Walk-in counters at French préfectures in 2026: Where and for which procedures?

The end of walk-in counters for most procedures

Since November 6, 2017, préfecture and sub-prefecture counters have been closed for vehicle registration certificate (carte grise) requests. This procedure is now exclusively digital via the ANTS website or an approved professional. No exceptions are possible without an appointment, even in case of online issues ^1^ ^2^.

For passports and national identity cards (CNI), applications are only by appointment at town halls equipped with biometric stations or online. Préfectures do not offer walk-in counters for these procedures ^3^.

Préfectures with walk-in counters in 2026

A few préfectures and sub-préfectures still maintain walk-in counters for specific procedures, often limited and under conditions. Here are the confirmed exceptions in 2026:

Seine-Saint-Denis (Préfecture de Bobigny)

• Provisional Stay Authorization (APS): Walk-in reception in the morning at 8
  AM, only for individuals already in France whose visa extension is no longer possible. Reception capacity is limited ^4^.
• Digital assistance: An afternoon walk-in counter to help users with online procedures (vehicle registration, driving licenses) via France Titres.

Isère (Préfecture de Grenoble)

• Residence permit delivery: Walk-in on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 AM to 11 AM, only upon presentation of the SMS confirming permit availability and a passport ^5^.

Morbihan (Préfecture de Vannes)

• Residence permit delivery: Walk-in after receiving an SMS confirming permit availability, Monday to Friday from 8
  AM to 12 PM and 1
  PM to 5 PM ^6^.

Finistère (Sub-préfecture de Brest)

• Residence permit delivery: Walk-in on Monday and Wednesday afternoons (1
  PM to 4 PM) ^7^.

Haute-Garonne (Sub-préfecture de Saint-Gaudens)

• General reception: Walk-in for certain unspecified procedures, but digital assistance for vehicle registration and driving licenses requires an appointment ^8^.

Yvelines (Préfecture de Versailles)

• Residence permit renewal: Walk-in for residents of the Saint-Germain-en-Laye district, only at the préfecture of Versailles (2 avenue de l’Europe) ^9^.

Procedures eligible for walk-in counters

Walk-in counters at préfectures or sub-préfectures are only open for:

• Provisional Stay Authorizations (APS) (e.g., Seine-Saint-Denis).
• Residence permit delivery (e.g., Isère, Morbihan, Finistère, Yvelines).
• Digital assistance for online procedures (vehicle registration, driving licenses), without direct processing of the file (e.g., Seine-Saint-Denis, Haute-Garonne).
• Proven emergencies (expired permit, job loss, essential travel), depending on the préfecture and upon presentation of supporting documents.

Préfectures where all counters require an appointment

Most préfectures (e.g., Gironde, Paris, Vienne, Eure-et-Loir, Hauts-de-Seine) no longer accept users without an appointment, including for residence permits. Applications are exclusively online via ANEF or by appointment ^10^ ^11^.

What to do if no appointment slots are available?

If you cannot find an appointment slot at the préfecture, here are the solutions:

1. Contact the Citizen Contact Center (CCC): Call 0806 001 620 (toll-free) for secure titles (driving licenses, vehicle registration, ID cards, passports) ^12^.
2. File a claim with the administrative court: In case of emergency (expired permit, no response), a liberty referral can compel the préfecture to receive you. Here is a template:

Mr. President,

I, the undersigned, [Name and surname], born on [date] in [place], residing at [address], request your urgent intervention to obtain an appointment at the préfecture for [specify the procedure: residence permit renewal, etc.].

My permit expires on [date], and despite repeated attempts, no slots are available. This situation places me in a precarious administrative position.

I therefore ask you to kindly instruct the préfecture of [name] to receive me as soon as possible.

Please accept, Mr. President, the expression of my distinguished salutations.

[Signature] [Date] [Attachments: copy of expired permit, proof of appointment attempts]

1. Visit the préfecture: Some préfectures offer emergency walk-in hours in the morning or afternoon (e.g., Seine-Saint-Denis, Yvelines). Check the opening hours on your préfecture’s website.

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Summary table of préfectures with walk-in counters in 2026