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Destination France: The recovery and transformation plan for tourism

“Consolidate France’s position as the number one tourist destination in the world.” This is the goal set by the President of the French Republic at the first Destination France Summit on 4 November 2021.

France has been the world’s leading tourist destination for more than 30 years. In 2019, 90 million international tourists visited France to discover our rich natural and architectural heritage and to enjoy our world-renowned hospitality and way of life. In France, tourism accounts for 8% of GDP. This is thanks to the millions of people, passionate about their jobs and their country, who uphold its excellent reputation day after day.

During a trip to Amboise in the department of Indre-et-Loire, French Prime Minister Jean Castex – accompanied by the Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne – presented the goals set out in the Destination France plan.

Announced on 2 June 2021 by the President of the French Republic, this plan aims to set a trajectory of 10 years for the tourism sector to bounce back after being hit particularly hard by the public health crisis. The plan will consolidate France’s stable position as the world’s number one tourist destination.

“Today, we want this position to mean greater benefits for all stakeholders throughout our territories. Increasing the length of stays, making it easier to get around, becoming the world’s leading sustainable tourism destination and focusing on quality will be the essence of French tourism for the coming decade.” Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne

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Security measures in France

The safety and security of tourists in France is of the utmost importance. A number of reinforcements to security measures are in place throughout the country – please take a moment to familiarise yourself with them before travelling. Be vigilant in public places and follow the advice of local French authorities. For assistance in any emergency situation, dial 112 .

What general measures have been put in place to ensure tourists’ security?

The French President declared a State of Emergency until July 2017 to help keep residents and visitors to France safe, a measure that involves increased security checks and greater police power and presence. Police reinforcements have been deployed throughout national territory. Inspections and staff numbers have been increased on public transport and in public areas, particularly around tourist attractions – a three-fold increase in staff has been witnessed at attractions in Paris. Furthermore, all tourism sector representatives have recruited additional security staff to ensure visitor safety.

What identification is needed to enter and travel within French territory?

All foreign visitors , including European Union (EU) nationals, must carry identification in the form of a passport or national identity card . French police may require visitors to show identification at any time, including when entering or leaving the country. The increased security checks have little effect on waiting times at airports, or at train stations serving international lines such as Thalys and Eurostar.

Have visa issuance conditions changed in recent months for non-EU nationals?

Visa issuance conditions remain unchanged , and waiting times have even been reduced in a certain number of countries. Visa validity periods also remain unchanged .

What security measures have been put in place on public transport?

Extra checks prior to boarding have been stepped up for flights and international rail services, but thanks to an increase in staff numbers, waiting times remain more or less unchanged. Heightened surveillance has also been introduced on public transport. French police can carry out checks on passengers and baggage , and reserve the right (as an exceptional measure) to prohibit passengers from carrying certain personal belongings that are considered dangerous.

What about security measures in French hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs?

Under French law, hotels are required to ask all foreign customers to complete an individual police form. Moreover, each establishment has the right to carry out security checks. Restaurants, bars and clubs are open and operating normally. However, to guarantee the security of their customers, each establishment has the right to carry out security checks (bag inspections, frisking, etc.).

What security systems are in place at national museums, shopping centres and other tourist attractions?

Public cultural institutions in Paris, Île-de-France, and France more generally have stepped up their security measures (bag inspections, frisking, refusing entry to people with large suitcases, etc.). If they feel it is necessary, the authorities may take exceptional measures regarding the conditions of access to certain institutions to ensure public security.

What security systems are in place in shops and shopping centres?

Public cultural institutions in Paris and the rest of France have stepped up their security measures with bag inspections , frisking and refusal of entry to visitors with large suitcases . French authorities may take exceptional measures regarding the conditions of access to certain institutions, if they deem it necessary to ensure public security.

Has France’s public events calendar been changed, or have specific steps been taken in event organisation and staging?

All events held in public spaces are authorised , and specific security systems are in place to ensure they run smoothly. Event organisers and site managers have been working with the French authorities for several months to tighten security at exhibitions, trade fairs, congresses and other public events – but the calendar itself remains unchanged .

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Tuesday, March 12, 2024 10:32 am (Paris)

French government presents plan to take on 'over-tourism'

The government unveiled a plan to better regulate tourist flows and support local authorities experiencing surges in visitor numbers.

By  Marjorie Cessac

Time to 5 min.

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On the ramparts of Saint-Malo (northwestern France), May 28, 2023.

The French government unveiled its plan to regulate visitor flows on Sunday, June 18, seeking to alleviate the congestion at certain destinations at certain times of the year. The strategy involves creating a national observatory for major tourist sites, measuring the acceptability of visitor flows among locals, and raising awareness among tourists and influencers.

"It's not up to the government to regulate everything from above. There's no field as shared as tourism, between the government, the regions, the departments and the communes," said Olivia Grégoire, the minister for SMEs, trade, crafts and tourism, in an interview with Le Figaro on Sunday. "But it's up to the government, hand in hand with the regions, with the tourist sites, to set up methods to inform tourists and residents, or even to support communes in flow management measures."

On Tuesday, June 13, Alliance France Tourisme, which brings together companies in the sector, pointed to "France's belated awareness," saying that the country was now one of the destinations condemned to "over-tourism," whereas it had previously been relatively spared. In addition to pooling information through a digital platform on best practices and regulations, a guide, and an observatory, the government will launch a €1 million campaign in March 2024 to encourage domestic and foreign tourists "to adapt their destination choices and schedules." The campaign will go beyond actions to promote "year-round" tourism and alternative, off-the-beaten-track tours.

