More 'France Services' offices open to help people with French admin

France Services is a network of information points that people can go to in order to get advice on administrative procedures in France, such as paying taxes or renewing a driving licence.

The network used to be called Maison de Services Au Public (MSAP), but the name was changed in 2019.

The government aims for there to be over 2,800 France Services points around the country, and inaugurated 34 new centres in November 2024. 

They are usually small offices or information booths and the government states that at least two trained staff members will be on hand at all times.

The new centres are in the following communes: Commentry, Nice, Villefrance-de-Rouergue, Dijon, Guéret, Valence, Châteaudun, Cléder, Ajaccio, Redon, Tullins, Dole, Le Controis-en-Sologne, Orléans, Le Vignon-en-Quercy, Trélazé, Bavay, Le Ferté Macé, Ambert, Aix-les-Bains, Gargenville, Mantes-la-Jolie, Friville-Escarbotin, Avignon, Limoges, Villiers-le-Bel, and in the overseas departments of Guyane, Martinique, La Réunion, and Mayotte.

You can find your closest one via the official online website which includes all France Services posts. Put in your address in the bar at the top to see a list of the services closest to you.

Click on your closest France Services point and you will see the opening hours and contact details.

It may be best to make an appointment before going but you can also walk in and organise one.

The government claims that no matter where you live in France, there will be a France Services point reachable within 30 minutes.

Administrative processes that you can seek help for at a France Services point include:

• Declaring taxes

• Getting or renewing a driving licence

• Getting or renewing a car’s registration document (commonly called a carte grise)

• Applying for social aid (allocation logement, RSA, etc.)

• Looking for a job

• Getting reimbursement for healthcare expenses

• Seeking advice on preparing for retirement (what rights do you have, how much are you entitled to, etc.)

• Seeking advice on preparing to have a child

• Free legal advice (via a partner network called Point Justice, see more information in our article here)

In addition to help with administrative procedures, the service points offer access to computers. Staff at the centres can help you set up an email address, print or scan documents, take you through different online login steps – for example setting up a FranceConnect account.

Read more: FranceConnect simplifies online government access for residents in France

If you have a complicated administrative issue, the staff at the France Services centres also have contacts with various different partners who can assist. 

This can include the interior ministry, ministry of justice, Finances publiques, France Travail, Assurance retraite, Assurance maladie, CAF, MSA and La Poste.

From 2025, Urssaf will join the list of official partners.

Read more: 13 ways France aims to make using its state services less frustrating