Attestation d'Accueil: How to Invite Foreign Guests to France

Do you want to invite a foreign relative or friend to stay with you in France for a holiday or family visit lasting less than three months? For your guest to obtain their short-stay visa or to cross the border if they are exempt from visa requirements, you must provide them with an attestation d'accueil (accommodation certificate). This official document, validated by your local town hall, certifies that you commit to hosting them at your home during their stay. This comprehensive guide, written by the experts at AvocatAI, explains in detail the conditions, procedures, and pitfalls to avoid to successfully complete this essential process.

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What is the Attestation d'Accueil and Who Needs It?

The attestation d'accueil is an official document by which a person residing in France (whether a French citizen or a foreign national) undertakes to host a foreign national at their home for a tourist or private stay lasting a maximum of 90 days.

This document is governed by the Code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile (CESEDA - Code on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum), specifically under Articles L. 313-1-1 et seq. as well as Articles R. 313-1 et seq.

Who must apply for the attestation d'accueil?

It is the host (you) who must carry out the procedure at the mairie (town hall) of their place of residence. You must be of French nationality, a citizen of the European Union, or hold a valid French residence permit.

Who is exempt from the attestation d'accueil?

Certain categories of travellers do not need to present this document at the border:

• Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland.
• Holders of a "Schengen" circulation visa (valid for at least 1 year for multiple entries).
• Individuals undertaking a stay for humanitarian reasons or as part of a cultural exchange (subject to conditions).
• Individuals coming to France for urgent medical reasons or to attend the funeral of a close relative (upon presentation of supporting documents).

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Eligibility Requirements: Financial Resources and Housing

The mairie does not validate the attestation d'accueil automatically. The mayor verifies that the host meets strict financial and housing conditions to guarantee that the guest will be accommodated in decent conditions.

1. Financial resource requirements for the host

The host must prove that they have stable and sufficient financial resources. The mayor assesses the host's ability to financially support their guest in the event that the guest is unable to do so.

The reference amount is generally indexed to the Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance (SMIC - French minimum wage). Family benefits and housing allowances are excluded from the calculation of resources.

2. Housing requirements

The host's accommodation must meet decent standards of health, safety, and living space to accommodate the planned number of guests. The mairie bases its assessment on the criteria of the Code de la construction et de l'habitation (Construction and Housing Code).

• Concrete Example No. 1:

> Jean lives alone in a 22 m² studio apartment in Lyon. He wishes to invite his brother, sister-in-law, and their 5-year-old child for the end-of-year holidays. The Lyon mairie is likely to refuse to validate the attestation d'accueil. Indeed, the living space is deemed insufficient to guarantee decent accommodation conditions for four people in such a restricted space.

• Concrete Example No. 2:

> Marie and her partner rent a 75 m² three-room apartment in Bordeaux, with a rent of €950 per month. Their combined monthly income is €3,200 net. Marie wishes to invite her mother, who lives in Senegal, for a duration of 45 days. Here, the housing conditions (presence of a guest bedroom) and financial resources (income significantly higher than the rent and the remaining SMIC threshold) are perfectly met. The mairie will validate the attestation d'accueil without difficulty.

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Step-by-Step Practical Procedure

The application for an attestation d'accueil must be planned well in advance. Here is the exact process to follow to obtain your document.

Step 1: Collecting the form from the mairie

You must physically go to the mairie of your place of residence. There, you will fill out the paper form *Cerfa n°1073801**. This form cannot be downloaded online, as it is a secured official document.

Step 2: Preparing the application file

You must present the originals of the following documents (the mairie will make copies):

• Proof of identity: National identity card or passport for French/EU citizens; temporary residence permit, resident card, or long-stay visa for other nationals.
• Recent proof of address: Water, electricity, gas, or landline telephone bill, or a rent receipt.
• A property title deed or the tenancy agreement (indicating the living area of the accommodation and the number of rooms).
• Proof of resources: Your last 3 payslips, and your latest income tax assessment (avis d'imposition).
• An electronic fiscal stamp (timbre fiscal) in the amount of €30.
• The guest's passport: A legible copy of the identification pages of your foreign guest (the information must be copied onto the form without any errors).

Step 3: Submitting the application

You must submit the complete file to the mairie. In some large cities, it is mandatory to book an appointment beforehand. Upon submission, you sign the form in front of the town hall officer, certifying on your honour that the information provided is accurate.

Step 4: Assessment by the mairie

The mayor reviews your application. In certain exceptional cases provided for by law, officers from the mairie or the Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration (OFII - French Office for Immigration and Integration) may be authorised to carry out an on-site inspection to verify the actual housing conditions. The host must give their written consent for this visit.