Several working groups will be set up in the last quarter of 2023 – one with specialized influencers, to ensure that they no longer encourage the overcrowding of certain sites; another with tourist offices in particular, to better integrate local populations' expectations into tourism policies. A number of regions mentioned a lack of human and financial resources, preventing them from carrying out a diagnosis and deploying a flow management strategy. In response, Atout France has earmarked a budget of €1.5 million to support 15 to 30 pilot regions.

In addition, with a budget of €600,000, the Environment and Energy Management Agency will support six communities over a three-year period, starting in 2024. Finally, local authorities will be able to take advantage of the "territorial voluntary service in administration" scheme run by the National Agency for the Cohesion of Territories.

'Raising awareness'

From the bay of the Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy to the Lavezzi islands in southern Corsica, from the cliffs of Etretat on the Channel to the rocky inlets of Marseille, many French sites have seen their visitor numbers soar following lockdowns associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. While this pressure is not new, it is more concentrated than before on natural sites.

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Explainer: What is France’s taxe de séjour, who pays it and when?

We look at the country’s two systems for this tourist tax and whether it is up to the holidaymaker or the accommodation host to pay it.

france tourist law

The majority of places in France apply a tourist tax called the taxe de séjour Pic: Song_about_summer / Shutterstock

France’s tourist tax, known as the taxe de séjour, aims to help finance local authorities’ tourism-linked expenses, including the upkeep of public property, the protection of green spaces and the development of touristic offerings. 

It is applied by the authorities of communes or intercommunal bodies (known as EPCIs). 

As of January 1, 2021, it was in place in 83% of France’s communes . These are the latest figures. 

There are in fact two different types of this tax. 

One, called taxe au réel , is paid by people on holiday staying in guest houses, hotels, campsites, etc. This is by far the most common version of this tax and has been adopted by 90% of the communes that apply the tourist tax. 

The fee is paid to the accommodation provider as an itemised part of the tourist’s bill, with the money then passed on at fixed dates by accommodation providers to local authorities. 

The other system, called taxe au forfait , is paid by hosts, hotel owners or landlords that charge a fee for guests to stay in their accommodation directly to local authorities. This is rare and is only fully in place in 3% of communes, while another 7% have a mixed system using au réel and au forfait. 

It is up to local councils to decide which option they apply . 

Taxe de séjour – au réel

This is paid by holidaymakers if the commune or area they are in has implemented it. 

It applies to stays in hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, campsites, caravan parks, etc. The tax will be added on to the guests’ bill. 

The rate is calculated per person, per night (there are some exceptions, listed below), and will be between €0.20 and €4.20 per night, per person. 

You can expect any accommodation of a standard lower than a four-star hotel to have a tax of less than €1 per night, per person. The average tax for five-star hotels in 2021 was €1.69 per night, per person. 

It is only in very exclusive, luxury accommodation, known as palaces in French, that the fees are likely to be higher than this. 

The department can also apply an additional tax of 10% to the tourist tax.

The amount of the tourist tax must be made clear by the accommodation provider. 

Each department will set a minimum amount that the tourist must exceed in terms of accommodation for the taxe de séjour ( au réel ) to apply. This can be set as a monthly, weekly, or daily rate.

By way of example, in Chevrotaine in the Jura tourists must spend at least €35 within a week for the tax to apply. This commune also applies the 10% additional tax.

In Antibes (Alpes Maritimes), tourists must spend a minimum of €300 within a month for the tax to apply. This commune does not apply the 10% additional tax. 

You can use this search tool to see how much the tourist tax is in each commune in France.

There is no VAT on the taxe de séjour in this case as it is extra to the bill.

The taxe de séjour (au réel) does not apply to:

  • Children (under the age of 18)
  • People in emergency accommodation or temporary housing
  • People staying in accommodation where the cost is less than a minimum amount determined by the local council
  • Seasonal workers employed in the area

Taxe de séjour – au forfait

This tax could also apply to owners of accommodation hosting tourists, be it guesthouses, B&Bs, hotels or those hosting through booking platforms such as Airbnb. It is up to local authorities whether they choose the system of ‘ au réel ’ or ‘ au forfait ’. 

Accommodation owners are tasked with paying the taxe de séjour directly to local authorities. 

The tax rate ‘au forfait’ is not based on how many nights paying guests have stayed in the accommodation but is calculated on the basis of the capacity of the accommodation (how many people can stay there) and the period of time it is open for. 

The accommodation owner declares the information to local authorities who then place a fixed tax rate for them to pay.

If the accommodation owner chooses to increase their prices to take into account the taxe de séjour, this must be mentioned in the customers’ bills with the phrase ‘taxe de séjour forfaitaire comprise’. VAT will be charged on the whole bill, regardless.

It should be noted that the taxe de séjour is not applied year-round in all communes, and the mairie or local authorities will set a period of time that it is in place for. 

Tourist accommodation owners must declare to local authorities the capacity of their accommodation and the dates they plan to be open for at least one month before the beginning of the taxe de séjour period. 

Local authorities can apply a discount of between 10 and 80% of the tax ‘au forfait’ depending on the length of time the accommodation is open for. 

Usually, the longer it is open the higher the discount. 

Details of this will be available at your local mairie. You should ask there for any clarifications on the taxe de séjour . 

Tax payments can be made once or several times a year, depending on the choice of local authorities.

Some mairies make declaration forms available online. 

In communes where the ‘au réel’ system is in place, Airbnb can automatically handle the taxe de séjour payments, which it collects and then pays back to local authorities at two points during the year. 

The booking platform states that it carries out automatic payments of the tax in 29,000 communes in France. 

