How to get a certificate of accommodation to visit France?

Written by the AXA Schengen Team
Date: 12/25/12

Ah the Schengen visa application process! Full of mischievous challenges and (weird) requests. Today, the AXA Team has decided to focus on a particularly intriguing and sometimes mandatory document: the certificate of accommodation or attestation d’accueil, as it is called in France.

Whether you are an enthusiastic traveller wishing to wander through the rose gardens of Grasse while staying at your long-lost, twice-removed, French aunt’s house, a student on their way to follow an internship in the wineries of Bordeaux and hoping your former 10th grade penpal will invite you to stay over, or simply a grandparent impatient to meet their freshly born grandchild in Lyon, chances are, as a third-country national planning a trip to France for less than 3 months or a host wishing to invite a non-European foreigner, you will come across the certificate of accommodation.

So disconcerting is this document that it can bear different names (particularly in English) and involves the participation not only of the traveller but also of their potential host and, wait for it, French civil servants… what a treat!

The AXA team is, once again, here to guide you through the process, making sure that you can enclose the precious document with your Schengen visa application or, as a host, that you can help your future guest do so.

Let’s get cracking!

Table of Contents

• Who needs to provide a certificate of accommodation with their French visa application?
• Who doesn’t need to provide a certificate of accommodation with their visa application?
• What is a certificate of accommodation when applying for a Schengen visa for France?
• Who does what in the certificate of accommodation process?
• How much does a certificate of accommodation for France cost?
• What documents must be provided to obtain a certificate of accommodation?
• What are the different steps to obtain a certificate of accommodation?
• Why can a certificate of accommodation request be denied?
• What are your options if the certificate request is denied?
• Why should you choose AXA travel insurance for your trip to France?

Who needs a certificate of accommodation to visit France?

First things first, let’s find out if you need this certificate or not.

You will need a certificate of accommodation to visit France if you meet these criteria:

• You are a non-EU or Schengen state national,


• Your stay in France will be shorter than 3 months,


• You are travelling to France for private or family purposes,


• You will be staying at the home of a relative living in France.

Caution!
Even if you are exempt from visa obligations to enter France, you will need a certificate of accommodation if you fall into the above categories.

Who doesn’t need a certificate of accommodation to visit France?

You don’t need to provide a certificate of accommodation or certificat d’accueil, if you are in one of the 4 following situations:

1. You hold:
   • A valid multiple-entry type C Schengen visa
   • A French long stay visa (type D) indicating in French the obligation for its holder to apply for a residence permit within 2 months of their arrival in France (“carte de séjour à solliciter dans les 2 mois suivant l’arrivée en France”)


2. You are travelling to France for the following purposes:
   • To take part in humanitarian activities
   • To take part in intercultural exchanges


3. You are considered as requiring urgent medical care.


4. You are coming to France to attend a funeral or to visit a seriously ill relative.

What is a certificate of accommodation when applying for a Schengen visa for France?

When applying for a Schengen visa, you will need to enclose several mandatory documents with your visa application file, including what is called proof of accommodation, meaning proof of where you are going to live while staying in this Schengen country. This can be in a hotel, in a rented flat or house or at a relative’s home.

For hotels or rentals, you will provide a booking confirmation or a rental contract.

However, if you are staying with a relative or a friend, this is when things can be a bit different depending on the Schengen country you are visiting.

In some Schengen States, an invitation letter written by the future host can suffice.

However, if you are applying for a Schengen visa for France, proof of accommodation will have to include a certificate of accommodation or attestation d’accueil, which is an official document.

Certificate of Accommodation for French visa: Key Information

1- How to get this official document?

• A certificate request form is completed by a person wishing to host a third-country national in France.


• Various supporting documents must be provided.


• The request is reviewed and validated by the local town hall (“la mairie”) where the host resides before the certificate is issued.

2- Who can request a certificate of accommodation?

• Anyone living in France can request a certificate of accommodation.


• If the host is a third-country national residing in France, they must have legal residency status.


• “Third country” refers to any country outside the European Union and the Schengen area.

3- Who can use this certificate?

The certificate of accommodation can be used by:

• The traveller staying in France


• Their spouse


• Their underage children

4- What does the certificate guarantee?

