A timbre fiscal is France’s electronic tax stamp: a prepaid 16-digit code (or scannable QR code) that the government requires before it will process certain administrative requests, from passport applications to residence permits to court filings. You buy it online at timbres.impots.gouv.fr or in person at a licensed tobacco shop, then present the code when you file your application.1Direction générale des finances publiques. Achat de Timbres Electroniques The amount depends on the procedure, and each stamp is tied to a single designated use under Article 899 of the Code général des impôts.2Légifrance. Code General des Impots – Article 899
When You Need One
The most common trigger is a passport application. The stamp costs 86 euros for adults, 42 euros for minors aged 15 to 17, and 17 euros for children under 15. If photos are taken on-site at an embassy or consulate abroad, each tier costs 3 euros more.3France Titres (ANTS). Biometric Passport
A first-time French national identity card and a standard renewal are both free. A replacement for a lost or stolen card requires a 25-euro stamp.4Service-Public.fr. Carte d’Identite d’un Majeur – Renouvellement en Cas de Perte Replacing a lost or stolen driver’s license follows the same pattern: 25 euros.5France Titres. Loss or Stolen Driving Licence
Other procedures that require a stamp:
- Attestation d’accueil (hosting certificate for a foreign visitor): 30 euros.6Service-Public.fr. Attestation d’Accueil
- Annual validation of a hunting license: 9 euros, on top of the separate hunting royalty.7Service-Public.fr. Validation Annuelle du Permis de Chasser
- Civil court appeal where legal representation is mandatory: 225 euros.8Service-Public.fr. Acheter un Timbre Fiscal Electronique pour Faire Appel d’une Decision de Justice
Administrative court claims do not require a stamp. That fee was abolished on January 1, 2014.
Residence Permits and Naturalization
Immigration paperwork carries the highest stamp costs, and the amounts increased on May 1, 2026. Validating a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) now costs 300 euros at the standard rate, up from 200 euros. Students, seasonal workers, family reunification beneficiaries, and holders of a job-search or business-creation visa pay a reduced rate of 100 euros.9Service-Public.fr. Residence Permits – Increase in the Amount of Fees Charged to Foreigners from 1 May
First-time residence card fees are:
- Standard rate: 350 euros for a temporary, multi-year, or resident card.
- Reduced rate: 150 euros for students, seasonal workers, au pairs, family reunification, and job-search or company-creation permits.
- Renewal: 250 euros standard, 100 euros reduced.
- Duplicate: 350 euros standard, 150 euros reduced.
- Provisional residence permit: 100 euros for issuance or renewal.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection and individuals leaving prostitution who are in a social and professional integration program are exempt from the provisional permit fee.9Service-Public.fr. Residence Permits – Increase in the Amount of Fees Charged to Foreigners from 1 May
Applying for French nationality by decree, reintegration, or declaration of acquisition now requires a 255-euro stamp, also as of May 1, 2026. That is up sharply from the previous 55 euros. In French Guiana, the amount is halved to 127.50 euros. Given the size of the increase, verify the current amount on the government portal before purchasing if you were working from older figures.
How to Buy One Online
The only legitimate site is timbres.impots.gouv.fr, run by the Direction générale des finances publiques. It is available around the clock. The steps:
- Select the procedure that matches your application (passport, residence permit, driver’s license, and so on). Choosing the wrong category can delay your filing.
- Enter the amount. For residence permits, you type in the exact euro amount for your situation. Passport stamp amounts are pre-set.
- Choose your delivery method: a PDF by email with a scannable QR code, or an SMS containing the 16-digit identifier.
- Pay by card. Your bank will send an authentication request to confirm. PayPal and American Express are not accepted.
Once payment clears, save the PDF or take a screenshot immediately. The confirmation is your proof of purchase.10Réfugiés.info. Buy a Tax Stamp
Buying at a Tobacco Shop
Licensed tobacco shops (buralistes) equipped with the right terminal can issue electronic stamps in person, which is useful if you prefer to pay cash or want help with the process.11Service-Public.fr. Foreigner in France – How to Buy a Tax Stamp Not every buraliste has the equipment, so call ahead or check for a sign in the window. The merchant enters your details, takes payment, and hands you a printed receipt with either the 16-digit code or a QR code. That paper receipt works exactly like the PDF from the website.
One warning: buralistes also sell a “timbre amende,” which is for paying traffic fines. Ask specifically for a timbre fiscal for your administrative procedure, not a penalty stamp.
Using the Stamp at Your Appointment
For online applications, the portal provides a field where you type in the 16-digit code. For in-person appointments at a préfecture, sous-préfecture, or mairie, bring the printed PDF or pull up the SMS on your phone. The official processing your file will scan the QR code or enter the number into a national tracking system to confirm the stamp is valid and has not already been used.11Service-Public.fr. Foreigner in France – How to Buy a Tax Stamp Once logged, the stamp is consumed permanently. Keep a copy of the receipt in case of any dispute about whether the fee was paid.
Validity and Refunds
An electronic stamp is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Beyond that, it expires and cannot be applied to an application. The refund window runs longer: you can request reimbursement within 18 months of purchase, so you still have six months after expiration to reclaim your money.10Réfugiés.info. Buy a Tax Stamp
Refunds are handled through timbres.impots.gouv.fr under the “Request an e-Stamp Refund” section. Even if you bought the stamp at a buraliste, the refund goes through the website. The money is credited back to the card used for the original purchase within a few business days. If you paid cash at a buraliste, the refund process may require submitting bank details separately through the portal.
Avoiding Scam Sites
Fraudulent websites that mimic the official portal charge inflated prices or take your money without delivering a valid code. The only legitimate website for buying a timbre fiscal online is timbres.impots.gouv.fr. Any other domain selling stamps is unauthorized.
The French tax authority (DGFiP) will never send you an email or text containing a link to an external site. A message claiming you owe money for a stamp and directing you to click a link is fraudulent; legitimate communications will direct you to log into your personal account on the official tax website. Premium phone numbers starting with 0 899 or 0 891 are another sign of a scam. The free national contact number for the tax administration is 0 809 401 401.
Overseas Territories
Paper stamps have been phased out on mainland France, but French overseas departments still issue physical paper stamps alongside the electronic option.10Réfugiés.info. Buy a Tax Stamp Some fees also differ by territory. The naturalization stamp costs 127.50 euros in French Guiana rather than the mainland 255 euros, and the lost identity card fee is 12.50 euros there versus 25 euros elsewhere.4Service-Public.fr. Carte d’Identite d’un Majeur – Renouvellement en Cas de Perte If you are filing from an overseas territory, confirm the specific amount on the government portal before purchasing.