One step that Airbnb hosts must still take is to declare on the Airbnb platform if their accommodation has the official classification of being a “logement classé” . 

If so, the taxe de séjour is calculated in euros per night, per person.

If your accommodation is not ‘classé’, then local authorities fix the tax rate at between 1-5% of the nightly rate that a guest pays. 

You can see a guide to informing Airbnb whether your accommodation is ‘classé’ or not at this link . 

Airbnb cannot collect taxes in communes that are applying the taxe de séjour via the au forfait system.

See with your local mairie whether this system is in place and seek advice from them on what to do to declare the taxe de séjour .

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What Is France’s Tourist Tax (Taxe de Sejour) and Who Pays It?

Essential Reading

What Is France’s Tourist Tax (Taxe de Sejour) and Who Pays It?

If you’re visiting France as a tourist or own a gite , chambre d’hôte, or campsite that you rent out, you need to know about the taxe de séjour or tourist tax, which is added to all payments. Here are all the details.

Why is there a tourist tax in France?

The tourist tax in France is collected by the area in which you stay in order to fund tourism. For example, it may be used to produce local brochures and maps aimed at attracting visitors. It can be used to renovate and update local tourist attractions such as museums and parks or for events geared toward tourism such as festivals. It can also be used to pay for extra seasonal workers who may be needed for activities or working on beaches as additional lifeguards or litter pickers, etc.

In short, it is invested to further the local tourist industry.

How much is the tourist tax (taxe de séjour)?

The Tourist Tax is calculated based on the capacity of the particular tourist accommodation, be it a campsite, a gite, a hotel, or other accommodation. It is charged on a per person, per night basis and is typically between €0.20 to €4.20 depending on the accommodation rating.

Who needs to pay the taxe de séjour?

The holidaymaker pays the tourist tax at the establishment that they have booked. It is not normally included in the reservation price but should be made clear in the terms and conditions when booking, and the amount should be clearly noted on your invoice.

It is a separate charge, and the establishment is collecting it on behalf of the local authority, and accommodation providers are duty bound to display the price of the local Tourist Tax. This information can also be found at the local Mairie.

All forms of tourist accommodation are affected by this tax except those in Rural Regeneration Zones or those subject to specific exonerations.

Prices can vary depending on the Departement, commune and classement of the establishment. For example, five-star accommodation tourists will pay more than holidaymakers staying in a two-star establishment.

You may be exempt from paying this tax if you permanently live and work in the same area – ask your Marie for advice.

How do I pay the tourist tax?

Holidaymakers will pay this charge based on a per adult, per night rate at the establishment either by cash, cheque, card or bank transfer.

Charges are set by the local area and can range from as little as forty centimes per adult per night to five euros or more.

The establishment will typically register and transmit this payment via an online system to the relevant authority. It may be made monthly, quarterly or seasonally by the establishment depending on the requirements of the area.

It may seem strange to those who are unaccustomed to paying what can be seen as an ‘additional’ charge when you arrive at your holiday accommodation; however, with the funds being used to reinvest in the local tourist economy, perhaps it is no surprise that France welcomes, on average, over ninety million tourists each year!

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Carol, a teacher from Hurworth in Darlington, lives in Charente in South-West France, where she runs La Grue Gites with her family.

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France Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 26, 2023, france - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise increased caution in France due to  terrorism  and  civil unrest .

Country Summary:  Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in France. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.

Incidents such as pickpocketing and phone snatchings occur frequently and can happen anywhere, especially in crowded areas such as airports, train stations, subway and train cars, and near tourist attractions.

Peaceful demonstrations and strikes in Paris and other cities throughout France occur regularly and can disrupt transportation. On rare occasions, demonstrations have included violence and property damage and police have responded with water cannons and tear gas.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to France.

If you decide to travel to France:

  • Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and large crowded public venues.
  • Avoid demonstrations and areas with significant police activity.
  • Follow the instructions of local authorities including movement restrictions related to any ongoing police action.
  • Find a safe location and shelter in place if unable to leave the vicinity of a demonstration.
  • Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
  • Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
  • Review the  Country Security Report  for France.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel. 
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

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10 Unbelievable French Laws You Need To Know

Confused French lawyers │

While France’s Civil law system, and its branches of public and private law, might differ substantially from the Common law systems of the English-speaking world, it shares at least one important element: some of the rules are so insanely anachronistic that they beggar belief. On a different, though no less bemusing, level are those which have been brought into force more recently by the country’s most eccentric legislators.

You can marry the dead.

In December 1959, the Malpasset Dam in southern France burst and more than 420 people drowned. Among them was the fiancé of a pregnant woman named Irène Jodard. To assuage her grief, President Charles de Gaulle drafted a law that authorized the couple’s marriage. The president retains this power so long as there’s proof of the intended nuptials. The wedding arrangements should precede the date of death and no inheritance or other financial benefits are guaranteed. In 2014, a woman called Pascale from St. Omer, a town near Lille , married her fiancé two years after his sudden death.

Sad bride │

Women COULDN’T wear trousers in Paris

Woman walking down the street in Paris │

You CAN’T photograph the police in Antibes

In Antibes , a town on the Côte d’Azur between Cannes and Nice , it is illegal to take a photograph of a police officer or a police vehicle even if they are in the background. In August 2016, police bureaus and politicians – including Christian Estrosi, the President of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, elsewhere along the French Riviera – went even further, threatening legal action against social media users who had published photographs and videos of officers enforcing the burkini ban . The images attracted worldwide attention and generated debate about the legality of the region’s clothing restrictions, a situation with which the authorities were obviously not comfortable.

