It’s interesting to see that it’s not a legal requirement though our French mayor has asked for proof of health insurance and return travel for the last 2 years before granting an Attestation d’Accueil.
Replies
Is that different from a short term visit?
aug 9, 2025, 11:36 am • 0 0 • view
It’s when they need proof of accommodation when they visit on holiday even if just for a few days.
aug 9, 2025, 11:37 am • 2 0 • view
They don’t actually need proof. You could put a friend’s address or that of any hotel if you wanted. It’s meaningless. What if you changed your mind and stayed somewhere else?
aug 9, 2025, 12:35 pm • 2 0 • view
Oh don’t get me wrong, it’s an absolute pain especially given the amount of paperwork I have to provide. I want family to come over stress free and if that is what it takes, I’ll do it because I’d hate to see them stuck with a douanier when they don’t speak a word of French.
aug 9, 2025, 12:54 pm • 2 0 • view
Possibly constitutes a declaration of sponsorship or letter of guarantee that may constitute evidence?
aug 9, 2025, 11:54 am • 2 0 • view
Yeah that makes sense as I also have to provide proof of my finances presumably in the even that I need to bail my visitors out financially.
aug 9, 2025, 11:56 am • 1 0 • view
your mayor is probably a stickler for the rules and others will be less strict IMO - its fair enough if he wants to do it by the book. you have to have adequate funds for your visit not having medical insurance leads you liable for big medical bills if you get ill - its a fair interpretation
aug 9, 2025, 6:51 pm • 1 0 • view
Absolutely and it’s a tiny village of ~3k permanent residents that goes to about 30-40k in July and August so it’s a big cost for the village. It’s weird I know but the €30 tax we pay per form I know goes into our green spaces and flowers for example so we get to enjoy them all year round…
aug 9, 2025, 7:25 pm • 1 0 • view
It's an implausible interpretation because the EU visa code *does* explicitly require travel medical insurance. So the absence of such a rule for non-visa travellers obviously means that it's not required. (Whether it might be relevant to declarations which are evidence of funds is different)
aug 9, 2025, 7:33 pm • 3 0 • view
It is actually listed on the gouv.fr page on attestations d’acceuil, though it’s not clear from that what the legal pretext is. https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2191
aug 9, 2025, 9:18 pm • 1 0 • view