This document provides several essential guarantees regarding the foreigner’s stay in France.
By signing it, the host:

• certifies their address and the conditions in which they will accommodate their guest/ the foreign traveller.


• When applicable, vouches to financially support the person they are welcoming if the guest doesn’t have the necessary means.


• If necessary, commits to subscribing to travel insurance covering the traveller’s health expenses during their stay.

5- What should you do once the certificate is validated?

Once validated by the proper authorities, the traveller must absolutely recover the original certificate of accommodation:

• to enclose it with their Schengen visa for France application file,


• to present it to the border police upon their arrival in France.

Bonus Info
→ Rules and regulations applying to the certificate of accommodation feature in the French Code establishing the conditions of entry and residence of foreign nationals as well as the right of asylum

Who does what in the certificate of accommodation process?

Obtaining a certificate of accommodation can be a little daunting as it involves other parties: the guest (aka the traveller), the host, a French public servant of a local city hall... Here is an explanation of each participant’s role in the process:

What must the traveller/visitor guest do?

The future guest must give their host:

• their passport number,
• their personal information (first and last name, marital status, date and place of birth) as featured on their travel document (usually their passport),
• the exact dates of their trip.

All this information will be used by the future host in France to fill out the certificate of accommodation form at their local town hall.

What must the host do?

Where must the host apply for a certificate of accommodation?

The host must submit their certificate of accommodation request in person at the city hall of their hometown, usually after making an appointment.

When should the host apply for a certificate of accommodation and how long does it take to get it?

The short answer is as soon as possible. Because:

1. How long it takes to recover the certificate of accommodation varies from one city hall to the other. City services can carry out different verifications, including visiting the host’s place of accommodation.


2. There is no official legal timespan on how long it should take to get an answer. However, a month without reply means a refusal.


3. Once the host retrieves the document, they will need to send by post (via snail mail!) the original of the certificate to their guest. Remember to take that into account in your planning.


4. If your guest needs a visa to be allowed in France, they will have to enclose the certificate with the rest of the compulsory documents of the visa application file.
   Once again, plan ahead as the visa examination process itself can take up to 45 days!


5. In France, town halls are closed on certain days of the year, which can further prolong the process.
   Make sure to check the dates of bank holidays in France.

PRO TIP
The AXA Team recommends submitting the request for the certificate of accommodation:

• at least 6 weeks before the scheduled date of the trip for a traveller exempt from visa requirements.


• at least 12 weeks before the trip if a visa is needed.

How much does a certificate of accommodation for France cost?

The validation of a certificate of accommodation is an administrative act charged €30 by the French administration.

This fee must be paid using revenue (or tax) stamps (timbres fiscaux) which can be bought in French tobacco shops (i.e. bureaux de tabac) or online, on the official government website.

What documents must be enclosed with your request for a certificate of accommodation in France?

As a host, when you attend your appointment at your city hall to submit the certificate of accommodation request, you will need to present the original (and preferably the most recent) copies of the following documents:

1. An ID document (passport, ID card, or residence permit if you are foreign born).
2. Documents proving that you are the owner, tenant or occupant of the said accommodation (property deed, property tax notice, rental lease, rent receipts, etc.).


3. Documents proving your address (water, gas, electricity or phone bills in your name).


4. Any specific document proving that your accommodation can welcome the listed guests in conditions which comply with French legal requirements (certificates attesting of the size in m², health and safety compliance, inspection report if requested by the city hall services, etc.).


5. Proof of your financial means (3 payslips, last tax assessment) if you have committed to financially support your guest during their stay.


6. €30 in revenue stamps to settle the fee/tax due for the validation of the accommodation certificate.


7. If your guest is an underage minor travelling alone, an official certificate written by the holders of parental authority specifying the duration and purpose of the child’s stay.

Recap of the different steps to get a certificate of accommodation

1. As the host, you must recover from your future guest:
   1. Their passport number
   
   
   2. The exact arrival and departure dates of their stay at your home
   
   
   3. Their personal information as featured on their passport.

Beware!

• You will fill out the form with this information. It must thus be identical to what features on the traveller’s passport (and the visa application file when required).