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Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Police Cannes-Ecluse during the July 14th parade on the Champs-Élysées │

French music MUST be played on the radio

In 1994, in an effort to promote and preserve the French language and musical culture, the Conseil Supérieur de L’Audiovisuel imposed a quota on radio stations stipulating that between the hours of 8AM and 8PM at least 40 per cent of the music played must be in French, and that 50 per cent of this must have been made within the last six months. With more and more local artists singing in English, stations resorted to repeating the same handful of songs in order to meet the requirement. In March 2016, MPs voted to lower the quota from 40 to 35 per cent (and 15 per cent for world music stations).

The Statue of Liberty and the Maison de la Radio │

You CAN’T kiss on train platforms

Since 1910, in accordance with a law introduced by the Société national du Chemin de fer (the precursor to the SNCF), it has been illegal to kiss in French train stations and especially on their platforms. The ban was intended to avoid costly delays to the service and overcrowding in the stations. It’s unclear for how long the law was enforced or, indeed, what the punishment was for an illicit smooch, but there is certainly no formal penalty in place today.

Kissing on the train │

You CAN’T have unlimited ketchup in schools

In 2011, the French authorities put in place a ban on unlimited ketchup, mayonnaise, and vinaigrette salad dressing in schools in an attempt to boost healthy eating amongst children. There are certain exceptions to this rule, however, including those meals served with French fries. The move is hoped to stem rising obesity rates in the country. According to 2014 figures, 23.9 per cent of the adult population has a BMI over 30, significantly higher than the Netherlands at 19.8 per cent, Germany at 20.1 per cent and Italy at 21.0 per cent, but lower than the United Kingdom at 28.1 per cent and the United States at 33.7 per cent.

Tomato ketchup bottles │© Mike Mozart

You CAN’T die in Le Lavandou

In 2000, the mayor of Le Lavandou on the Mediterranean coast found himself in a rather troublesome position: the last grave in the local cemetery was filled at the same time as the regional court denied his request to build a new one nearby. Apparently, his proposal had violated a law regulating seashore constructions. In retaliation for what he saw as a ludicrous judgment, he passed a ridiculous law of his own which stated: ‘It is forbidden without a cemetery plot to die on the territory of the commune.’ It’s unclear how transgressors were to be punished.

Cemetery on the Cote d’Azur │

You CAN’T fly UFOs over Châteauneuf-du-Pape

In 1954, Lucien Young, the mayor of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a town (again) in the south of France, issued a decree banning UFOs from flying over or landing on municipal soil. Locals have always known that it was part of an elaborate (and successful) marketing scheme to get the town and its wine some international media attention. In October 2016, the law was upheld by the new mayor Claude Avril. It reads: ‘Any aircraft, known as a flying saucer or flying cigar, which should land on the territory of the community will be immediately held in custody.’

Aerial view of Châteauneuf-du-Pape │

You CAN write a check on toilet paper

Technically speaking, under Article L131-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code of October 30th 1935, anyone in France with a bank account can legally write a check on any old scrap of paper or any other ‘durable medium’ so long as it can reasonably withstand the demands of handling without damage. In reality, banks have the power to enforce the use of checkbooks on their customers so it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to hand out toilet paper money anytime soon.

Toilet paper for money │

Your parents CAN block your marriage

Under Article 173 of the Napoleonic code, written in 1803 and not updated since 1919, parents can file a statement of opposition to the marriage of their adult children for any reason. This actually happened in November 2010 when, five days before their ceremony, 25-year-old Stéphane Sage and 27-year-old Man Sin Ma, originally from Hong Kong , found that their wedding banns had been removed from the town hall in Isère following the intervention of Mr. and Mrs. Sage. In December, the TGI in Grenoble ruled against the objection but also gave the parents one month to appeal. Unreal.

Frustrated couple │

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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Prostitution, procuring, sex tourism.

Verified 13 March 2020 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice

French law prohibits the use of the services of a prostitute. It is also prohibited to induce a person to engage in prostitution or to profit from the prostitution of a third party. These acts are punishable by criminal law and may give rise to legal proceedings in France, even if they were committed abroad (sex tourism case). The penalties are more severe when the prostitute is a minor.

Major prostitute

Underage prostitute, what are the sanctioned facts.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

The following shall be prohibited:

  • Soliciting sexual relations from a prostitute in return for remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit
  • Accepting sex from a prostitute in exchange for payment, promise of payment, benefit in kind or promise of such benefit
  • Obtaining sexual relations from a prostitute in return for remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit.

Attempting to commit one of these acts is also punishable, even if the attempt has been unsuccessful.

A Frenchman or a foreigner who lives in France can be prosecuted by the French courts as a client of a prostitute.

It doesn't matter if the prostitute is French or foreigners.

The law punishes the fact for the pimp:

  • to assist, assist or protect a person's prostitution, even without profit
  • to profit from a person's prostitution
  • to hire a person for prostitution, or to put pressure on them to engage in prostitution or to continue to engage in prostitution
  • acting as an intermediary between a prostitute and his clients
  • assist a pimp in obtaining proof of fictitious resources
  • to live with a prostitute and be unable to justify the resources of his lifestyle
  • to hinder the prevention, control, assistance or rehabilitation activities, company by agencies qualified to assist prostitutes

He can be prosecuted even if the acts were committed abroad, including in a country where the acts are legal.

In addition, a travel agency manager or tourist service provider based in France who promotes their clients' access to prostitutes abroad can be prosecuted in France.

Stewardship of a place of prostitution

The law punishes the fact that the pimp or any other person owns, exploits or finances an establishment or premises used for prostitution.

