the NIA → NIR transition. Multilingual doctors and mutuelles without surcharges listed in .

FAQ

My employer is asking for my social security number but I don't have it yet. What should I do?

That's normal. Hand over your passport, residence permit, and translated birth certificate. The employer enrols you via the DSN process and your NIA will appear on one of your first payslips. In the meantime they note "NIA pending" internally and you are a fully legal employee.

I see my NIA number on my payslip. Can I use it right away?

Yes. Create an account on ameli.fr with that number, your date of birth, and a temporary code mailed to you within 7–10 days. From there you can: register a treating physician, receive reimbursements, apply for the CSS, give the number to the CAF.

How long does the permanent NIR take?

In 2026, count 2 to 6 months in most cases. In greater Paris (CPAM 75, 92, 93, 94) it is longer: 5 to 9 months, sometimes more if INSEE flags a translation issue or asks for further legalisation. You can chase via Ameli messaging or in person after 3 months without news.

Is my Chinese / Senegalese / Vietnamese birth certificate accepted as is?

No, with rare exceptions. Birth certificates from mainland China, Vietnam, Senegal, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Brazil, India, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Congo must be translated by a sworn translator registered with a French court of appeal. Cost: €50–80 per document, usually within 5–10 days. Official directory: annuaire-traducteurs-assermentes.justice.gouv.fr.

I lost the letter with my Ameli temporary code. How do I reconnect?

On ameli.fr, click "Code oublié" and authenticate with FranceConnect (passport or digital identity), or request a new code by post (5–7 days). You can also book a CPAM appointment in person — an agent reactivates your account on the spot in 5 minutes.