France lockdown: Exemption forms without a printer or phone?

Reader question: We don’t have access to a printer or smartphone. Is there a solution for the exemption attestation forms?

As you say, if you want to leave your house when in lockdown, you need to fill in and carry an attestation exemption form, ticking the correct box depending on the reason for your trip.

You can see/download an attestation exemption form here (in French). There is an English version available and also an easy-read version with pictograms. There is also a digital version available via the TousAntiCovid smartphone app.

The forms can be printed out and carried in hard copy, or filled in and generated online and shown digitally on a smartphone or tablet.

However, if you do not have a home printer or access to a digital device, you still need a form. Not having a printer or a digital device is not an excuse for not having a form.

In this case, you can write out the form by hand on a blank piece of paper, and show this when requested.

• Use: A clear, blank piece of paper
• Clearly write: “Certifie que mon déplacement est lié au motif suivant autorisé par l'article 3 du décret du 29 octobre 2020 prescrivant les mesures générales nécessaires pour faire face à l'épidémie de Covid-19 dans le cadre de l'état d'urgence sanitaire” (Translation: I certify that my trip for the following reason is authorised by article 3 of the decree of 29 October 2020 prescribing general measures necessary against the Covid-19 within the context of the state of health emergency).
• Write: Your name, your date of birth, your place of birth, your address
• Write: Your reason for leaving the house - copying the wording on the original forms. You do not need to write every single possible reason - just the one that you need.
• Write: Your location, the date, and time that you are leaving the house
• Sign it

An alternative, or extra measure, is to copy out the entire form in a dark-coloured pen on a blank sheet of paper as above (including every possible reason for leaving the house, leaving space for you to tick each one if needed).

You can then take this paper to your local post office or supermarket - or other local shop - that has a photocopier, and make several copies of your “empty” handwritten form, which you can then fill in at home in future.

You may also be able to make your forms last longer by filling them in with a pencil and changing the necessary details each time you leave the house. However, the form must be clear each time.

The fine for not having an attestation ready to show if requested is €135 for the first offence, €200 for the second, rising to €450 if not paid within 30 days. More than three fines in 30 days results in a fine of €3,750 and up to six months in prison.