What are the penalties?

Client of a prostitute.

The use of the services of a prostitute is punishable by a fine of €1500 .

In the event of a repeat offense, the fine may be up to €3750 .

Pimping is punishable by up to 7 years' imprisonment and €150,000 of fine.

Owner of a place of prostitution

A person who owns, exploits or finances a place of prostitution shall be punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment and €750,000 of fine.

  • Obtaining sexual relations from a prostitute in return for remuneration, a promise of remuneration, a benefit in kind or the promise of such a benefit

The law punishes the pimp with:

  • Assist, assist or protect the prostitution of one or more minors, even without profit
  • Taking advantage of the prostitution of one or more minors
  • Hire, train, or divert one or more minors for prostitution, or exert pressure on them to engage in or continue to engage in prostitution
  • Acting as an intermediary between a minor prostitute and his clients
  • Facilitating the justification of fictitious resources for a pimp of underage prostitutes
  • Living with a minor prostitute and not being able to justify the resources of their lifestyle
  • Impede prevention, control, assistance, or rehabilitation, company by agencies qualified to assist underage prostitutes

Make a report

Anyone who has knowledge of a child prostitution case must report it to the authorities, even without filing a complaint, and regardless of his connection with the victim: teacher, relative, hospital staff...

If not, a person who does not report such a case could face a penalty of up to 3 years in prison and €45,000 of fine.

The report can be made to the president of the departmental council.

Who shall I contact

119 can also be called.

"Numéro d'urgence:" Children in danger - 119 Children in danger - 119

A phone number for any child or adolescent victim of violence or anyone concerned about a child's situation that is in danger or at risk of being in danger.

By telephone

  119 (free and confidential call)

119 does not appear on phone records.

By foreigner phone

01 53 06 38 94

On www.allo119.gouv.fr

  • Real-time chat for children under 21 (Mondays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
  • Sign Language Translation Platform for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • Online collection form to file a situation

One handrail may be dropped off at a police station or gendarmerie brigade.

  • Office of the Commissioner
  • Police Department

In the case of prostitution of a minor via the Internet, it is possible to use Internet-reporting.

Report illegal internet content (internet-reporting: Pharos)

Furthermore, a public official (teacher, hospital staff, etc.) who has had knowledge of this offense in the course of his duties may refer the matter to the public prosecutor.

  • Judicial Tribunal

Protection of minors

Following the report, and without waiting for any judicial investigation, the juvenile judge may take the necessary measures to protect the victim.

The judge may be seised by the minor himself, his or her guardian (father, mother or guardian) or the public prosecutor

The judge shall immediately take the necessary emergency measures. He often decides to place the minor That is to say, to entrust it to the child welfare service.

File a complaint

Several persons can file a complaint in the case of prostitution of a minor:

  • The victim herself
  • His father, his mother or his guardian
  • An association with more than 5 years of seniority, whose purpose is the defense of victims (it can to lodge a complaint with the formation of a civil party)

However, the child victim may not form himself or herself a civil party, only his or her legal representatives (parents or guardian) or a ad hoc administrator appointed by the court may do so and claim damages on its behalf.

On the spot

You must go to a police station or a gendarme brigade of your choice.

You may not be refused the receipt of the complaint.

The complaint is then forwarded to the public prosecutor by the police or gendarmerie.

You can file a complaint with the public prosecutor.

We need to send a free-form letter the court of law of the place of the offense or of the domicile of the offender.

The letter should specify the following:

  • Your marital status and full contact information (address and telephone number)
  • Detailed account of the facts, date and place of the offense
  • Name of the alleged perpetrator if known (otherwise, the complaint will be filed against X)
  • Names and addresses of any witnesses to the offense
  • Description and provisional or definitive estimate of the damage
  • Evidence: medical certificates, work stoppages, miscellaneous invoices, findings ...
  • Willingness to take civil action

File a complaint with the public prosecutor

You can send your complaint by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, by simple letter or by letter followed.

You can also file your complaint directly at the courthouse.

In any case, a receipt is given to you as soon as the Public Prosecutor's Office has registered your complaint.

Client of a minor prostitute

The penalties for these acts are:

  • 3 years of imprisonment
  • And €45,000 fine

These penalties shall be increased to 5 years of imprisonment and €75,000 of fines, where:

  • The offense is committed habitually or in respect of several minors,
  • The minor was brought into contact with the perpetrator via the Internet
  • The facts are committed by a person who abuses the authority conferred on him by his duties

If the minor is under 15 years of age, the penalties may be increased to 7 years of imprisonment and €100,000 of fine.

Additional penalties (including prohibition of civil, civil and family rights, residence and contact with minors) are also provided for.

Pimping a minor prostitute is punishable by penalties of up to:

  • 10 years imprisonment and €1.5 million fine, if the minor is 16 or 17 years old
  • 15 years and €3 million fine if the minor is under 15 years of age
  • 20 years and €3 million of fines if the acts are committed in an organized group
  • Perpetuity and €4.5 million fines for acts of torture or barbarism

A person who owns, operates or finances an establishment or premises used for prostitution shall be punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment and €750,000 of fine.

Statute and miscellaneous references

Penal Code: Article 611-1

Sentences for clients of adult prostitutes

Penal Code: Articles 225-5 to 225-12

Penalties for procuring

Penal Code: Articles 225-12-1 to 225-12-4

Sentences for repeat clients of adult prostitutes and clients of underage prostitutes

Penal Code: Article 225-11-2

Application of French law in cases of sex tourism (for pimps)

Penal Code: Article 225-12-3

Application of French law in case of sex tourism (for clients)

Penal Code: Articles 227-15 to 227-28-3

Penalties for endangering a minor

Penal Code: Articles 434-1 to 434-7

Penalties for failure to report a crime or misdemeanor

Child in danger: how to report it?

