UKC

Hi,

Looking at staying at a friend's house in France later this year and, when checking to see when the EES system is coming into force (not yet), I came across this on gov.uk:

Staying with family, friends or a third party:
You may be asked to provide a welcome invitation (‘attestation d’accueil’) from your host. The French resident hosting you must get the attestation d’accueil from their local mayor’s office and send the original attestation before you enter France.

Looking on the French gov website, it says this:

The acceptance certificate shall cover any foreigner non-European wishing to stay less than 3 months in France, as part of private or family visit.
Be careful, there is no need to ask for a welcoming certificate if the person you are accommodating is in one of the following cases:
- She has a Schengen travel visa

So, I'm pretty sure that we don't need this, as we can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days/180 days.

Can anyone confirm, please, so I don't get a nasty surprise at border control?

The other thing was showing proof of accommodation at border control - I guess various WhatsApp messages and an address would suffice, as we won't have a formal booking?

Thanks

If you just have a normal British passport I don't think that means you have a "Schengen travel visa" even if it enables you to travel in Schengen for that time period. Following with interest. Wonder what happens for people visiting their second homes in France. Do they have to invite themselves?

Whatever the rules may be, my brother, sister and I make around ten visits to France a year between us to visit our mum who lives there and who we stay with. We have done this for years. None of us has yet been asked to provide proof of invitation.

No - you just provide proof of ownership, e.g. utility bill.

Some useful 2023 info here:

https://www.connexionfrance.com/practical/is-an-attestation-daccueil-still-...

Interesting, as we often stay with friends in France.

Nobody coming from the UK to stay with us has ever obtained or asked us for one, and nobody has ever reported being asked for one at the border.

Been to France Geneva-ish (Jura Mountains) and Geneva itself a couple of months ago and nothing much was different in travel than before brexit except for entering in the non EU queue and getting passport stamped on entry and exit. Mini cab through border a couple of times but nobody there policing it

I travel to France regularly and have never been asked (I do carry a utility bill, just in case). No-one visiting us has ever been asked either.

When this question first arose 5-6 years ago we asked our mayor about it. She had never heard of it.

This ^^

E

However,  if you have a friend or relative who has to get a Schengen visa then they will definitely need an Attestation. 
Bitter experience - cancelled trip.