Is an attestation d’accueil needed for people visiting France in 2025?
Border security may ask more questions once 'EES' begins
People from visa-free access countries are unlikely to be asked to show this attestation by border officials
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Reader Question: We will have visitors from the US this year. Is it really necessary to go to the mairie for an attestation d’accueil?
We often receive questions about whether people need an attestation d’accueil for friends and relatives visiting them, and it is frequently a point of confusion and concern.
This form is a ‘hosting certificate’ that is in theory required for visitors to France if they are staying for less than three months at a private residence (ie. not in a hotel, Airbnb, hostel, etc).
The person living in France applies for the attestation d’accueil at their local mairie.
They must usually book an appointment to obtain the document, which costs around €30 – a full list of the necessary documents can be found here in our previous article.
It is mandatory document for those who require a short-stay visa to enter France/the Schengen Area, and must be attached to their visa application if they are staying with friends/family.
Visa-free access countries
However, for people visiting from countries with visa-free access (UK, US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc), it is only required in theory.
We have never heard of anyone with short-stay visa-free access in France being asked to show this attestation by border officials when entering France.
In the unlikely case of being asked to present the form, the visitor should, in any case, be allowed into France if they provide evidence of having funds of around €120 per day for their planned trip.
We stress it is extremely unlikely that border security officials will ask for proof of either of these in reality.
If you want to be on the safe side, you can send your friends a letter officially inviting them to stay on the dates they will be with you, which they can bring with them to show if asked for proof of their plans.
Will EES change things?
Note that the incoming border security changes for the Schengen Area – the Entry/Exit System (EES) coming into force on October 12 – will require visitors to provide information prior to entering the bloc.
Alongside having a photograph of your face taken, and a fingerprint scan, it is expected that visitors will be asked questions about their visit.
In some cases, this will be done via self-service booths.
These may include questions about your accommodation plans.
However, we have not been told that border security will be strict on requiring documents, and with the expected increase in queues at the border, it appears unlikely they will be asking for attestations d’accueil, taking even more time to grant people entry to France.
If you want to be prepared, a list of ways you can prove you have the funds to visit can be found in a previous article.
Read more: Biometric border checks: what questions will be asked to enter France?