Can a minor file a complaint?

What should a Frenchman do if he is arrested abroad?

Additional topics

Juvenile justice

Ministry of Justice

Column: Bravo to France for guaranteeing the right to abortion in its constitution — a worldwide first

A message reading "My body my choice" on the Eiffel Tower.

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The ripples of the U.S. Supreme Court’s terrible decision overturning federal protections for abortion have not stopped at our own shores. They have crossed the ocean and resculpted the abortion landscape in countries — well, at least one country — far from our own.

In a momentous decision that was a direct result of the American court’s distressing abandonment of a half century-old right, the French Parliament voted overwhelmingly — 780-72 — on Monday to enshrine the right to abortion in the country’s constitution.

Stipple-style portrait illustration of Robin Abcarian

Opinion Columnist

Robin Abcarian

In France, unlike the United States, no woman will ever have to worry about losing the right to control her reproductive fate. C’est un moment magnifique!

The vote, which took place at the Palais de Versailles, was followed by a standing ovation, reported Le Monde, the country’s most influential newspaper. In the evening, the Eiffel Tower lit up with the message — in English, no less — “#MyBodyMyChoice.”

“We are sending the message to all women: Your body belongs to you and no one has the right to control it in your stead,” said Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, 34, who is the country’s first gay prime minister and also its youngest.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal speaks during the Congress of both Houses of Parliament at the Palace of Versailles, west of Paris, Monday, March 4, 2024. French lawmakers gather at the Palace of Versailles for a historic vote that will make abortion a constitutional right. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

World & Nation

Abortion is enshrined as a constitutional right in France

Lawmakers approved a bill that will enshrine a woman’s right to an abortion in the French Constitution during a historic joint session of parliament.

March 4, 2024

This is heartening news at a time when the reproductive rights of Americans are being ripped away in conservative states, and when the Alabama Supreme Court has roiled the country and the fertility industry with its declaration that frozen embryos are children.

“It only takes a moment for everything we thought that we have achieved to fade away,” said Yaël Braun-Pivet, the first female president of the French National Assembly, essentially the equivalent of the American House of Representatives.

Unlike in the U.S., where cultural conservatives have turned the right to abortion into a mostly partisan battle, there was no serious partisan opposition to the amendment, which French President Emmanuel Macron had promised to introduce almost as soon as Roe vs. Wade was overturned in 2022.

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“Abortion is a fundamental right for all women,” he said at the time. “It must be protected. I express my solidarity with the women whose freedoms are today challenged by the Supreme Court of the United States of America.”

Last week, Macron posted on X, “I am committed to making women’s freedom to have an abortion irreversible by enshrining it in the Constitution.”

Even Macron’s arch-opponent, Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally party (formerly the National Front) supported the bill, albeit far less enthusiastically than the president and his allies. On Monday, she downplayed the extraordinary moment: “It serves no purpose, because no political movement is questioning abortion. … There is no need to make this a historic day.”

France is traditionally a Roman Catholic country, but news media cite recent polls showing that more than 90% of its citizens support abortion rights and 86% have been in favor of enshrining them in the constitution.

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How ironic that France would be inspired by the United States, not in a positive way, but a negative one. They used to admire how we did things around here.

Nearly two and a half centuries ago, after all, the French modeled a foundational document of their revolution, the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, on our very own 1776 Declaration of Independence.

Two years after our Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that states could impose no restrictions on women seeking abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy, France followed suit.

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The French legalized abortion in 1975 after the high-profile case of a 16-year-old girl, Marie-Claire Chevalier, who was raped by a classmate and underwent an illegal abortion. She was turned in to police by her rapist, who informed on her to escape prosecution for stealing a car. He was released, while she was arrested and briefly imprisoned before her trial, which ended in acquittal. Her case has been dubbed France’s Roe vs. Wade . Chevalier died of brain cancer in 2022.

Much like Roe, the Chevalier case became a cause célèbre.

At the time, France’s health minister, Simone Veil, who was a survivor of Auschwitz, embraced the movement to legalize abortion, and when the bill was passed, it became known as the Veil Law.

Just before Monday’s vote, Attal invoked her name. “We have a moral debt to women,” he said, according to Le Monde. “We have a chance to change history. Make Simone Veil proud.”

After the French Parliament passed the bill, Macron said his country had sent a “universal message.”

It’s a pity that message will be lost on so many American lawmakers who are determined to turn back the clock on women’s progress rather than advance it.

Today, to paraphrase Prime Minister Attal, America has a moral debt to France.

@robinkabcarian

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france tourist law

Robin Abcarian is an opinion columnist at the Los Angeles Times. She writes about news, politics and culture. Her columns appear on Wednesday and Sunday. Twitter: @AbcarianLAT

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France Tourist Visa From Australia

If you are an Australian citizen who wants to visit France for a stay period that does not exceed 90 days, you will not need a France Tourist visa. But if you intend to enter France for a stay period that exceeds 90 days you must obtain an appropriate France visa.

For more information about Tourist visa France, the eligibility requirements, the costs involved, or other services we offer, IAS can help. Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online.

Request a call back from our immigration experts

Page contents, do australians need a visa in france for tourist purposes, france tourist visa requirements, costs associated with the france tourist visa application, obtaining a france tourist visa: the application process, can i extend my tourist visa, total law can help you, frequently asked questions.

