Child benefits for a child born in France: what Ukrainian families are entitled to
If a child is born in France to parents holding temporary protection status (APS), the family may be eligible for several types of support at once — from the one-off prime à la naissance to the monthly allocation de base under the PAJE programme.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has for more than ten years assisted Ukrainians with legalisation and social benefits abroad and has its own office in France, so it knows mairie and CAF procedures not from hearsay but from daily practice.
Our experience shows that child benefits in France require strict compliance with deadlines: missing even a few days when registering the birth can seriously complicate the subsequent processing of all benefits.
How a child’s birth is registered in France
The birth of a child must be declared at the mairie (town hall) of the place of birth within 5 days, not counting the day of delivery itself — this is usually done by the father or another person present at the birth.
If the last day of the period falls on a weekend or public holiday, registration is moved to the next working day, but it must not be delayed beyond that: after the deadline has expired, an entry can be made only by court order.
After registration, the mairie issues an acte de naissance — a birth certificate, which will be needed to apply for all subsequent benefits and the child’s health insurance.
These certificates are free of charge, and parents may request several copies at once, which is convenient because different authorities often require their own original of the document when processing benefits.
Who is responsible for child benefits in France
All main family benefits — prime à la naissance, allocation de base and allocations familiales — are awarded and paid by CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales), not by the town hall or the prefecture.
For its part, the mairie is responsible only for registering the fact of birth and issuing the acte de naissance — without this document it is not possible to submit an application to CAF.
The division of powers between these authorities often confuses families who are arranging documents for a child in France for the first time, so it is worth understanding in advance where to turn on a specific matter.
PAJE: one-off and monthly support
PAJE (Prestation d'accueil du jeune enfant) combines several payments: the one-off prime à la naissance of 1,093.11 euros, paid in the seventh month of pregnancy, and the monthly allocation de base.
Allocation de base is paid either in full at 198.16 euros or in part at 99.08 euros per month, up to the month before the child turns three — that is, for a maximum of 36 months.
Both PAJE payments are means-tested: entitlement depends on family income, which CAF usually assesses on the basis of data from two years earlier.
Special derogation for Ukrainian families
For Ukrainians with temporary protection status (APS marked “Bénéficiaire de Protection temporaire”), a special derogation applies that opens access to basic family benefits without the usual long-term residence requirement.
This derogation applies specifically to allocation de base and prime à la naissance under the PAJE programme — that is, to payments directly linked to the birth and the first years of the child’s life.
Our experience shows that CAF individually assesses the income of recently arrived families who do not yet have data for the required reference period in France, so it is worth clarifying in advance which documents will be suitable to evidence income.
It should also be borne in mind that the rules of the derogation may be refined over time, so current conditions are best checked immediately before filing an application rather than relying on information from a year ago.
How family income is calculated for CAF
To award prime à la naissance and allocation de base, CAF usually takes into account family income from two years earlier, which is logical for French citizens with a continuous tax history.
For recently arrived Ukrainian families who have no French tax return for the required period, CAF applies an individual assessment of the situation, taking into account available income documents.
Our experience shows that it is worth preparing in advance any available proof of income — employment certificates, bank statements — so that CAF can more quickly assess the family’s entitlement to the payment.
Allocations familiales: benefit from the second child
Allocations familiales is a benefit due to families starting from the second child and depends on the number of children, their ages and the family’s overall income.
To receive this benefit, the family must also register with CAF at the place of actual residence, confirming the household composition and lawful status of stay in France.
Our experience shows that many families with two or more children do not apply for allocations familiales simply because they are unaware of this separate payment in addition to PAJE.
Comparison of the main child benefits
| Benefit | Amount | Eligibility condition |
| Prime à la naissance | 1,093.11 €, one-off | Family income below the threshold, 7th month of pregnancy |
| Allocation de base | 198.16 € or 99.08 €/month | Family income below the threshold, child under 3 |
| Allocations familiales | Depends on the number and ages of children | From the second child in the family |
Medical care for mother and child
Pregnancy in France is managed by a gynaecologist or sage-femme (midwife), and delivery and follow-up care are covered by the compulsory health insurance system Sécurité sociale, to which APS holders are connected almost immediately.
After birth, the child is assigned a local paediatrician, and the carnet de santé (health record booklet) records all scheduled check-ups and vaccinations throughout the first years of life.
If the child was born before moving to France
If the child was born outside France and the family then moved, a translation of the birth certificate into French by a sworn translator will be required to apply for PAJE.
Once the document is recognised, CAF considers the family on the same basis, applying the same derogation for temporary protection holders as for children born in France itself.
Our experience shows that families who prepare document translations in advance complete CAF registration noticeably faster than those who apply only after several months of residence.
Which documents need to be prepared
The standard package includes the child’s acte de naissance, APS marked with temporary protection, proof of residential address and family income data for the required period.
- Declare the child’s birth at the mairie within 5 days
- Obtain the acte de naissance
- Register the family with CAF if this has not yet been done
- Submit applications for prime à la naissance and allocation de base
Where and how to submit applications
Most CAF applications are submitted online through a personal account on the official website, where scans of the acte de naissance, APS and proof of income can be uploaded without visiting an office.
To create a personal account you will need a valid social security number or a temporary identifier that CAF assigns at the first contact stage.
If electronic submission is not available, documents may be filed in person at the nearest CAF branch — addresses and opening hours are listed on the authority’s official website.
What to do if a benefit is refused
A CAF refusal may be challenged by recours amiable within two months of receiving the decision, and if the response is negative — by applying to the social disputes board.
Our experience shows that a significant share of refusals is linked to incomplete proof of family income or the absence of a current temporary protection mark on the APS, rather than to a genuine lack of entitlement to the payment.
Before filing a formal complaint, it is worth carefully rereading the reason for refusal and, where possible, submitting the missing documents — this is often faster than a full challenge of the decision.
Typical mistakes when applying for benefits
The first mistake is missing the five-day birth registration deadline, assuming it can be extended as easily as in some other countries.
The second is not registering with CAF in advance, before the seventh month of pregnancy, which causes prime à la naissance to be awarded with a delay.
The third is not informing CAF of the family’s actual income after moving, which leads to an incorrect calculation of allocation de base.
How we help arrange child benefits
We support Ukrainian families at every stage — from birth registration at the mairie to filing applications with CAF — so that child benefits in France are awarded without delays and unnecessary refusals on formal grounds.
Our experience shows that a preliminary review of the full set of documents and a correct calculation of household income significantly shorten the time taken to consider the application.
We also help determine which additional support measures are available to the family beyond the main PAJE benefits, taking into account the specific household composition and region of residence.
If your child was born in France and you are unsure which child benefits in France you are entitled to, it is better to clarify the current conditions in advance rather than find this out only after a CAF refusal.
