The number is known as the Numéro d'Inscription au Répertoire (NIR). It is the equivalent of a national insurance number.

The NIR is used to obtain access to the health service and to social benefits. It is also required by complementary health insurers and by French pension providers.

The number is shown on your health insurance card (carte vitale), which is presented to your doctor when you receive medical treatment and to your pharmacist for prescription medicines.

It is automatically attributed to all those born in France. All others need to make application for the number by applying to join the health system, either directly, via a prospective employer, or as part of the process of business registration.

Non-residents who seek to register a business or a furnished letting in France are also required to obtain a social security number, the latter a recent change in practice.

The process for obtaining the NIR depends on your circumstances (see links below) but normally takes several months, often longer. A temporary number is provided within a few weeks to allow for health cover and business registration.

The NIR comprises 13 digits that are unique to each individual, as well as a 2 digit control number.

• The first digit gives the gender of the person;
• The second two digits the year of birth;
• The third set of two digits the month of birth.
• The next two digits the department where the person was born. In the cases of those born abroad it is replaced by the number 99;
• There are then three digits for the commune, or the country in the case of those born abroad;
• The next three numbers are used to distinguish people born in the same place at the same time;
• Finally, the two remaining digits, which are separated by a small space, are a control key, ranging from 01 to 97.