Tax stamp for a residence permit: which amount to buy
The calculator starts from a renewal of a private and family life card; change the permit or the procedure to read the stamp amount.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
Payable in tax stamps
€250
Standard rate · Renewal
| Tax | €200 |
| Stamp duty | €50 |
| Over 3 year(s), per person | €900 |
Amounts due when the permit is handed over (or the visa validated), in force since 1 May 2026. The visa fee paid at the consulate comes on top; it varies by country.
Fee schedule and sourcesThe tax stamp (timbre fiscal) for a French residence permit is electronic: you buy it on the official stamp website or from an equipped tobacconist (bureau de tabac), and it comes as a PDF with a 2D code or as a text message holding a 16-digit identifier. The amount depends on the permit and the procedure. Since 1 May 2026, renewing the card of a French national's spouse needs a €250 stamp, renewing a student card €100, and a first retiree card only €50. The stamp for naturalisation or a declaration through marriage is €255. You buy it once the card is granted: the prefecture texts you that the permit is ready and you show the proof of purchase when collecting it. A stamp bought by mistake can be refunded through an online request. Do not buy a fine stamp (timbre amende), which is useless for a permit.
Two formats, one check
The electronic stamp arrives either as a PDF with a 2D code, which the officer scans straight from your phone or tablet, or as a text message with a 16-digit identifier. Both are accepted by the office handling your file. According to the official page on buying a tax stamp as a foreign national, the same online service covers a first application, renewal or replacement of a residence card or resident card, the VLS-TS validation and the travel document for minors.
| Procedure | Stamp to buy |
|---|---|
| Renewal, spouse of a French national | €250 |
| Renewal, student | €100 |
| First retiree card | €50 |
| VLS-TS validation, employee | €300 |
| Replacement, standard rate | €350 |
| Naturalisation or declaration by marriage | €255 |
Why the amount changed in 2026
Section 128 of the 2026 Finance Act raised every fee. The official Service-Public.fr notice states that the new amount applies to decisions made from 1 May 2026: a file lodged earlier but approved later pays the new stamp. The citizenship stamp went up to €255, €127.50 in French Guiana, according to the page on the citizenship stamp.
Common mistakes
- Buying a fine stamp instead of a "titre pour étranger" tax stamp.
- Buying the standard rate for a card on the reduced rate, or the other way round.
- Forgetting the €50 stamp duty included in the total.
General information, not legal advice: if in doubt, the amount in the prefecture's text message is the one that counts.