Since the COVID-19 crisis, visiting restrictions in nursing homes have been widely implemented. They may have affected the wellbeing of residents, notably by depriving them of care that would otherwise be provided by relatives and friends. There is little quantitative evidence on informal care receipt by nursing home residents in “normal times”. This study investigates the importance of informal care in nursing homes, the forms it takes, and the factors affecting its presence prior to the pandemic. Building upon these elements, we then discuss the likely implications of the COVID-19 restrictions. The analysis relies on a representative sample of the population in France aged 60+ years and living in a nursing home (N=3,223), taken from the 2016 CARE survey. Over 80% of residents receive informal care. Over 75% receive help with the activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), which is generally accompanied by moral support. Residents are mostly helped with administrative tasks (budget management, paperwork, administrative procedures) and activities related to mobility and the outside world (moving in and out of the nursing home, finding their way, shopping). The probability of receiving informal care highly depends on having close relatives (partner, children, siblings) who are alive, as well as the age and health status of the nursing home resident. Loss of informal care due to visiting restrictions may negatively affect the wellbeing of nursing home residents and lead to adverse health effects. Policymakers should factor in the role of informal caregivers when assessing the benefits and costs of visiting restrictions in nursing homes.