First published January 2024
Updated October 2025
Choosing and declaring your General Practitioner (GP), or médecin traitant, is an essential step for anyone living in France and using the public healthcare system.
Whether you’re a student, retiree, or moving with your family, declaring a GP ensures you receive coordinated care and proper reimbursement from Assurance Maladie (CPAM).
Table of contents
Why declaring a GP in France matters
In France, your médecin traitant is your main point of contact for medical care. Declaring one is not just a formality, it directly affects how much you’re reimbursed by CPAM.
If you don’t have a declared GP, your reimbursements from Assurance Maladie are reduced: instead of being reimbursed at 70%, you’ll receive only 30% of the standard consultation fee.
Declaring a GP also helps coordinate specialist referrals, manage long-term treatments, and maintain continuity of care.
Who needs to declare a GP in France?
Almost everyone registered in the French healthcare system needs to do this.
- Adults: Anyone covered by French social security (PUMa) or living in France long-term should declare a GP.
- Teens (16–17): Can choose their own doctor but require parental consent.
- Children under 16: The declaration must be made by a parent or legal guardian.
This applies to employees, self-employed workers, students, retirees, and dependents alike.
How to choose a GP in France
You’re free to choose any doctor in France who agrees to take you as a patient. There are no geographical restrictions, though most people choose someone close to home for convenience.
Your GP can be:
- A general practitioner (most common)
- A specialist, if they agree and if it’s appropriate (e.g., gynecologist, pediatrician, or specialist treating a chronic condition)
- Practicing in a private office, group practice, clinic, or health center
- Contracted under Sector 1 (standard fees) or Sector 2 (sets own fees)
✅ Tip: Use Doctolib.fr or Ameli.fr to search by location, specialty, and even language, many listings indicate if the doctor speaks English.
If you’re a student or retiree
- Students: You can choose a doctor near your university or your family home.
- Retirees: Choose a GP near your main French residence.
- Care homes: Residents can use the in-house doctor or declare an outside GP.
Make sure your GP’s address matches your CPAM file to ensure reimbursements are processed correctly.
What if you can’t find a GP?
Some regions in France suffer from doctor shortages (déserts médicaux), making it harder to find a GP taking new patients.
If this happens:
- Contact your local CPAM office, they can help you find available doctors.
- Reach out to your local CPTS (Communauté Professionnelle Territoriale de Santé), which coordinates medical access in your area.
- In some cases, CPAM may assign a médecin traitant suppléant (temporary or substitute doctor) to maintain your care pathway.
How to declare your GP in France
Declaring your GP is simple and can be done electronically or by mail.
Option 1: Declare online (during a consultation)
- Visit your chosen doctor.
- Present your Carte Vitale.
- The doctor will ask for your consent and send the declaration directly to CPAM.
- The process is automatic, no paperwork required.
This is the most common and fastest way.
Option 2: Declare by mail (Form S3704)
- Download Form S3704 (“Déclaration de choix du médecin traitant”)
Available here, Service-Public.fr - Fill in your personal information.
- Both you and the doctor sign the form.
- Submit it to your local CPAM office (in person or by mail).
You’ll receive confirmation once CPAM processes the declaration.
Changing your GP
You can change your médecin traitant anytime and without justification.
Simply repeat the same declaration process, online or by mail, with your new doctor. The new GP declaration automatically replaces the old one. (While not mandatory, it’s polite to inform your previous doctor.)
Choosing a GP for the whole family
Each person must declare their own doctor, even if you all choose the same one. There’s no family-wide declaration, but families often use a single GP for convenience, especially in small towns and rural areas.
What happens if you don’t declare a GP?
If you visit a doctor without declaring a médecin traitant, or if you go directly to a specialist without a referral:
- Your reimbursement rate drops from 70% to 30% of the official consultation rate.
- You may pay higher out-of-pocket costs for visits and treatments.
Declaring your GP ensures you stay within the parcours de soins coordonnés, the coordinated care system that guarantees maximum reimbursement.
Related resources
FAQ: Choosing and declaring a GP in France
Can I have more than one GP in France?
No. Only one médecin traitant can be declared at a time. You can still see other doctors, but they’ll be considered “outside the care pathway”, meaning lower reimbursement.
Do I need a GP to see a specialist?
Yes, for most specialties. Without a referral from your declared GP, reimbursement rates are reduced.
How do I find an English-speaking doctor in France?
Check Doctolib.fr or Ameli.fr, or ask local expat groups. Some prefectures also maintain lists of multilingual practitioners.
Can I declare a new GP online without going to the doctor?
No. The online declaration can only be made by the doctor, using your Carte Vitale during an appointment.
What if I don’t have a Carte Vitale yet?
You can still declare your GP using Form S3704 along with your attestation de droits (proof of healthcare rights) from CPAM.
Final notes
Declaring your médecin traitant in France is a simple yet crucial step to unlock full healthcare benefits.
It ensures coordinated care, smoother specialist referrals, and higher reimbursement rates.
For newcomers and expats alike, doing it early makes your transition to the French healthcare system smoother, and protects your wallet from unnecessary out-of-pocket costs.
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