Australian citizens are not required to obtain a France visa before they enter France for a short stay, typically 90-day period. This is due to the visa-free agreement that exists between Australia and countries in the Schengen area and the European Union.

However, Australian citizens who intend to stay in France beyond 90 days are required to obtain an appropriate France visa that meets their aim of entering France. Additionally, non-Australian nationals in Australia who want to visit France (a Schengen country), must obtain a Tourist visa no matter how long they wish to stay in the country.

Also, even if you want to enter France for a short business trip, or take medical treatments, you must obtain a Schengen business and medical visas respectively. This same rule applies to other reasons for entering France along with their specific Short-Stay visas that grant foreigners a 90-day duration of stay in France and the Schengen territory.

As a non-Australian citizen resident in Australia, you must meet French Tourist visa eligibility criteria and obtain the visa before you’re allowed into France. You can equally extend your France Tourist visa, provided you have solid reasons to back up your request for an extension of stay.

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As a non-Australian resident in Australia, you are required to meet certain eligibility criteria before you are allowed into France for visit purposes. Below are the France Tourist visa requirements you must meet:

  • Valid Australian international passport. It must have been issued to you within the last 10 years and also have at least 2 blank pages where your visa will be attached. Your valid passport must also have an additional 3 months validity period left of it even after your visa expires.
  • Passport-size photographs that were recently taken and not older than 3 months.
  • France Tourist visa application form duly filled out with the correct information.
  • Evidence of paid visa fee.
  • Older visa copies. Provide copies of any visa that granted you entry into other countries in the past.
  • Medical health insurance worth €30,000 to cover medical emergencies during your stay in France and other Schengen countries.
  • Travel itinerary. This must show your travel plans to and from France.
  • Letter from tour organiser, if your trip is being organised by a tour agency.
  • Evidence of accommodation. This could be a hotel reservation, rental agreement, or even an invitation from a family member or relative currently residing in France asking you to come and stay with them.
  • Proof of sufficient funds. It must prove that you have enough money to cover your expenses while in France and the Schengen area.
  • Certificate of criminal history. This document must prove that you do not have any criminal charges against you in Australia.

All your documents must be in French or English. You are required to translate any document that is in a foreign language into French. To do this, you must engage the services of an authorised translator and ensure that those documents are notarised.

Gathering all these documents may be overwhelming for you if you are applying for a France visa for the first time. Note that a unique situation may arise in your application which may cause immigration officials to require you to provide additional supporting documents.

It is ideal to consult an immigration lawyer who already knows how these France visa application processes work. Our immigration lawyers at Total Law are readily available to help you gather and assemble all your required documents to make a solid France visa application. Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online.

In a bid to secure your visit to France via a Tourist visa, you are expected to make certain financial commitments. The costs associated with a France Tourist visa are:

  • €40 for children (6 to 12 years old).
  • €80 for adults.

Additionally, you are also expected to pay an extra fee for the services of any subcontracted company engaged to process the visa application. You are also required to pay for your biometrics.

Note that, visa fees are nonrefundable, therefore, you must ensure you pay the appropriate fees during your application.

Besides that, you are required to have €65 daily to cater for yourself in France. Keep in mind that the amount of money you are required to have daily determines how much is expected of you to have before you are granted the France Tourist visa.

If you do not have any accommodation plans, you are required to show that you have about €120 daily.

But if you have any plans for a hotel reservation even for a few days, you are required to show that you have about €65 daily. Also, you are only expected to prove that you have €32.50 daily if you have any arrangements to stay with a family member or friend who has invited you to come and stay with them in France.

Our specialist team can help you secure a visa to France from Australia. Contact Us

To enter France from Australia for visit or tourism purposes, non-Australian citizens resident in Australia are required to apply for a France visa by adhering to a certain step-by-step guide. This guide includes:

Step 1. Visit a VFS Global Centre and Apply

Non-Australian citizens who want to obtain a France Tourist visa must apply at a VFS Global centre closest to them. Obtain a form from their office, complete it with your correct details and submit it. Ensure you get two printed copies of the form and sign them.

Step 2. Bring Your Required Documents

After you have filled out your application form, you must assemble all the required documents and ensure they are arranged appropriately. Thereafter, you must come along with all your required documents for the visa appointment.

Step 3. Fix an Appointment

Visit the VFS Global centre and book an appointment for your France Tourist visa. Most times, there may be delays in booking appointments due to the busy schedules of the VFS Global centres. This is why it is recommended to book appointments for your Tourist visa in about 3 weeks to 6 months before your intended travel date to France.

Step 4. Attend the Appointment

Dress responsibly and be punctual at the France Schengen visa appointment as failure to attend it on time may cause the appointment to be cancelled and you will have to schedule another appointment at the centre. Relax and answer your interview questions correctly.

The questions you will be asked are usually related to the details in your documents. Ensure the answers you provide synchronise with what you have in your documents so that you do not cause the immigration official to doubt the authenticity of your submitted documents. Also, at the interview, your biometric information (fingerprints and photographs) may be required.

Step 5. Pay Necessary Fees

After your appointment, you are required to pay your visa fees. After the payment of your visa fees, you will be issued payment receipts as evidence of your fee payments. For your France Tourist visa, you are required to pay €80 and €40 for any child from 6 to 12 years old.

Step 6. Follow Up on Your Application

You should track your application and be on the lookout for a decision on your visa application. It usually takes about 15 days to receive a decision on France visa applications.

However, some unique situations may require applicants to provide extra documents to support their application. This will therefore delay the processing time for up to 45 days.

You will be notified once a decision is made on your France Tourist visa application. At this point, you may visit the VFS Global centre to pick up your France Tourist visa or have it sent to you via postal services after it has been examined by the French consulate.

