Government of Canada services and information in Lyon, France

Refer to International adoption.

Adoption in France is accessible to French and foreign citizens under certain conditions. Relevant information is available on the Adoption website (in French only).

If you live in Lyon, you can contact Lyon metropole (in French only) to find information and assistance. In others regions, information is available on the Adoption website (in French only).

Surrogacy is strictly forbidden in France, parentage of the intended parents and the child will not be recognized.

Refer to Children born outside of Canada.

If your child was born outside of Canada, you do not need to register the birth in Canada.

In France, it is mandatory to register the birth of any child within 5 days. After 5 days, regularization by judicial means is necessary, but penal sanctions are incurred. Some public hospitals provide a civil officer duty period to register birth declarations. Otherwise, you must contact the City Hall (“Mairie”) of the child’s place of birth to declare the birth and receive a birth certificate, free of charge. Inquire directly to the vital statistics (“État civil”) office in the city to know the conditions to get this document issued.

See Déclaration de naissance for more information.

Refer to International Child Abductions: A guidebook for parents

For France, contact the central authority responsible for the implementation of the treaty (in French only).

A decision under The Hague Convention cannot rule on issues of parenting, decision-making responsibility, custody or access. When you apply to have your child returned under The Hague Convention, you are asking authorities in the other country to return your child to Canada so that the courts here can decide on parenting issues. France and Canada are part of The Hague Convention.

The Consulate of Canada in Lyon is managed by an Honorary Consul and has limited consular services. Please contact the Embassy of Canada to France, in Paris.

Refer to Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Criminal record checks. This procedure usually involves that you submit your fingerprints. Most of time, it is possible to get this service from a local police station in France. Fingerprints Paris offers this service.

Note: The Embassy does not provide fingerprinting services and cannot provide updates of any ongoing applications.

Legalization of a criminal record check

French authorities sometimes require that the document be legalized by the Embassy. Our consular service can legalize Canadian Criminal Record checks issued by the RCMP headquarters in Ottawa, Canada. If your document was issued by another police service, you must have this document notarized in Canada before you submit it to us for legalization. More information can be found in the Notarial services section.

Refer to Death abroad.

In France, a declaration of death must be completed within 24 hours. Anyone can declare a death. A funeral home can administer the necessary steps. If the death occurs in a hospital, the hospital will register it directly with the City Hall of the place of death. You must first have the death confirmed and then declared. The doctor will issue a certificate of death, except in the case of a violent death (for example, accident or suicide). In the case of a violent death, you must inform the police or the gendarmerie, and then declare it to the City Hall of the place of death. The city municipal services will issue a burial permit that bears the date and time of death. Burial can only be done 24 hours after the death. Find detailed information at Declaration of death.

For information about procedures following the death of a relative in France, see I have to deal with the death of a loved one (in French only). Following a death, the family or relatives of the deceased should contact a funeral home. They will take charge of the necessary administrative steps and getting the official documents required to transport the urn or remains to Canada or another country. In certain regions of France, it may be difficult to find a funeral home offering services in English. If the family wishes to have a service in English, the use of a representative could be beneficial.

The Consulate of Canada does not provide special authorization concerning the transport of the remains of a Canadian. The documents provided by the French authorities will be accepted in Canada.

The list of service providers below are for your convenience and not an endorsement by the Embassy:

Anubis assistance

Call center (France)
Tel. 01 49 19 59 60

Call center (Canada)
Tel. (514) 954-9318

www.anubisgroup.co.uk

MAP Assistance international

François Vézina

International services Director

fvezina@magnuspoirier.com

Tel. (514) 727-2847

Pompes funèbres générales (PFG)

Call Center
Tel. 01 53 26 64 50
www.pfg.fr

PF Lutèce International

Tel: + 33 (0)1 42 17 06 06

www.pflutece.com

Hospitals and town halls of place of death

Hospitals and town halls are able to provide lists of local funeral homes by demand. It may be difficult to find English providers in certain regions. An international service provider may be necessary in these cases.

Divorce procedures in France

In case of a divorce procedure, the information on this page is meant to help you understand the process. Contrary to the Canadian practice, it is still mandatory to be assisted by a lawyer. See Ask Travel under General Consular Services for a list of lawyers in France. In the case of a divorce by mutual consent, it is possible to hire the same lawyer, or to hire one for each party.

There are 2 types of divorce:

1. litigious divorce (on the grounds of fault, de facto separation or by acceptance of the principle of marital breakdown)
2. non-litigious (by common consent)

For definitions of each type of divorce, or for additional information about divorce procedures in France, see Divorce, séparation de corps.

