Proof of accommodation letter (attestation d'hébergement)

Fill in host and guest: the French attestation is written, ready to print.

Attestation d'hébergement

Fait à [town], le 31 octobre 2026

Signature

[host's full name]

Click inside the attestation to edit it. For a PDF, pick "Save as PDF" as the printer.

Proof of accommodation letter: how to fill it in

A proof of accommodation letter, called an attestation d'hébergement in France, is a short statement signed by the person you live with to say that you live at their address. To make one here, fill in the host's and the guest's names, dates and places of birth, the address of the home and the date the stay started: the French text is written next to the form, following the Service Public model (« Je soussigné… déclare sur l'honneur héberger à mon domicile… »), with the place, the date and room for the signature. Print it or save it as a PDF, have the host sign it by hand, then attach a copy of the host's ID and a proof of address in the host's name. For a residence permit, that proof must be less than 6 months old; for a French ID card, less than one year. The limit is that each office keeps its own list of documents, so check it before you file.

When you need one in France

Newcomers often live with family, a partner or a friend before having a lease or bills in their own name. French offices still ask for a justificatif de domicile (proof of address), and the attestation d'hébergement is how a host lends you theirs. The prefecture asks for it with a first carte de séjour (residence permit) or a renewal, the town hall with a French ID card or passport, the ANTS with a carte grise (vehicle registration) or a driving licence, and the CAF (family benefits office) or a bank may ask for it to record your address.

For a residence permit, Service Public lists three documents when you are hosted by a private person: this attestation, dated and signed; a copy of the host's ID card or residence permit; and a proof of address in the host's name, such as an energy, landline or internet bill, a lease or a title deed, if the address on the host's ID is out of date. Give the real date you moved in: for an ID card, the office expects a stable stay or one that has lasted more than three months.

Why it stays in French, and what the host signs

The tool writes the attestation in French because it is read by French staff and follows the official wording. « Je soussigné » means "I, the undersigned"; « déclare sur l'honneur » means "declare on my honour"; « Fait à…, le… » is the place and date of signing. The grammar changes with the signer: « soussignée, née » for a woman, « soussigné, né » for a man, which is why the form asks for it.

By signing, the host vouches for the facts. Under article 441-7 of the French Code pénal, a false certificate can lead to one year in prison and a 15,000 euro fine, or three years and 45,000 euros when it is used to obtain a residence permit. If you also need a general statement, use the sworn statement template; to end a contract when you move, the French cancellation letter.

Frequently asked questions

Which documents go with a proof of accommodation for a French residence permit?

Service Public lists three for a carte de séjour (residence permit): the attestation d'hébergement dated and signed by your host, a copy of the host's ID card or residence permit, and proof of address in the host's name, such as an energy, landline or internet bill, a lease or a title deed, if the address on the host's ID is out of date. That proof must be less than 6 months old.

Can I write the attestation d'hébergement in English?

No, keep it in French: it is read by a French prefecture, town hall or office, and the wording here follows the Service Public model. The form on this page is in English, but the attestation it produces stays in French. It does not need to be handwritten; only the signature must be done by hand, after printing. Keep a signed copy, because the original is often kept by the office.

My adult son lives with me: what does he need for a French ID card or passport?

Three documents, according to Service Public: a photocopy of your ID, the original attestation, dated and signed, stating that he has lived with you in a stable way or for more than three months, and an original proof of address in your name that is less than one year old. The page adds that no other document should be required by the town hall.

Is this the same as the attestation d'accueil for a visitor's visa?

No. The attestation d'hébergement proves that someone already lives with you, for their own procedures in France. The attestation d'accueil (form Cerfa 10798) is requested from the town hall by a resident of France who will host a foreign visitor for a short stay, and it supports the visitor's visa application. Service Public warns against confusing the two documents.

What do I risk if the attestation is not true?

Article 441-7 of the French Code pénal punishes making or using a certificate that states materially false facts with one year in prison and a 15,000 euro fine. It rises to three years and 45,000 euros when the aim is, among other things, to obtain a residence permit. The person who uses the false attestation faces the same penalties as the person who signed it.

Sources

Service Public, Modèle de lettre : attestation d'hébergement (official model letter), page read on 27 October 2026.
Service Public, Attestation d'hébergement (proof of accommodation), page read on 27 October 2026.
Service Public, Carte d'identité ou passeport : quel justificatif de domicile ? (proof of address for an ID card or passport), page read on 27 October 2026.
Service Public, Demande de carte de séjour : quel justificatif de domicile ? (proof of address for a residence permit), page read on 27 October 2026.
Légifrance, Code pénal, article 441-7 (false certificates), page read on 27 October 2026.