Yes, you can extend your France Tourist visa, though it is not easy to do so. But as a type of Short-Stay visa (Schengen visa), you must present a solid reason you should be granted a Tourist visa extension.

Otherwise, you must depart France immediately after your visa expires and re-enter with another visa on the appropriate validity period/cycle.

The Schengen visa policy allows for possible reasons applicants could seek visa extensions. They include:

Crucial Personal Reasons

You can request an extension of your France Tourist visa if you are not yet done in France. For instance, if you have to finish a business deal, or need to be present at an unplanned wedding.

Once you make your request, the immigration authorities will know whether you should be granted a visa extension or not. Although this reason may not be sufficient, you can always try it out.

Force Majeure

You can also seek an extension of your France Tourist visa if an unforeseen circumstance befalls your home country. Occurrences like violent protests, war or conflict, etc. that may endanger your life, are valid reasons to seek a visa extension.

You may seek a visa extension if you enter France in about 2 or more weeks after your visa becomes valid. If you have a single-entry Schengen visa, you may stand a chance to be granted a visa extension due to this reason.

Humanitarian Reasons

You may be granted a visa extension based on humanitarian reasons if you need to complete medical treatment in France. Another point to grant you an extension could be that you have someone close to you who is solely dependent on you for their daily needs as your departure from France may put them into difficult situations.

Non-Australian residents in Australia who want to enter France must obtain a France Tourist visa. Obtaining this visa entails that all applicants must qualify and meet all the visa requirements.

Ensure that your required documents are complete as any missing supporting document may cause a delay in your visa processing time or the worst-case scenario a refusal of your application by the French authorities. It is ideal you seek expert guidance on your visa application to ensure your application is complete.

Our immigration lawyers at Total Law already know how to navigate France visa applications, and we also know the exact steps to take in your application to arrive at a favourable decision on your visa application. This is what we have done for both Australian and non-Australian citizens.

Let us help you enter France hassle-free. For more information about obtaining a France Tourist visa, regulated visa admission into France or other services we offer, call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online.

Advice Package

Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.

Application Package

Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Fast Track Package

Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.

Appeal Package

Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.

The Advice Package

During this untimed Advice Session with our professional immigration lawyers in London, you will receive our comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.

The Application Package

With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.

The Fast Track Package

Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.

The Appeal Package

By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.

We offer immigration advice sessions as face to face appointments at all of our UK offices, or via the phone. Learn more

Related pages for your continued reading.

Residence permit france, how to send employees in france, france visas for australians, how to work in france as a digital nomad, how to move to france from australia, france work visas for australians, is the france tourist visa easy to get.

Yes, it is easy to obtain a France Tourist visa, provided you meet the eligibility criteria and provide all the required documents.

Can Australian Citizens Enter to Europe Without a Visa?

Australian citizens can enter Europe without a visa, provided they hold their Australian passports and also do not exceed the allowable stay duration of 90 days.

Disclaimer: Total Law operates under different capacities in the various countries we cover, including as immigration consultants or lawyers; We connect clients with our network of immigration lawyers if we are not registered as a law firm in a particular country

Watch CBS News

Spanish tourist camping with her husband is gang raped in India; 3 arrested as police search for more suspects

Updated on: March 4, 2024 / 8:47 AM EST / CBS/AFP

Three Indian men have appeared in court after the gang rape of a Spanish tourist on a motorbike trip with her husband, with police hunting four other suspects, reports said Monday.

The attack took place on Friday night in eastern India in Jharkhand state's Dumka district, where the couple were camping.

A total of seven men are accused of carrying out the brutal assault.

"We have formed a team to hunt the remaining suspects," senior local police officer Pitamber Singh Kherwar told AFP.

On Sunday, three accused were seen being escorted into court with sacks on their heads by police officers holding ropes tied around their waists. The three were later remanded in custody.

INDIA-SPAIN-CRIME

The Spanish woman and her husband were also in court.

The couple  told Spanish TV channel Antena 3 on Saturday that the men raped the woman and hit the man repeatedly, the Reuters news agency reported.  They said they had camped out because they could not find hotels nearby, Reuters reported.

"We have to ensure strict punishment," Kherwar said, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported Monday.

Kherwar said a special team including forensic officers had been formed to scour the scene of the attack, while another team was hunting more suspects.

"They are constantly raiding places," Kherwar said in PTI's report. "We will soon arrest the remaining accused."

An average of nearly 90 rapes a day were reported in India in 2022, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau.

That year, police arrested 11 people after the alleged brutal gang rape and torture of a young woman that included her being paraded through the streets of Dehli. Also in 2022, a police officer in India was arrested after being accused of raping a 13-year-old girl who went to his station to report she had been gang-raped.

In 2021, a 34-year-old woman in Mumbai died after being  raped and brutally tortured .

Large numbers of rapes go unreported due to prevailing stigmas around victims and a lack of faith in police investigations.

Convictions remain rare, with cases getting stuck for years in India's clogged-up criminal justice system.

The notorious gang rape and murder of an Indian student made global headlines in 2012 .

Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student, was raped, assaulted and left for dead by five men and a teenager on a bus in New Delhi in December that year.

The horrific crime shone an international spotlight on India's high levels of sexual violence and sparked weeks of protests, and eventually a change in the law to introduce the death penalty for rape .

More from CBS News

5 dead in apparent murder-suicide in Honolulu home

Shooter among 3 dead in Arkansas party shooting, police say

Crash of small private jet in rural Virginia kills all 5 on board

Man who shot his mother dead thought she was intruder, his lawyer says

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