Foreign press correspondents: applying for your press card The issuance of foreign press cards to professional journalists who are French or foreign nationals and are resident in France as permanent foreign press correspondents is subject to the following procedure Published on : March 11th 2026 Updated on : March 18th 2026 Dans cette rubrique Press Room Official statements and speeches Contact the press office Foreign press correspondents: applying for your press card Terms and Conditions for Filming in France Content Conditions A - Identity documents B - Letter C - Proof of remuneration for press activity D - Two ID photos E - Curriculum vitae Conditions for renewal Conditions The issuance of foreign press cards to professional journalists who are French or foreign nationals and are resident in France as permanent foreign press correspondents is subject to the following procedure: 1) Before arriving in France, if you are a foreign (non-EU) journalist, you must apply for a long-stay visa (type D) at your nearest French consulate. If you are a resident of the European Union, your identity document will suffice. 2) When you arrive in France, you must make an appointment with the foreign press correspondents’ office at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, which will inform you of the procedure to follow. Tel. no.: +33 (0)1 43 17 42 39carte.dcp-presse@diplomatie.gouv.fr You will require the following documents for your application: A - Identity documents French national ID card (for French nationals or dual nationals), or Valid passport with a long-stay (type D) visa (for non-resident journalists) Residence permit B - Letter Addressed to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs by the press outlet designating the journalist as a foreign correspondent in France. This letter must state the job title and the remuneration (salary or freelance pay) of the correspondent working in France. C - Proof of remuneration for press activity You must provide a copy of your employment contract or a payslip from within the past three months or an invoice or statement of freelance pay, as well as a bank statement from within the past three months. D - Two ID photos E - Curriculum vitae N.B.: Any missing document(s) will delay your application. 3) If your application is complete, you will receive a certificate from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs which may make it easier to carry out your work. This statement may be requested of non-residents who are applying for a residence permit (carte provisoire de séjour). 4) To receive a receipt acknowledging your application for a residence permit: If you live within Paris, you must go to the Paris Prefecture of Police (‘Cité’ metro station). If you live in the Paris suburbs or other regions, you must go to the prefecture of the department where you live. As soon as you receive it, a copy of this receipt must be sent to the foreign press correspondents’ office. 5) Once you have completed these formalities, your application will be processed with a view to issuing your card. Your card will be valid until 1 January of the following year, regardless of its date of issue. Please note that holders of a press card may not exercise any other salaried, freelance, commercial or manufacturing activity, nor may they hold any diplomatic, consular or similar status. Conditions for renewal Your foreign press card will be valid until 1 January of the following year, regardless of its date of issue. It must therefore be renewed each year. You will be informed by email of the date from which you may apply for renewal. You must be able to provide the following documents: Proof of remuneration (payslip, proof of bank transfer or statement of royalties), Media accreditation, A copy of recent articles, for written press journalists only. Applications for the renewal of press cards must be submitted by 31 May of each year.