How to get a DCEM travel document for children travelling through EES

Non-EU citizen families in France with members under 18 are being advised to obtain 'DCEMs' as a matter of urgency: here we look at the formalities involved. 

These 'young foreign people's travel documents' will be needed to prove that minors are residents of France and are thus exempt from registration in the EU's new digital border's system, set to be 'phased in' starting in October, 2025. 

DCEMs are not currently issued as a card, but as an A4 print-out with a QR code on it.

Note that if your children do not have a DCEM this does not necessarily mean you will not be able to travel, but your children may have to be registered into the EES system, which could cause confusion at the border on future trips. 

If you need to travel urgently and cannot obtain the documents, you may wish to take relevant supporting documents you have available to prove your children's relationship to yourself and that you live in France together, and explain the situation to the border police at a manned passport booth.

DCEMs apply to children who are not French, EU, EEA or Swiss citizens.

How to apply for a DCEM

You can find the steps to apply at this link on the website service-public.fr. We note that there is an option to see this information in English, however this is an automatic translation (ie. done by AI).

The application has to be made by a child’s parent or guardian at the same website as many residency card formalities, known as Anef: the exact page is here. 

On the first screen, click the second choice for a DCEM, then in most cases you need to click the first option for parent/représentant légal à titre individuel if you are the child's parent/guardian, then étranger non européen titulaire d'un titre de séjour if you are a non-EU foreign person with a residency card. 

You must then log into the site (you likely already have an 'Anef' account, if not you need to set one up).

For young children the DCEM lasts five years. For older children it lasts until they have their own residency card. This is usually after they turn 18, or from 16 if they need their own card for work or study applications.

While the application is online, it is still necessary to wait for a text from the prefecture to be called in to collect it. The adult who made the application should collect the DCEM and be accompanied by their child.

At this stage there is a €50 fee payable by timbre fiscal, which you should take with you - however the fee does not apply to British ‘Withdrawal Agreement’ families (the adult should bring their card as proof) or children with an EU/EEA/Swiss parent. 

Timbres fiscaux can be purchased at tabac shops or online. 

Supporting documents

Supporting documents must be attached in digital format.

You should use an official booth to take a digital photo of your child (this can also be done by professional photographers). You can find these booths, which have the Marianne logo of the French Republic on them, in large train stations, in some shopping centres etc. Pick the option for a digitised photograph, which will include a numeric code on it (numéro EPhoto) that you can use to submit the photo online.

Information about the adult

A copy of your full birth certificate, translated into French by a sworn translator. UK nationals can obtain copies of birth/marriage etc certificates from the GRO (a birth certificate sent overseas with DHL costs about €50). US citizens need to contact the authorities in the state where they were born to obtain copies of theirs.

Your passport or national identity card

Your carte de séjour

Proof of your address if you live with the child (the most commonly used document is a utility bill, such as gas, electricity or landline internet, dated within the last three months)

Information about the child

The child’s passport

A certificat de scolarité from the school, or a crèche certificate or other similar document as evidence that the child lives in France

Proof of the child’s address (if not the same as the parent)

Proof of family relationship

Livret de famille, if you have this (eg. if the child was born in France or you are a couple who were married in France); if not then the child’s full birth certificate translated by a sworn translator

For married parents: the marriage certificate, translated by a sworn translator; for unmarried parents the child’s full birth certificate (translated) can be used as proof; for divorced parents, the divorce judgement (translated)

Other documents may be required depending on the exact circumstances (see link above for service-public.fr).

Once you have applied via Anef, you should regularly check your account for messages, in case, for example, additional documents are indeed required.

When the application has been processed, you will be called into the prefecture, usually via a text message, to collect the card along with your child.