Home › Civic exam questions › In which case must you declare your child to the état…
In which case must you declare your child to the état civil (civil registry)?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: For every birth, within 5 days. The birth declaration is compulsory for every child. It is made at the town hall of the birthplace, within 5 days. It gives access to social rights and allows school enrolment. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “La déclaration de naissance” (in French).
Sources: Sheet “La déclaration de naissance” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✗ Only if the child is born in a hospitalSeulement si l'enfant est né à l'hôpitalThe declaration is compulsory for all births.
- ✗ Only if the child goes to schoolSeulement si l'enfant va à l'écoleThe declaration is made at birth, before school.
- ✗ Only if the parents are marriedSeulement si les parents sont mariésThe declaration is compulsory whatever the parents' situation.
- ✓ For every birth, within 5 daysÀ chaque naissance, dans les 5 joursCorrect answer. The birth declaration is compulsory for every child. It is made at the town hall of the birthplace, within 5 days. It gives access to social rights and allows school enrolment.
What the source says
« Elle doit être réalisée dans les 5 jours qui suivent la naissance, par le père, la mère ou par une personne qui a assisté à l’accouchement. »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 21 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Dans quel cas faut-il déclarer son enfant à l'état civil ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question comes from the list of the naturalisation version of the exam (PDF relayed by Le Français des affaires, read on 14 October 2026; the Ministry's own page for this list did not answer). The list's wording: “Dans quel cas faut-il déclarer son enfant au service d'état civil ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “La déclaration de naissance” (French).
One question corrected is a start. Now see where you stand: 40 timed questions, corrected in English, French or Arabic.
Our rule of thumb: book only after 34 out of 40 on two mock exams. The official pass mark is 32 out of 40. A fail means registering and paying again.
Take the free mock exam (40 questions)