French Proof of Address Sworn Statement Template

An attestation de domicile sur l'honneur is a self-written, signed, and dated document in which you declare — under your personal legal responsibility — the address of your principal residence (résidence principale) in France. It serves as a substitute proof of address when no official document in your own name is available. Unlike a utility bill or landlord letter, it is produced entirely by you, but it still carries legal weight: any false information can be prosecuted as a criminal offence under Article 441-1 of the French Penal Code.

You may use this declaration when you are staying with a host (hébergé chez un tiers), have just moved into a new address and have no bills in your name yet, or simply hold no French administrative documents of your own. Most French authorities — including prefectures, local councils, and some banks — accept it. It is typically required alongside a valid photo ID and, if you are a guest rather than the lease-holder, your host's own proof of address and a separate hosting certificate.

Yes. Although self-produced, the attestation commits you legally. Under Article 441-1 of the French Penal Code (Code pénal), making a false declaration or submitting a forged document carries a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment and a €45,000 fine. The document does not, however, replace an official proof of address when one is specifically required — for example, for certain long-stay visa procedures, vehicle registration, or formal tenancy agreements lodged with public bodies.

Whenever available, use official documents issued in your name and dated within the last three months: an electricity, gas, or water bill; a non-handwritten rent receipt (quittance de loyer); a tax notice (avis d'imposition); or a home-insurance certificate (attestation d'assurance habitation). French authorities rank these above a self-certified declaration. Some procedures — such as registering a car, enrolling children in school, or applying for a residency permit at a prefecture — specifically require one of these official documents rather than a self-declaration.

There is no official template, but the document must contain: your full name, the declaration formula in French ('J'atteste sur l'honneur que ma résidence principale est située à l'adresse suivante' — 'I declare on my honour that my principal residence is located at the following address'), the complete French address, the date, and your handwritten signature. If you have any supporting document — even a partial one such as a lease, a bank letter, or a delivery confirmation — attach a copy. Keep a duplicate for your own records; a false declaration falls under Article 441-1 of the Code pénal.