DCEM: travelling with a foreign minor in 2026
Par Antonin GAVREL - le jeudi 20 août 2026 - 8 min read
What is a DCEM for?
A foreign minor generally does not hold a residence permit card like an adult. The travel document for foreign minors (document de circulation pour étranger mineur or DCEM) facilitates the child's return to France or passage through the external borders of the Schengen Area after a trip.
The DCEM must be presented with the child's passport. It is neither a passport nor parental authorisation to leave France. Nor does it replace any visas required by the destination country.
Who submits the application?
The application is made by at least one parent or the person who exercises parental responsibility. For a third-country national, the applicant must generally hold a valid residence permit. A European parent who has lived in France for more than three months is not required to hold one.
Special rules apply in Mayotte. A DCEM issued in Mayotte only permits return to Mayotte.
Main documents
The online application notably requires:
- the applicant parent's residence permit, where required;
- the parent and child's passport or identity document;
- a birth certificate or family record book establishing parentage;
- proof of parental responsibility;
- a school or nursery certificate, or proof of habitual residence;
- an e-photo of the child;
- specific documents depending on the child's status.
Foreign records must be accompanied by a French translation completed by a certified translator in accordance with the stated rules.
Applying on ANEF and travelling while the application is processed
The application or renewal is completed online. A confirmation is generated after submission. This confirmation does not permit return to France or the Schengen Area: a visa may be required until the DCEM is issued.
Do not plan a trip on the assumption that the submission PDF is equivalent to the final document. Processing times vary by prefecture.
Plan for the DCEM before buying tickets
VisaPref checks parentage, parental responsibility, the parent's immigration status and the child's travel documents.
Cost and collection
The fee is €50 in 2026, paid by tax stamp when the document is collected. It is free in certain cases, notably for children of European parents or beneficiaries of the United Kingdom Withdrawal Agreement.
The parent receives a message or an appointment notice, depending on the prefecture. They collect the DCEM accompanied by the child.
How long is it valid?
Before the age of 13, a DCEM is valid for up to five years and can be renewed, but its expiry may be aligned with that of the parent's permit. From age 13, it may be valid until the child turns 18, subject to the same alignment principle.
If the parents' permits have different expiry dates, the later date may be taken into account under the official rules. The DCEM must be returned if the child becomes French or obtains their own residence permit.
Avoiding problems when travelling
Before departure, check:
- that the passport remains valid for the entire required period;
- that the original DCEM will still be valid on the return date;
- whether a visa is required for the destination country;
- whether authorisation to leave France is required if the child travels without a person who holds parental responsibility;
- any documents specifically required by the carrier.
Official source
Article updated on 16 September 2026. Check the destination country's and carrier's requirements before every trip.