The passport isn't handled by the préfecture but by town halls equipped with a biometric data-collection device. Here are the real waiting times to expect in 2026, the documents you need to gather, and how to book an appointment without waiting until the last minute.
Official guidance checked on 5 October 2026 (Service Public).
Check each stage to understand your waiting time
Waiting for an appointment and manufacturing are separate stages. Official sources do not promise a fixed overall time. The table explains where to check each stage; Perfecture does not measure town hall document manufacturing.
| Stage | Information you can verify | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Town hall appointment | Availability in the official search engine and equipped town halls | France Titres and the chosen town hall |
| Manufacturing after submission | Time varies with application location and period | France Titres tracking and the filing town hall |
| Document ready | Availability SMS if a mobile number was supplied | Filing town hall |
| Collection | Within three months at the place of submission | Service Public |
Documents to gather before your appointment
Gather the required documents before filing to avoid having to supplement the application before it can be processed. Check every item before showing up.
For a standard renewal (adult)
- The online pre-application form (or, failing that, the paper Cerfa form available at the town hall).
- A recent ID photo meeting current standards, not edited.
- Proof of address less than a year old (or the name of a parent hosting you, with the matching supporting documents).
- Your previous passport, even expired, or a loss or theft declaration if you no longer have it.
- The electronic revenue stamp, whose amount depends on the applicant's age.
For a minor
- The minor must be present regardless of age, along with a legal guardian holding valid ID.
- Proof of parental authority may be required if the family name differs or in specific family situations.
- The revenue stamp amount is reduced for minors, and differs by age bracket (under 15, or between 15 and 17).
How to get a town hall appointment
Only town halls equipped with a biometric data-collection device register passport applications, and you can go to any of them in France, not just the one in your home commune. This freedom of choice is your best lever: if your local town hall is fully booked for a month, widen your search to nearby equipped communes, which are often less in demand.
Most town halls open their slots on their own website or through a shared appointment-booking service. Some préfectures also run a digital assistance desk where a staff member helps you finalize your ANTS pre-application for a passport or an ID card, especially if you're struggling with the online service. This desk doesn't replace the town hall appointment for the biometric filing, but it can unblock a pre-application that went wrong.
The emergency procedure for imminent departure
A temporary passport requires a documented medical, humanitarian or professional emergency. An imminent holiday alone is insufficient. Issue is exceptional and depends on the competent administration. Service Public.
The right move
How much does a passport cost in 2026
The cost of a passport is the price of the electronic revenue stamp, to be purchased online or at a tobacconist before your town hall appointment. This amount is set nationally and doesn't vary from one commune to another: only the applicant's age changes the fee that applies.
- Adult (18 and over): €86.
- Minor aged 15 to 17: €42.
- Minor under 15: €17.
Fees depend on age and application location. Check the applicable stamp on Service Public.
Special cases: loss, theft, and change of situation
A lost or stolen passport can't be "renewed" in the strict sense: you need to start a new application, along with a loss or theft declaration (filed online or at a police station depending on the case). This extra document doesn't lengthen the manufacturing time, but it's required for the file to be accepted at the town hall.
If civil status has changed, check the additional documents required by the official guidance. An inconsistency can require a correction or supplement; no unmeasured delay is claimed here.
What to do if the waiting time exceeds the norm
Contact the town hall where you filed first: it can check the ANTS tracking service and tell you the actual manufacturing status. An administrative block (a document deemed insufficient, an extra check) sometimes triggers a letter or email that went unanswered, which suspends the file without you knowing any other way. See also our guide on how long the administration takes to respond after filing an application; the follow-up logic is similar.
Residence permits and online vehicle registration or driving licence services follow different paths. To identify the competent service, check our overview of processes that no longer go through the préfecture so you don't get the wrong desk.
You can track digital assistance desks that help with ANTS pre-applications on our live map in Gironde or in Nice.