How to call French administration from abroad: impôts, Ameli, CAF and more
Updated
Short answer
French administration short numbers like 3646 (Ameli) or 3939 (Allô Service Public) don't work from abroad. Each agency publishes a separate +33 number for international callers, for example +33 1 72 95 20 42 for the non-residents tax office, and you can call it from your browser with RobinPhone at the French landline rate of $0.02 per minute.
Living outside France doesn't stop the paperwork: a tax return as a non-resident, a health insurance refund, a pension certificate or a driving licence. The trouble is that the numbers on French letters and websites are usually short codes that only connect from inside France. Here are the numbers that work from abroad, and how to call them without roaming charges.
Why 3646, 3939 and 08 numbers don't work from abroad
Four-digit numbers such as 3646 or 3230 only exist inside France's phone network, so they don't connect from another country. France's telecoms regulator ARCEP says short numbers may not be accessible from abroad, and France's economy ministry notes that numbers starting with 08 are generally not reachable from abroad either. The fix is to use the agency's international number, which starts with +33 and is listed as "depuis l'étranger" (from abroad) on its contact page.
French administration phone numbers from abroad
Call these from outside France. Hours are Paris time, Monday to Friday unless stated.
| Agency | What it handles | Number from abroad | Hours (Paris) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impôts, non-residentsSIPNR | Income tax for people living outside France | +33 1 72 95 20 42Official source | 9 am – 4 pm |
| AmeliAssurance Maladie · 3646 in France | Health insurance, refunds, carte Vitale | +33 1 84 90 36 46Official source | At least 8:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Assurance retraiteCNAV · 3960 in France | State pension | +33 9 71 10 39 60Official source | 8 am – 5 pm |
| Retraite, life certificatePensioners living abroad | Certificat de vie (proof of life) | +33 9 74 75 76 99Official source | 8 am – 5 pm |
| France TravailEx Pôle emploi · 3949 in France | Job seekers and unemployment benefits | +33 1 77 86 39 49Official source | Automated 24/7; advisers in office hours |
| ANTS / France Titres3400 in France | Driving licence, vehicle registration, ID cards | +33 9 70 83 07 07Official source | 9 am – 5 pm |
| URSSAF auto-entrepreneur3698 in France | Self-employed contributions | +33 9 69 36 00 98Official source | 9 am – 5 pm |
| Allô Service Public3939 in France | General questions about your rights (no access to your file) | +33 1 73 60 39 39Official source | Varies by day (see FAQ) |
| CAF3230 in France | Family and housing benefits | —Official source | No general number published for abroad: use the secure messaging in your caf.fr account |
Numbers checked on each agency's own site or the official government directory (lannuaire.service-public.gouv.fr) in October 2026. They can change, so tap the source before a long call. For embassies and consulates, use France's official directory on diplomatie.gouv.fr.
How to call French administration from abroad, step by step
- 1Find the agency's number "depuis l'étranger"Use the table above, or look on the agency's "nous contacter" page for the number marked "depuis l'étranger" (from abroad). It starts with +33.
- 2Have your reference numbers readyYour numéro fiscal for the tax office, numéro de sécurité sociale for Ameli and pensions, or identifiant for France Travail. Agents can't find your file without them.
- 3Call in French office hoursFrance is on Central European Time: one hour ahead of the UK, six hours ahead of New York and six to seven hours behind Singapore. Mid-morning Paris time usually has the shortest wait.
- 4Dial from your browser with RobinPhoneOpen RobinPhone in any browser, type the +33 number and call. No app, no French SIM and no roaming. Use the on-screen keypad for the phone menu ("tapez 1…"). A 20-minute call, hold time included, costs about $0.40.
- 5Write down the answer and follow up in writingNote the date, time and any reference you're given, then follow up through your online account (espace particulier, compte ameli) if the matter needs a written record.
What it costs
| France landlines | $0.02/min |
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Common questions
How do I call the French tax office (impôts) from abroad?
Non-residents call the Service des impôts des particuliers non-résidents on +33 1 72 95 20 42, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm Paris time. Have your numéro fiscal ready.
What is Ameli's phone number from abroad?
Call +33 1 84 90 36 46 instead of 3646. The line is open on weekdays, at least from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, though hours can vary by département. It's meant for callers outside France, and Ameli forum users report it can hang up on French caller IDs, so call it with your default RobinPhone caller ID rather than a verified French mobile.
Can I call 3939 Allô Service Public from abroad?
Not on 3939. From abroad the number is +33 1 73 60 39 39, which the official site says is reachable from a landline only. It's open Monday and Thursday 8:30 am to 6:15 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 8:30 am to 1 pm, and Friday 1 pm to 5 pm, and it gives general information, not access to your file.
How do I contact the CAF from outside France?
CAF doesn't publish a general phone number for callers abroad, and 3230 only works in France. Use the secure messaging in your caf.fr account. The one CAF line that does work from abroad is for child-support payments (Aripa): +33 9 69 32 08 08.
Why does my call to a French 08 or 3xxx number fail from abroad?
Four-digit numbers like 3646 only exist inside France's network, and most 08 numbers are special-rate lines that don't accept international calls. Use the agency's +33 number for abroad instead.
Do I need a French phone number to call these offices?
No. RobinPhone calls any ordinary French number from your browser, wherever you are. You don't need a French SIM, app or phone plan.
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