Step 5: Collecting the validated certificate

Once the certificate is validated and signed by the mayor, you must personally go to the mairie to collect it. You must then send it by post (preferably by registered mail) to your guest abroad, as they will need to present the original document during their visa application or at customs control.

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Deadlines, Costs, and Key Figures

To avoid any unpleasant surprises, keep these essential figures in mind:

• €30: This is the fixed and mandatory fee for submitting the application, payable only in the form of an electronic fiscal stamp (purchasable on the official website timbres.impots.gouv.fr or at a licensed tobacconist, a bureau de tabac). This fee remains non-refundable even if the mairie refuses to validate the application.
• 90 days: This is the maximum authorised duration for your guest's stay under an attestation d'accueil.
• 1 month: This is the maximum processing time the mairie has to validate or refuse the application. If the mairie has not responded after one month, this is equivalent to an implicit refusal.
• 2 months: This is the timeframe you have to file an administrative appeal (recours administratif) with the Préfet (Prefect) in the event of an explicit or implicit refusal by the mayor.
• 3 months: This is the recommended lead time to start the process before the planned travel date, to account for the processing time at the mairie, international postage of the document, and the visa appointment at the consulate.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

The application procedure for an attestation d'accueil is rigorous. A simple omission can lead to a refusal or a significant delay. Here are the most frequent pitfalls:

• Buying the fiscal stamp too late or in the wrong format: The €30 fiscal stamp is required as soon as the file is submitted to the mairie. Without it, your application will be immediately rejected. Make sure to buy a fiscal stamp specifically for an "attestation d'accueil" and not for a passport.
• Making mistakes when transcribing the guest's identity: A single letter difference between the name written on the attestation d'accueil and the one on your guest's passport can lead to the visa being refused by the consulate. Always ask for a high-quality photo of your relative's passport.
• Neglecting the mandatory travel insurance: The hosted foreign national must be covered by international medical insurance covering medical and repatriation expenses for a minimum of €30,000 for the entire duration of the stay in the Schengen area. This insurance can be taken out by the guest or by yourself, but it must be presented during the visa application.
• Underestimating processing times: Submitting your application to the mairie two weeks before the trip is a classic mistake. Between the processing time at the mairie, the international postage of the original document, and securing an appointment at the consulate, you should allow a margin of at least 8 to 12 weeks.

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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What should I do if the mayor refuses to validate my attestation d'accueil?

The mayor can refuse to validate the certificate if the host cannot present the required supporting documents, if the housing conditions are insufficient, or if the checks show that the accommodation is for fraudulent purposes. In the event of an explicit refusal (notified in writing) or an implicit refusal (no response after one month), you can file a *hierarchical appeal before the Préfet of the department within 2 months. The Préfet* then has one month to make a ruling.

Can I host multiple people on the same attestation d'accueil?

Yes, but under certain conditions. A married couple and their minor children (under 18 years old) can be included on the same attestation d'accueil. On the other hand, if you invite single adults (for example, two friends or an adult brother and sister), you must fill out and pay for a separate attestation d'accueil (and therefore pay the €30 fiscal stamp) for each hosted person.

Is the attestation d'accueil sufficient to enter France?

No, the attestation d'accueil is only a proof of accommodation. For citizens of countries subject to a short-stay visa requirement (such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Cameroon, etc.), the guest must apply for a Schengen visa at the French consulate in their country of residence, attaching the original attestation d'accueil. For visa-exempt countries (such as Canada or Brazil), the guest simply needs to present the original attestation d'accueil to customs officers during border control in France.

Who must pay for the guest's medical expenses if they fall ill in France?

The hosted foreign national must have medical insurance covering emergency healthcare up to €30,000. If the guest does not have insurance or if it does not cover the full costs, the host, by signing the attestation d'accueil, has committed to covering the guest's accommodation and healthcare costs if the guest is unable to pay.

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Summary

• Legal obligation: The attestation d'accueil is mandatory for any foreign national (non-EU/EEA) staying in France for private or family purposes for less than 90 days.
• Cost: A single electronic fiscal stamp of €30 per application, non-refundable.
• Requirements: The host must prove stable resources and decent housing in terms of surface area, health, and safety standards.
• Timeline: Allow up to 1 month for validation at the mairie, plus international postage and visa application processing times.
• Insurance: International medical insurance covering at least €30,000 in healthcare costs is mandatory for the guest.

Legal information for guidance only, not personalised legal advice. For your specific situation, ask your question free of charge on AvocatAI — answers based on French law, in your language.