• If you are also hosting the visitor’s spouse and/or children, you will also need to provide their personal information.

2. Book your appointment with your city hall to submit your certificate of accommodation request.


3. Gather the supporting documents which must be enclosed with the certificate request.


4. Buy the revenue stamps necessary to pay the fees of the certificate of accommodation request.


5. Attend the appointment with your ID document as well as all the necessary personal information of your future guests.
   You will be asked to:
   • fill out and sign the request form (cerfa n°10798) on site.
   
   
   • enclose the required supporting documents, the revenue stamps and submit your request.

Beware!

• You will need to fill out the form at your town hall. You can’t download the form online or retrieve it first and complete it beforehand.


• You can (and should!) however examine the specimen copy available online.
  This will allow you to anticipate the information you will need to provide, particularly concerning your accommodation (surface area, number of rooms).

6. The services of your city hall will then examine your request and, if need be, carry out a few verifications.


7. Once your request has been processed, you will be asked to come collect your certificate of accommodation at city hall. You might probably need to book another appointment to do so.

NOTE: if the city hall services haven’t contacted you within a month, you can consider that your request has been denied.

8. You can now send the original certificate to the person you wish to welcome at your home in order for them, if need be, to enclose it with their visa application file and, in any case, present it to the border police upon their arrival in France.

For what reasons may a certificate of accommodation request be denied?

The reasons for the request to be refused may be explicit (explained in writing) or implicit (no answer within a month).

City hall services can refuse to validate an accommodation certificate request for the following reasons:

• The host hasn’t supplied the demanded supporting documents or those provided are irrelevant or insufficient.


• The accommodation is not suitable for welcoming the guest in normal, safe, and comfortable conditions.


• The information featured on the accommodation form is false or inaccurate.


• Irregularities occurred during your previous requests for accommodation certificates.

What are the options if the certificate of accommodation request is denied?

1. The host (certificate applicant):
   • May file an appeal with the préfet within two months following the refusal.

   The préfet may decide to approve the certificate of accommodation or reject the appeal. If no response is received within one month, the appeal is considered denied.

   • If the appeal is rejected by the préfet, the host may lodge a further appeal before the administrative court.
2. 
   The traveller (guest):

   If all appeal procedures fail, the traveller will need to arrange alternative accommodation for their stay in France.

Why choose AXA travel insurance for your trip to France?

AXA Schengen travel insurance is certified by the consular services of all the countries part of the Schengen area and is thus, systematically accepted with Schengen visa applications, sparing you additional hassle in the process.

It offers many benefits:

• Medical expenses covered up to €2M (depending on the chosen option)


• Simple, quick, online subscription. Your travel insurance certificate is immediately sent to you via email, allowing you to enclose it with the other compulsory documents of your visa file.


• Excellent quality/price ratio as well as degressive rates depending on the duration of your stay.


• No deductible (full refund of expenses)


• No age limit


• 24/7 multilingual medical assistance and consultations

Several options are available to suit all needs and budgets.

Discover all the benefits of AXA Schengen travel Insurance and choose the perfect option for your peace of mind.

Related Articles

You might find these articles interesting:

• Everything you need to know to get a visa for France


• How to get travel insurance for France?


• Risks and safety tips when travelling to France

FAQ

What is the difference between attestation d’accueil and attestation d’hébergement?

The accommodation certificate or attestation d’accueil is an official document issued by a town hall after examination of different requirements. It is compulsory to house a non-European foreigner in France during a private or family trip. It is mandatory to obtain a visa or when crossing the border.

The attestation d’hébergement which can be called a hosting certificate refers to a simple declaration of honour stating that someone is residing free of charge at a third-party’s propriety.

Can you apply online for a certificate of accommodation?

No. Requesting a certificate of accommodation can only be done by the host themselves at the town hall of their place of residence. They will have to present the required documents and fill out a request form on site.

Do you need medical insurance to obtain a certificate of accommodation?

Subscribing to travel medical insurance is mandatory to obtain a Schengen visa. Anyone hosting a visitor can commit to subscribing to medical insurance in the name of their guest. This decision then features on the accommodation certificate request form.