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Settling into life in France comes with a few essential administrative steps, and registering with a GP (médecin généraliste) is one of the most important. Your GP is your first point of contact for most health concerns, they coordinate your care, provide referrals to specialists, and ensure you receive the correct level of reimbursement from Assurance Maladie (French public health insurance).
If you’ve recently moved or are planning your relocation, here’s a detailed, step-by-step article to help you find a GP in France as an expat, understand how the French system works, and avoid common pitfalls.
Understanding How the GP System Works in France
In France, the general practitioner (médecin généraliste) plays a central role in what’s called the parcours de soins coordonnés, the coordinated care pathway. This means your GP manages your overall health and refers you to specialists when necessary.
To receive the standard reimbursement rate of around 70% from Assurance Maladie (and top-up from your mutuelle), you must declare a GP as your médecin traitant. Without one, your reimbursement rate drops to about 30%, and you may pay more for specialist visits.
So, whether you’re in Paris, Provence, or a small rural commune, getting a doctor registered early is key to managing your healthcare costs and ensuring smooth access to medical services.
Step-by-Step Guide to Finding a GP in France
1. Check Your Health Insurance Registration
You do not need to be affiliated with CPAM to visit a GP in France. Anyone, including newly arrived expats, visitors, and people still waiting for their social security number, can book an appointment with any doctor and simply pay upfront.
However, to get reimbursed and to benefit from the coordinated care pathway (parcours de soins), you must eventually be affiliated with CPAM and have a registered médecin traitant.
Here’s how it works:
➡️ You can consult any GP at any time, even without CPAM affiliation. You’ll pay the full consultation fee and receive a feuille de soins (paper reimbursement slip).
➡️ You can declare a médecin traitant (primary doctor) before receiving your physical Carte Vitale. If your CPAM registration is still in progress, the doctor can complete the paper Cerfa form (Déclaration de choix du médecin traitant – Cerfa 12485).
➡️ CPAM will validate it as soon as your health insurance file is activated. Once affiliated, you can send your feuilles de soins for reimbursement, and your médecin traitant declaration will allow you to receive the standard reimbursement rate rather than the reduced rate applied without a declared GP.
2. Search for a GP Near You
There are several ways to find a GP or doctor in France, depending on your location and preferences:
➡️ Official Directory: Use the Annuaire Santé (official Assurance Maladie directory). Filter by profession = médecin généraliste and your city or postcode. You can also view whether the GP accepts new patients, takes the Carte Vitale, and which sector they operate under (see below).
➡️ Doctolib: This popular online booking platform lets you search, filter by English-speaking doctors, and book appointments instantly.
➡️ Ask Locally: In smaller towns, word-of-mouth is invaluable. Ask neighbours, your local mairie (town hall), or your pharmacist. Pharmacies often know which local doctors are currently taking new patients.
Pro tip: Start early! In some rural areas (déserts médicaux), it can take several weeks to find a GP accepting new patients.
3. Understand GP “Sectors” in France
When choosing a doctor in France, you’ll notice they are listed as Sector 1 or Sector 2:
➡️ Sector 1 doctors charge the standard regulated fee (30 € per consultation in 2025). Assurance Maladie reimburses 70% of this amount.
➡️ Sector 2 doctors are allowed to charge higher “honoraires libres” (unregulated fees). You’ll still be reimbursed at the Sector 1 rate, but your mutuelle can cover the difference depending on your plan.
4. Register Your GP as Your “Médecin Traitant”
Once you’ve chosen your doctor, book an appointment and tell them you’d like to register them as your médecin traitant (your designated GP).
The doctor will either:
➡️ Submit the registration electronically using your Carte Vitale, or
➡️ Complete the Déclaration de choix du médecin traitant (Cerfa form n°12485*03) for you to sign and send to your local CPAM.
After registration, all your future medical visits and referrals will be linked to this GP. If you ever wish to change doctors, simply repeat the process with a new practitioner, there’s no penalty or waiting period.
5. Make Your Appointment and Bring the Right Documents
When visiting your new GP in France, bring:
➡️ Your Carte Vitale (or feuille de soins if waiting for it)
➡️ A valid photo ID
➡️ Your mutuelle details (top-up insurance card or contract)
Consultations are usually short and to the point, around 15 minutes, and you’ll pay either at the end of the visit or automatically via your Carte Vitale.
6. What if You Can’t Find a GP?
In some parts of France, particularly rural areas, GP shortages make finding a doctor difficult. If you can’t find one quickly, there are several alternatives:
➡️ Teleconsultation services: Doctolib allows you to book online video consultations with French-registered doctors.
➡️ Temporary or substitute doctors: You can see any available GP, even without declaring them as your médecin traitant, though you’ll be reimbursed at a lower rate
Urgent and Out-of-Hours Care
For sudden or serious illness, you can always call 15 (SAMU) or go directly to your nearest Urgences department. If it’s not a life-threatening emergency but you need a doctor quickly, several options exist depending on where you live:
➡️ 3966 – Medical on-call service (médecin de garde): This number connects you to the local out-of-hours GP network, but it is not available in all regions (notably not in Paris).
➡️ SOS Médecins: Available in most major cities and many medium-sized towns, SOS Médecins offers home visits and urgent GP consultations 24/7.
You can book by phone or online, and many expats find it extremely convenient.
➡️ Local regional hotlines: Some départements have their own medical on-call numbers or GP cooperatives. Pharmacies and town halls (mairies) usually display the correct number for your area.
Practical Tips & Key Terms to Know
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Carte Vitale | Your French health insurance card used to process payments and reimbursements. |
| Médecin traitant | Your registered GP. Essential for full reimbursement. |
| CPAM | Local health insurance fund managing public healthcare coverage. |
| Sector 1 / Sector 2 | Defines doctor’s fees: Sector 1 follows standard rates; Sector 2 can charge more. |
| Feuille de soins | Paper reimbursement form if you don’t yet have a Carte Vitale. |
Big Mistakes to Avoid
Finding a GP in France as an expat is straightforward once you understand the system, but there are a few common mistakes to avoid:
➡️ Waiting until you’re ill. Start your search as soon as you move.
➡️ Not declaring a médecin traitant. Assurance Maladie will only reimburse you 30% of the base rate (instead of 70%)
➡️ Assuming all doctors speak English. Check language preferences on Doctolib or ask before booking.
➡️ Visiting specialists directly. Without a GP referral, your reimbursement rate drops.
➡️ Ignoring sector differences. Some expats are surprised by higher bills from Sector 2 doctors.
The Role of a Mutuelle (Top-Up Insurance)
Even once you’ve found your GP in France, it’s important to understand that Assurance Maladie rarely covers 100% of your healthcare costs. A mutuelle (top-up health insurance) usually covers extra GP fees, prescription costs, or specialist surcharges.
If you’re an expat in France, having a reliable mutuelle ensures faster reimbursements, full coverage for GP visits and prescriptions and better protection for private consultations and dental/vision care.
👉 To compare plans and find the right cover for your family, visit Fab French Insurance and get a mutuelle quote.
To Wrap It All Up
Registering with a GP in France is one of the smartest administrative steps you can take as an expat. It ensures you’re fully integrated into the French healthcare system, keeps your costs predictable, and gives you access to coordinated, high-quality care.
Take the time to find a doctor in France who fits your needs, ideally one near home, who speaks your language, and who’s available for new patients. Once registered, you’ll enjoy the full benefits of France’s exceptional healthcare network, combining Assurance Maladie with your mutuelle for near-total coverage and peace of mind.
