Marrying a French citizen abroad: CCAM, transcription and spouse visa (2026)
Updated October 2026
Marrying a French citizen abroad, in your country or anywhere outside France? For your marriage to be recognised in France and for you to join your spouse there, there are 3 steps: the certificate of capacity to marry (CCAM) before the wedding, the transcription of the marriage after it, then the spouse visa.
In short
- Before the wedding, the French partner asks for a CCAM.
- The banns are published for 10 days before the wedding.
- After the wedding, the marriage is transcribed in France.
- Without transcription, no spouse visa or residence permit.
Do you want to join your French spouse in France? Take the free eligibility test
The conditions to marry
French law applies to the French partner, and the law of your country applies to you. On the French side, the main conditions are:
- Being at least 18 years old
- Not being already married
- Giving free consent to the marriage
- Not being a close relative of the future spouse
The marriage must also follow the rules of the country where it takes place: age, documents and witnesses.
Before the wedding: the certificate of capacity to marry (CCAM)
The French partner asks for the CCAM (certificat de capacité à mariage) at the French embassy or consulate of the country where you will marry. It proves that the conditions of French law are met.
Documents usually requested from the French partner:
- The completed information form
- Proof of French nationality
- An ID document with a photo
- Proof of address or residence
- A full birth certificate with the parents' names: less than 3 months old if born in France, 6 months maximum if born abroad
The consulate can ask for other documents, for both partners, depending on the country.
The wedding day
Most often, the marriage is celebrated by the local authorities of the country, and you receive a local marriage certificate. Both partners must be present at the ceremony.
In some countries only, the marriage can be celebrated at the French consulate. Ask the consulate.
After the wedding: the transcription in France
The transcription records your marriage in the French civil register. It is not mandatory, but without it your marriage has no effect towards third parties in France: you cannot get a spouse visa or a residence permit, and you do not get the tax benefits of married couples.
- Where? At the French embassy or consulate competent for the place of the marriage. For some countries, such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia or Switzerland, the request is sent by post to the central civil status service in Nantes.
- Which documents? A copy of the marriage certificate and proof of French nationality. Depending on the country, a translation or an apostille can be requested.
- And then? You receive a French family record book (livret de famille), and the marriage is written on the French partner's birth certificate.
No CCAM? The transcription is still possible, but it usually requires an interview of both spouses. If there is a doubt about the sincerity of the marriage, the consulate can refer the case to the public prosecutor, who can oppose the transcription.
Joining your spouse in France
- The visa: you apply for a long-stay visa as the spouse of a French citizen, at the French consulate in your country. The marriage must be transcribed. See our visa for France service.
- The first year: your long-stay visa counts as your residence permit. You validate it online within 3 months after your arrival, and you can work.
- Then: if you still live together, you can get a multi-year card of 2 years. Since 2026, it requires French level A2 and the civic exam.
- The 10-year resident card: after 3 years of marriage and 3 years of legal residence in France, with French level B1 and the civic exam. See our 10-year resident card service.
How TSA helps you
- We check with you the list of documents asked by the consulate
- We help you prepare the CCAM and the transcription
- We prepare with you the spouse visa application and your first residence permit
- We prepare you for the French tests with TSA Academy
- In case of refusal or opposition, our partner lawyers take over
HelloBonjourவணக்கம்नमस्तेආයුබෝවන්
Talk to us in your language
Our Paris team supports people from all over Asia, from the first visa to French nationality. We speak English, French, Tamil, Hindi, Sinhala and other Asian languages.
Paris office: 10 Rue Saint-Vincent de Paul, 75010 Paris · helloweb[at]tsafr.com
Official sources: Service-public.fr, marriage of a French citizen abroad with a foreigner and France Diplomatie, getting married abroad
