Welcome certificate
WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
Any foreigner wishing to come to France for a private or family visit of less than 3 months must present proof of accommodation. This is called an attestation d'accueil. This document is a form that must be filled in and signed by the person who will be hosting the foreigner in their home during their stay in France. The request must be made at the town hall of the place of residence.
WHO IS CONCERNED? WHO IS EXEMPT?
The attestation d'accueil applies to all foreign nationals (except European, Andorran or Monegasque nationals)
The following persons are exempt from the attestation d'accueil requirement:
- holders of a Schengen circulation visa, valid for a minimum of 1 year for several entries,
- holders of a carte de séjour visa, to be applied for within 2 months of arrival,
- persons on a humanitarian visit or as part of a cultural exchange, subject to conditions,
- persons coming to France for urgent medical reasons or because of the serious illness or funeral of a relative, subject to conditions.
HOW TO APPLY
The application must be submitted by the person wishing to host the foreigner, to the town hall of the planned accommodation.
ISSUING THE CERTIFICATE
Validation enables the mayor to check that the person signing the attestation:
- is indeed the person declaring to welcome the foreign visitor(s),
- and that he/she can accommodate the visitor(s) in normal housing conditions.
If the mayor approves the application, a validated attestation d'accueil is issued to the applicant. The applicant must go in person to the town hall. Issuance is not necessarily immediate. It may be necessary to carry out a detailed examination of the file, or to carry out an inspection of the accommodation. The validated attestation d'accueil (original) must be sent by the host to the foreigner they wish to host. If the foreigner needs a visa to come to France, he must attach the attestation d'accueil to his application for a short-stay visa. If a visa is not required, the attestation d'accueil must be presented at the Schengen external borders.