Attestation d'Accueil for a France Visa: 2026 Guide

If you are applying for a French or Schengen visa and plan to stay with family or friends in France, the consulate will ask for proof of accommodation. When your host is a private individual, that proof is usually the attestation d'accueil (official certificate of accommodation, commonly called an "attestation d'hébergement"), a document your French host obtains from their local town hall. Here is how the process works in 2026 — for the host in France and for the visitor applying abroad.

Attestation d'accueil vs. simple accommodation letter

France uses two different documents, and mixing them up is a common mistake:

• The official attestation d'accueil: a form validated and stamped by the mairie (town hall) of the place where you will stay. It is mandatory for nationals of countries subject to the short-stay Schengen visa requirement when they are hosted by a private individual rather than a hotel.
• The simple accommodation letter (attestation d'hébergement on plain paper): a signed letter written by the host, with no town-hall stamp. It is sufficient for long-stay visa applications and in the cases where the consulate accepts it.

When in doubt, check the document checklist for your nationality on the official French visa portal: if "attestation d'accueil" is listed, only the stamped town-hall version will be accepted.

Step-by-step: how the host obtains the attestation d'accueil

The application is made by the host in France, never by the visitor:

1. The host goes to the mairie (town hall) of their home address — in some communes the préfecture handles it — with the supporting documents listed below.
2. They fill in form CERFA n° 10798*04 on site or prepare it via Service-Public.fr (the official French administration website). The form states the guest's identity, passport details and the exact dates of the stay.
3. The mairie checks the file, validates the attestation and stamps it. Processing time varies by commune, generally 1 to 5 working days.
4. The host sends the validated original to the visitor abroad, who attaches it to their visa application.

Documents the French host must provide

• Identity document: French national ID card (CNI) or passport
• Proof of address less than 3 months old: utility bill, rent receipt ("quittance de loyer")...
• Proof of income: latest payslip ("bulletin de salaire") or tax notice ("avis d'imposition")
• Proof of housing capacity: property deed ("titre de propriété") or lease ("bail")

Timeline: when should you start?

Count the mairie processing (generally 1 to 5 working days, longer in some communes), then the postal delivery of the original document to the visitor's country, then the visa appointment and processing itself. In practice, the host should start the attestation d'accueil as soon as the travel dates are set, ideally several weeks before the visa application is submitted, so the original arrives in time.

What a simple accommodation letter must contain

When the official attestation d'accueil is not required, the host's letter must state:

• Full identity of the host (surname, first name, address)
• Identity of the person being hosted
• Address of the accommodation made available
• Duration of the stay (exact dates)
• The host's commitment to cover the guest's living expenses during the stay
• Date and handwritten signature

To strengthen the file, the host should attach a copy of their identity document and a recent proof of address.

Attaching it to your Schengen visa application

The visitor includes the stamped original (or the signed letter, where accepted) in their visa file as proof of accommodation, together with the application form, passport and the other required documents, at the French consulate or its visa application center. Make sure the dates on the attestation match the travel dates declared in the application and in your bookings: consulates cross-check them.

Common refusal reasons — and how to avoid them

• Incomplete host file: a missing proof of income or of housing capacity is a frequent blocker at the mairie.
• Housing judged insufficient: the accommodation must offer normal housing conditions for the number of people hosted.
• Inconsistent dates: the dates on the attestation must match those in the visa application and bookings.
• Outdated documents: a proof of address older than 3 months, or a photocopy where an original is expected.
• Vague simple letters: a letter without exact dates, a full address or a commitment to cover expenses is often rejected as proof of accommodation.

Final tips: start early, keep copies of everything, and have the host double-check their commune's exact requirements — some mairies ask for additional documents.