Host certificate (attestation d'accueil)
The attestation d'accueil is the document by which someone living in France undertakes to host a non-European foreign national on a private or family visit of less than three months. It is signed at the counter of the town hall covering the place of stay, costs €30 in tax stamps, and must be validated by the mayor before the visa application.
Up to date for 2026 — verified on September 6, 2026Official form10798*04Guide: about 20 min
Deadlines
- Before the visa application
- The certificate must be validated by the mayor before the visa application is filed — or before travel where no visa is required — then sent to the guest.
- One month of silence means refusal
- If the mayor does not answer within one month, the request is deemed rejected.
- Two months to challenge
- An appeal to the prefect must be lodged within two months of the refusal; the administrative court can be seised afterwards.
Documents to prepare
- Host's identity document
- Proof of occupancy (lease, title deed)
- A recent bill or rent receipt in your name
- Proof of income (last three payslips or tax notice)
- Guest's passport number
- €30 tax stamp
You download it from the official site — we never re-host a public document.
What this page gives you
The guide above and the link to the official site. ActioFin does not produce any document for this page: whatever you fill in or file is done on the official medium.
Who this applies to
- Anyone living in France who hosts a non-European foreign national for a private or family visit of less than three months (CESEDA, article L313-1).
- The host, and only the host, signs the certificate: their presence at the counter is a condition of validation.
- One form per guest — although the guest's spouse and minor children appear on the same certificate.
Worked example
Example: Karim hosts his mother for six weeks in Lille
Karim rents a three-room flat in Lille and wants to host his mother for six weeks. He goes to Lille town hall with his ID, his lease, his latest rent receipt, his last three payslips and a €30 tax stamp. He fills in and signs form cerfa 10798*04 at the counter, undertakes to cover his mother's living expenses, and the mayor validates the certificate. Karim then sends it to his mother, who attaches it to her visa application.
How to fill it in, step by step
- Book an appointment at the town hall of the municipality where your guest will stay: the certificate is signed at the counter, in your presence.
- Buy a €30 tax stamp, online or from a tobacconist equipped for this service (CESEDA, article L313-6).
- Gather your supporting documents: identity, proof of occupancy, a recent bill or rent receipt, proof of income (last three payslips or tax notice), and your guest's passport number.
- Fill in and sign form cerfa 10798*04 at the counter, one copy per guest.
- Wait for the mayor's validation, then send the validated certificate to your guest before they travel.
The form, line by line
- Undertaking to cover expenses
- You undertake to cover any living expenses your guest does not meet. The form caps that undertaking at the daily amount of the SMIC (French minimum wage).
- Housing details
- Address, floor area, number of rooms, number of usual occupants: the mayor uses these to assess whether the stay can take place in normal housing conditions.
- Length of the stay
- The undertaking runs for the period of validity of the visa, or for three months from entry into the territory of the States party to the Schengen Convention.
- Reply slip
- Detachable, it is reserved for the consulate, which returns it to the mayor of the municipality where the guest stays.
Good to know
- Insurance taken out by the host can satisfy the traveller's insurance requirement for this stay (CESEDA, article L313-7).
- The mayor may have the accommodation inspected, but only with your written consent: refusing means the normal housing conditions are treated as unmet (CESEDA, article L313-4).
- The downloadable form is version 10798*04 and cites the former CESEDA numbering (articles L.211-3 to L.211-8), since recodified as articles L313-1 onwards. The substance is unchanged — only the references moved.
- The mayor may keep a file of validation requests to prevent misuse of the procedure (CESEDA, article L313-5).
- ActioFin does not pre-fill this form, and that is a choice: the PDF downloadable from service-public is a SPECIMEN, watermarked on both pages, with an empty "F" serial number. The original, on secure paper, is handed to you at the town hall counter and is filled in and signed there, in your presence (sheet F2191, verified 21 October 2025). A form filled from the specimen would have no value — and would let you believe otherwise.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the certificate can be filled in at home: the original is signed at the counter, and the host's presence conditions validation.
- Confusing the attestation d'accueil with a proof-of-accommodation letter: the first covers a visit of under three months and is validated by the mayor, the second is a sworn statement with no validation.
- Turning up without a tax stamp: the €30 charge is due for each validation request.
- Filing one certificate for several adult guests: one per person is required, apart from the guest's spouse and minor children.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an attestation d'accueil cost?
€30, borne by the host and paid in tax stamps, for each validation request (CESEDA, article L313-6). The stamp can be bought online or from a tobacconist equipped for this service.
What if the mayor refuses to validate the certificate?
The refusal can be challenged before the prefect within two months; silence for one month counts as a refusal. The administrative court can be seised afterwards. The grounds for refusal are exhaustive: missing documents, inadequate housing conditions, inaccurate information, or misuse of the procedure revealed by earlier certificates (CESEDA, article L313-3).
Can the form be downloaded?
Form cerfa 10798*04 can be viewed and downloaded online, but the original you sign is the one handed to you at the town hall counter. The download is there to prepare the visit, not to replace it.
Which stays require the certificate?
Stays of less than three months for a private or family visit (CESEDA, article L313-1). Beyond that, a residence permit is required rather than a host certificate.
Go further
Understand this form: the related course
Official sources
- service-public.gouv.fr — Attestation d'accueil (sheet F2191, page verified 21 October 2025): the original request form (cerfa no. 10798) is handed over at the town hall counter and filled in and signed there, €30 in tax stamps, implicit refusal after one month, appeal to the prefect within two months — September 11, 2026
- Légifrance — CESEDA, section « Attestations d'accueil », articles L313-1 to L313-8: requirement for stays under three months (L313-1), validation by the mayor (L313-2), grounds for refusal (L313-3), housing inspection on written consent (L313-4), €30 charge (L313-6), host's insurance (L313-7) — September 6, 2026
- service-public.gouv.fr — form cerfa no. 10798*04 « Demande d'attestation d'accueil » (SPECIMEN PDF, watermarked on both pages, empty serial number — the original is obtained at the town hall): undertaking capped at the daily SMIC amount, reply slip reserved for the consulate — September 11, 2026
Guide and document provided for information purposes only; they do not constitute personalised legal or tax advice. Check the recipient organisation's requirements and consult a professional if needed.