Published on: February 22, 2025 | Article No: 305 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
If you invite a non-European foreign national to France for a short stay (less than 3 months), the visitor must apply for a short-stay visitor visa. The visa application requires an important document, Attestation d’accueil, issued by your local Mairie (town hall). The host in France (hébergeant) must guarantee financial support for the visitor’s stay and provide proof of adequate accommodation.
Related article: How can I invite family members to France?: Spouse, Children, Siblings & Parents
Topics Covered 📚
- Who needs an Attestation d’accueil?
- When to apply an Attestation d’accueil?
- Required Conditions and Documents?
- Where to apply? and Processing Time?
- Information included in Attestation d’accueil
- Example of signed Attestation d’accueil
- What to do in case of an Attestation d’accueil application rejection?
- Loss of Attestation d’accueil
- Final Summary
- Sources & References
Who needs an Attestation d’accueil?
The attestation d’accueil document applies to all non-European foreigners wishing to stay in France for up to 90 days on a private or family visit. It must be included in the short-stay visitor visa application.
The host in France, whether a French citizen or a foreign resident, must personally request and sign the application at the local Mairie.
Note: This attestation is not required for a short-stay tourist, a long-stay visitor visa, or other types of visa applications.
When to apply an Attestation d’accueil?
The travel period indicated on the attestation d’accueil must match the visa duration. So, it is essential to apply well in advance to ensure the original document reaches the recipient in time for their visa application.
Avoid this common error: The short-stay visitor visa will be issued based on the details mentioned in the attestation. If the attestation mentions 40 days, the visa will be issued for the same 40 days too, regardless of the details mentioned in the visa application by the visitor.
Required Conditions and Documents?
Financial Resources and Housing Conditions
- The host in France (hébergeant) must guarantee financial support for the visitor’s stay and provide proof of adequate accommodation (host’s home, hotel, Airbnb, etc).
- A medical insurance policy covering hospital expenses of at least €30,000 is also required.
- The attestation d’accueil must specify whether the host or the visitor has subscribed to this insurance.
List of documents required: Please make sure to present the original documents along with photocopies:
- Proof of identity: One of the following,
- National identity card (CNI: Carte Nationale d’Identité) of the French host.
- Passport of the EU national.
- Passport with a valid residence permit for the non-EU foreign host.
- Proof of housing status: Rental agreement or property title (titre de propriété) with a description of the accommodation. It must explicitly mention the habitable surface area in square meters (m²).
- Proof of address: Utility bills (electricity, gas, water, phone) and/or rent receipt. Documents must be less than 3 months old.
- Proof of income for the last 3 months:
- Employment contract + last three pay slips, or last three pension statements, or a KBIS business certificate or freelance activity proof and
- The most recent French income tax notice (avis d’imposition) or proof of no income tax (avis de non-imposition).
- A €30 fiscal stamp. More details in Timbres Fiscaux: Tax stamp for French resident permits. If your application is refused, this tax amount will not be reimbursed.
- For the visitor: Provide accurate civil status information (name, surname, date, and place of birth), address, and passport number.
Note
- Flight tickets are not required for obtaining the attestation but mandatory for the visa application.
- Additional information and documents may be requested depending on the specific case.
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Where to apply? and Processing Time?
Application Process: The request must be submitted at the town hall (mairie) of the host’s residence. Most cities have a mandatory appointment system for submitting an application and this information is usually available on the local Mairie’s website. Here are a few examples,
| City | Application Process |
Mairie du 6e via appointment only | |
Mairie du 8e via appointment only | |
Mairie du 11e via appointment only | |
Mairie du 12e via appointment only | |
Mairie du 14e via appointment only | |
Mairie du 16e via appointment only | |
Mairie du 17e via appointment only | |
Mairie du 18e via appointment only | |
Mairie du 19e via appointment only | |
Mairie du 20e via appointment only | |
| Nanterre (92) | via appointment only |
| Toulouse (31) | via appointment only (34 rue Pargaminières) |
| Nantes (44) | Walk in up to 30 minutes before closing hours |
Processing Time: Processing usually takes around 1-3 weeks, though it may take longer if a home inspection (enquête domiciliaire) is required.
Information included in Attestation d’accueil
The validated attestation d’accueil must include the following information:
- The identity of the person inviting the guest.
- The passport number, identity, and nationality of the guest (and, if applicable, their spouse and minor children traveling with them).
- The address where the visitor will stay and details about the accommodation.
- The identity of the person responsible (either the visitor or the host) for purchasing travel insurance that covers at least €30,000 in potential medical expenses during the visitor’s stay in France.
This original document must be sent to the visitor and may be checked by border control authorities upon arrival in France.
Example of signed Attestation d’accueil
1st and 2nd pages of a completed Attestation d’accueil submitted for a short-stay visitor visa application
2nd page of a stamped Attestation d’accueil after a succesful short-stay visitor visa application
What to do in case of an Attestation d’accueil application rejection?
The local Mairie may refuse your application in the following cases:
- You are unable to provide the required supporting documents.
- The foreign national (visitor) cannot be accommodated under normal housing conditions.
- The information provided on the application is inaccurate.
- Any of your earlier attestations indicate a misuse of the procedure.
The Attestation d’accueil refusal decision may be:
- Explicit, meaning written and justified
- Implicit, if the mayor has not responded within one month. In other words, if the administration does not respond within this one month, the request is considered refused automatically as per Article R313-11 of CESEDA.
Appeal Process if refused: A rejected application can be appealed:
- Recours Hiérarchique (Administrative Appeal): The host in France can file an appeal with the Préfecture within two months of the refusal. The Préfeture may validate the request or uphold the rejection.
- Recours Contentieux (Judicial Appeal): If the Préfecture also refuses, a legal appeal can be filed before the Administrative Court (Tribunal Administratif).
Loss of Attestation d’accueil
In case of loss, a new application for an attestation d’accueil must be submitted with all required documents and a new tax stamp.
Support This Blog!
If you’ve found my articles helpful and you want to say thanks, a cup of coffee or two is very much appreciated!. Please help keep it going!
Final Summary
- An Attestation d’Accueil is mandatory for non-European visitors staying in France for up to 3 months on a short-stay visitor visa.
- The host in France must apply at their local town hall and provide financial and housing proof.
- The application process takes about 15 days, so apply as early as possible.
- The original attestation must be sent to the visitor for the visa application and may be checked by border control authorities upon arrival in France.
- In case of rejection, an appeal can be made to the Préfeture or Tribunal Administratif.
By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth process for welcoming your guests to France!
Thank you for this post. If we get attestation de accueil, what VISA category do you go for in Short stay VISA?
Would it be Family visit or can it also be Tourism, and does it even matter?
Hello Chaithya,
Usually, this question is asked before applying for an attestation d’accueil. Please refer to my detailed explanations in How can I invite family members to France?: Spouse, Children, Siblings & Parents: https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/08/how-can-i-invite-family-members-to-france/
Cheers,
Prasanth