How to obtain your proof of life certificate (certificat de vie) the easy way...

Today, a simple app makes it possible to complete in just a few minutes what was once a lengthy and cumbersome process.

Catherine, a French retiree living in the United Kingdom, has watched the procedure evolve over the years. Having first dealt with a paper form requiring a stamp from a local authority, then with a system combining paper documents and online steps, she now uses the "Mon certificat de vie" app directly on her smartphone.

"This year, the process was much easier and much quicker," she says.

The proof of life certificate is an essential document for French retirees living abroad. It serves as proof of existence to pension funds, enabling them to continue receiving their pension. This formality must be completed every year. Thanks to digitalisation, the process is now straightforward, can be done from home, and can be summarised in four steps.

The first step is to download the "Mon certificat de vie" app or scan the QR code received by email or post. This QR code is essential: it provides access to the process and allows you to identify yourself within the app (see the tutorial by clicking the button above).

The second step involves photographing your identity document (national identity card or passport). To be accepted, the document must be perfectly legible, well lit, free from reflections and fully visible.

The app then requests an identity verification and a "proof of existence" via facial recognition. The user takes a photograph of their face by following the instructions displayed on screen. Depending on the document used, an NFC chip scan may also be requested in order to strengthen the verification.

Finally, a few additional details need to be filled in, such as marital status or contact preferences depending on the pension scheme in question. Once the process has been completed and validated, the certificate is automatically transmitted to the pension funds and remains valid until the following year's campaign.

For the full procedure in detail, the "Mon certificat de vie" website provides a step-by-step tutorial, illustrated with explanatory images, to guide users through each stage — accessible via the blue button above.