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DCEM travel document (document de circulation pour étranger mineur)

Are you the parent of a foreign minor who travels outside France, or a person holding parental authority? Ask for the travel document for a foreign minor (DCEM). It allows the child to return to France, or to the external borders of the Schengen area, and must be shown in addition to the passport. It is issued for a maximum of 5 years. The request is made by one of the parents (or the person with parental authority) holding a valid residence permit (titre de séjour), and it is filed on the internet.

Steps

File the request on the internet, on the online service for requesting or renewing a DCEM.
Buy the timbre fiscal (tax stamp) on the internet or in a tobacconist. The tax of 50 € is paid when the document is handed over, except for a child of a European parent or of a beneficiary of the agreement on the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.
The request is processed by the préfecture or sous-préfecture competent for your declared address of residence.
Follow the progress of your request online, from your personal account.
For the pickup, your préfecture sends you either an SMS or an email inviting you to book an appointment, or a convocation.
Go to the appointment: the requester collects the DCEM at the préfecture (or sous-préfecture), together with the child.

Documents to bring

Minor placed with the child welfare service (aide sociale à l'enfance) before the age of 16

Judicial decision placing the child with the aide sociale à l'enfance before the age of 16.

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Minor recognized as a refugee or beneficiary of subsidiary protection

Decision of Ofpra or of the CNDA recognizing refugee status or subsidiary protection.

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Minor who entered France with a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour) as a child of a French national (or adopted)

Visa of more than 3 months marked famille de Français (family of a French national) or international adoption.
Proof of the parent's French nationality: valid passport, valid national identity card, or French nationality certificate less than 6 months old.

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Minor who entered France before the age of 13 with a long-stay visa as a visitor

Copy of the visa of more than 3 months marked visiteur (visitor) and the entry stamp in France before the age of 13.
Proofs of habitual residence in France (school certificates) since the age of 13.

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Key facts

The DCEM is issued for a maximum of 5 years.
The issuing tax is 50 €, paid with fiscal stamps when the document is handed over; it is free for a child of a European parent or of a beneficiary of the agreement on the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.
The filing confirmation does not allow the minor to be readmitted into France or at the borders of the Schengen area: a visa is necessary.
A European parent settled in France for more than 3 months does not have to hold a residence permit (titre de séjour).
The DCEM issued at Mayotte only allows return to Mayotte.