Frequently asked questions:

I’m now residing in Canada; can I initiate the procedure in Canada if I got married in France?

If you or your spouse have been residing in Canada for a full year, it is possible to divorce in Canada, if the procedure has not been initiated in France. A marriage celebrated in France is recognized in Canada. Find more information at How to Apply for a Divorce.

How can I get assistance from a lawyer in France if I do not have the financial resources necessary?

Legal aid is available under certain criteria. See Legal aid for more information. Foreigners who are considered as lawfully residents of France can apply for legal aid, even in the case of a divorce by common consent.

How long will the procedure last and what will it cost?

The duration and cost of divorce procedures can vary depending on the case and level of agreement between the parties involved. A divorce can be official after 3 months or many years after the signature of the non-conciliation order, depending on the case. A high-conflict divorce will take more time and will be more expensive than a divorce by common consent.

I would like to return to live in Canada with my children, but the other parent wants to maintain the residency in France. Am I allowed to return to Canada without their consent?

If there is a disagreement between the spouses to determine the children’s country of residence, a family judge must make an order to confirm it. If one of the parties wants to establish residency outside of France with the children, the other parent’s consent, or an order from the family judge authorizing the other parent to do so, is mandatory. Generally, the family judge will try to evaluate whether or not the living conditions of the children could be maintained or improved if they moved to another country. The parent requesting the change of residency will have to submit documentation concerning housing, schooling and professional situation abroad. See Parental authority in case of separation of parents for more information.

What is a “transcription” of a judgement of divorce?

In France, a transcription refers to the notification of the judgement of divorce on the French marriage certificate and on the French birth certificates of the ex-spouses. The lawyers of the parties are in charge of this procedure when is it needed. It is not required to send official documentation to the Embassy of Canada, as our legislation does not refer to this procedure.

Which institution issues the divorce judgement?

In France, the divorce judgement is issued by the clerk of the civil court where the judgement was passed. In Paris, it is the Tribunal de Grande Instance, Parvis du Tribunal de Paris, 75017 Paris.

How can I get a copy of my judgement of divorce?

The judgement of divorce is available, free of charge, at the local City Hall where the wedding took place. You must contact the “service de l’état civil” of the City Hall and specify which document you would need. Provide the full name of the ex-spouse. A self-addressed and pre-stamped envelope must be included in your request.

The Consulate of Canada cannot give any legal advice. If you need to discuss your situation with a professional lawyer, you can contact one of the lawyers listed on Ask Travel. Choose Emergency Assistance and then click on “Which lawyers can I contact abroad”. Finally, choose France as the country and then select the city where you need legal services.

You can also contact a lawyer of your choice, registered with a bar association (in French only) in France. To access legal advices in your region, you can contact your local Maison de la justice et du droit (in French only) (region Rhône-Alpes). The bar association of Lyon (in French only) also organizes free legal consultation on appointment.

Refer to Marriage abroad.

If you are coming to France get married and settle in the country, make sure to contact France-Visas to obtain the right documentation to come to France.

The Consulate of Canada does not perform marriages. To celebrate a marriage in France, we invite you to contact your local City Hall (Mairie) to obtain the list of required documents. It is mandatory to have a civil marriage at your local City Hall before an optional religious ceremony. See Mariage en France for more information.

Consulate of Canada, the Consular services at the Embassy of Canada or the Authentication Services Section of Global Affairs Canada can help you obtain the Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad (this document replaces the Certificat de coutume and the Certificat de capacité matrimoniale requested by the Mairie in France).

To obtain the documents from the Consulate of Canada in Lyon, please contact them to see if an appointement is available: lyon@international.gc.ca. To get the documents from the Consular services of the Embassy of Canada, you can send your file by mail and the processing time is of 3 business days. Please prepare the following documents:

• A copy of your valid Canadian passport (only pages 2 and 3)
• If you were born in Canada: a copy of your Canadian birth certificate
• If you were born outside Canada: a copy of both sides copy of your citizenship certificate
• An original statutory declaration including your name, residential address, present marital status and the name, the citizenship and residential address of future spouse. This statutory declaration must be:
• in French and mention the date and place of the signature
• signed in front of a lawyer, notary public or commissioner of oaths in Canada, or
• signed in front of a lawyer, notary or an official who is entitled to witness sworn statements at your local Mairie in France
• If you are abroad, you also have the possibility to sign this statement in front of an office of the Government of Canada abroad. Additional 50$cad to the 50$cad for the issuance of the cerificate of non-impediment.

