"Talent" (formerly “Passeport talent”), Research scientist (“Scientifique-chercheur”) status and their family

This information applies to third-country nationals holding a "Talent" visa (formerly "Talent Passport") or a "Scientist-Researcher" visa. It does not apply to doctoral students holding a "Student" visa.
It is strongly recommended that you take out health insurance coverage immediately upon your arrival in France, pending your potential enrollment in the French national health insurance system.

L'affiliation à la caisse primaire d'assurance maladie (CPAM) est une procédure pouvant parfois être longue.

Salaried researchers holding a "Talent" visa or residence permit must submit their registration application to the Paris CPAM, which centralizes applications from holders of this status.
Algerian nationals holding a "Scientist-Researcher" residence certificate must submit their application to the CPAM serving their place of residence.

Each adult family member must submit their own application for health coverage to the French health insurance system (Assurance Maladie). Depending on their situation, enrollment may be processed under the Universal Health Protection scheme (PUMa) or another basis provided for by regulations.

Once your social security number has been assigned and your file registered by the health insurance system, you may request reimbursement for medical care received since your coverage began. Therefore, please keep all supporting documents (treatment forms, invoices, prescriptions).

Your employer may handle the enrollment process for you; check with your human resources department to see if this is the case. Otherwise, you must submit your complete application file to your CPAM yourself.



IMPORTANT:

• If your contract is signed before you begin your duties, the CPAM may request proof of the actual start of your employment (for example, an initial payslip or a statement from your employer).
• If you sign your employment contract before your first day of work, you will need to wait until you receive your first payslip before submitting your file to the CPAM. The CPAM does this to verify that you have indeed started your job.

Processing times vary depending on the time of year and the workload of the Health Insurance authority (Assurance Maladie). They can range from several weeks to several months. If your application is complete, you may be assigned a temporary identification number (NIA) before your permanent number (NIR) is issued. Subsequently—after a longer period—you will receive your NIR (National Registration Number) by mail. Once your permanent number has been assigned, you can create your Ameli account and order your *Carte Vitale* (health insurance card), if this process has not already been initiated automatically. All that remains is to create an Ameli account and request your *Carte Vitale* to facilitate future reimbursements.

Please note that it may take several months for you to receive your Carte Vitale.
While waiting to create your Ameli account and receive your *Carte Vitale*, please contact your CPAM by mail at the designated address for all administrative procedures (such as submitting treatment forms, requesting reimbursement, etc.), making sure to include your Social Security number.

If you hold a "Talent" visa or residence permit but do not engage in salaried employment in France, you are not automatically covered by the general health insurance scheme.

If you are not covered in France for the entire duration of your stay by an organization from your home country, several options are available to you:

• Take out private insurance in your home country that covers all healthcare expenses for you and your family
• Take out private insurance in France for you and your family

Make sure you get all the information you need before you leave, as private insurance premiums vary greatly from country to country.

Under certain specific conditions, you may be eligible for the Universal Health Protection scheme (PUMA).

It is not possible to register if you are a researcher that remains employed by your home institution but is open to researchers staying in France as part of a research trip agreement.

PUMa cover while residing in France is subject to a number of conditions, including:
- Residing in France for a minimum of 3 months
- Holding a residence permit authorizing a stay of more than 6 months in France
To benefit from the Universal Health Protection (PUMA) scheme, you must register with the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM) for your place of residence and submit your application to establish your eligibility by mail, using form S1106a (Cerfa no. 15763*02) along with the required supporting documents.

You cannot register in advance. You must wait to have been residing in France for 3 months to register. You will have to take out private insurance for at least the first 3 months of your stay in France.

Find out if it is possible to register with the CPAM of your place of residence:

• In the Rhône department (Lyon)
• In the Loire department (Saint-Etienne)
• In the Ain department (Bourg-en-Bresse)