Three. That’s the magic number of children you need to be able to claim a Carte Familles Nombreuses (Big Family Card) and access a range of discounts and savings.
In fact, three is a very important number for families in France, as it’s the number of offspring that also unlocks additional tax benefits.
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But, back to the carte. You can benefit from it if you have at least three children, including at least one minor, or if you have raised five or more children who are adults.
To obtain the Large Families card, you can test your eligibility on the homepage of the Carte Familles Nombreuses website and creating a personal account. You need to be resident in France, but there is no requirement to be a French citizen.
You can then order cards for the members of your family by providing the supporting documents – ID, tax notices and a copy of the livret de famille if you have one – and paying a fee of €19.
The card is valid for six years for families with at least 5 children who are adults, and for three years for families with at least 3 children, including one minor. Be aware, you must renew your application if one of your children reaches the age of 18 before the three-year card expires.
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Since April 7th, 2025, you can place your order more easily by logging in with your Caf or MSA (Mutualité sociale agricole) account.
As well as SNCF, which offers ticket discounts ranging from 30 percent for families with three children to 75 percent for those with six or more,
Big Family Card holders in France can benefit from discounts at Intersport, Intermarche, Buffalo Grill, Flunch, RATP, CGR Cinemas, Camping and Co, VVF, and Paris Museums – as well as other venues across the country. The full list of 106 partner businesses is available here.
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