The following text can be used as an example of statutory declaration:

Je soussigné(e) [your full name] citoyen(ne) canadien(ne) né(e) le [your date of birth] et résidant au [your detailed residential address], déclare solennellement par la présente être [choose the option that fits your personal situation : single, divorced or widowed] et libre de contracter un mariage avec [full name of the spouse], citoyen [spouse’s nationality] résidant au [your spouse’s detailed residential address].

• If you have been married in the past: a certified copy of your divorce certificate or a certified copy of the death certificate of the deceased spouse
• A payment of Can$50 – Print and fill out the Credit Card Authorization
• A short letter explaining your request. Include your name and address for the return of the documents. Also include your email and telephone number in case we need to reach you.

---

Civil Union: Pacte de solidarité civil (PACS)

The Pacte de solidarité civil (PACS) is a procedure to make a union official. The PACS procedure would be close to what we call in Canada “Common law spouse”. If you live in France, you can celebrate a PACS at your local city hall (Mairie) or in front of a French « notaire ». See Pacte civil de solidarité for more information.

The Consulate of Canada in Lyon can issue the documents upon appointment, please contact them: lyon@international.gc.ca. The Consular services of the Embassy of Canada in Paris can issue a Statement In lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment to a PACS according to French legislation. To get the necessary documents for a PACS in France from the Embassy, send your file by mail and the processing time is of 3 business days.

The list of documents to provide is the same than above (see section on marriage), except the text of the statutory declaration is slightly different:

• An original statutory declaration including your name, your residential address, your present marital status, affirm that you are not in the care of a legal guardian, the name and citizenship of your partner and residential address of your partner. This statutory declaration must be:
• in French and mention the date and place of the signature
• signed in front of a lawyer, notary public or commissioner of oaths in Canada, or
• signed in front of a lawyer, notary or an official who is entitled to witness sworn statements at your local Mairie in France
• If you are abroad, you also have the possibility to sign this statement in front of an office of the Government of Canada abroad

The following text can be used as an example of statutory declaration:

Je soussigné(e) [your full name] citoyen(ne) canadien(ne) né(e) le [your date of birth] et résidant au [your detailed residential address], déclare solennellement par la présente être [choose the option that fits your personal situation : single, divorced or widowed (in French célibataire, veuf(ve) ou divorcé(e))] et ne pas faire l'objet d'une mesure de tutelle ou de curatelle et être libre de conclure un PACS avec [full name of your partner], citoyen [partner’s nationality] résidant au [your partner’s detailed residential address].

Register a foreign marriage in Canada

As Canada does not have a central vital statistic office, there is no special procedure to register your French marriage with us. Even if your new marital status is recognized in Canada and your French document is accepted by the Canadian administrations, some provincial vital statistics have their own procedures to register a marriage celebrated abroad. Contact your provincial vital statistics office for more information.

The Consulate of Canada in Lyon is managed by an Honorary Consul and has limited consular services. Please contact the Embassy of Canada to France, in Paris.

The Consulate of Canada in Lyon is managed by an Honorary Consul and has limited consular services. Please contact the Embassy of Canada to France, in Paris.

To apply for a retirement benefit in Canada, contact the relevant services in Canada directly. Find information at Public pensions.

For the Province of Québec, see Retraite Québec for more information.

The Consular service of the Embassy does not have access to individual files related to pensions. If you have a question about your file, contact the service in Canada directly.

The Consulate of Canada in Lyon can help you to get certified copies of your Canadian documents if you need them to submit your retirement file in Canada. This service is free if you are able to demonstrate that you need it as part of an application for retirement in Canada. Please contact tehm if you want to submit your request by appointment: lyon@international.gc.ca.

France and Canada have international agreements. We invite you to consult those helpful resources:

• Benefits for Canadians living abroad
• France – Pensions and Benefits
• Guide for Completing an Application for Canadian Old Age, Retirement and Survivors Benefits under the Agreement on Social Security between Canada and France (PDF)
• Canada’s international social security agreements
• Accords de sécurité sociale entre la France et le Canada (French only)

For additional information, see Retiring abroad.

Same sex marriage has been authorized in France since 2013.

Refer to Studying abroad and EduCanada.

Please note that the Embassy does not respond to applications for Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), Study Permits, Work Permits, Visas, Permanent Resident Travel Documents, etc. Use the IRCC web form to contact the Visa Office in Paris.

Refer to Voting in an election while outside Canada.