Duty-free: who is concerned and how to proceed

If your primary residence is located in a non-EU country or a third country, the value-added tax (VAT) may be deducted from the price of your purchases in France.

As a non-EU resident, if you purchase duty-free items in France to take back to your home country, you are eligible for reimbursement of the VAT.

Eligibility requirements:
- non-EU resident;
- over 16 years of age;
- visiting France for less than 6 months;
- have purchased over €175 incl. VAT from the same store.

Duty free: conditions

How to qualify in 4 easy steps:

  • 1

    Request a duty-free form at the time of purchase
    You have to specify to the vendor that you wish to make your purchase duty free. The vendor will then give you an export sales form in the store.

  • 2

    Prior to checking in, take your tax refund document to the Customs Office for validation
    For goods purchased in France, scan your tax refund document at a PABLO terminal.
    For goods purchased in other European countries, give your tax refund document to a Customs agent to validate. 
    Note : Customs agents may ask you to show them the purchased items at any time.

  • 3

    Pick up your VAT cash reimbursement at the Cash Paris* office 
    Show the tax refund document validated at the Customs Office along with your passport. 
    Receive your VAT reimbursement immediately in cash (euros) or in your e-wallet.
    You may also request a reimbursement on your bank card, which takes four to six weeks.
    Note: You do not need to mail your tax reimbursement document if it has not been physically stamped. Keep it with you. 

  • 4

    Take advantage of the airport's duty-free shops
    Soak up your final moments in Paris at the airport's shops.


*Cash Paris offices are available in terminals 1, 2A/2C and 2E (Halls K, L and M) at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and the Orly 4 terminal at Paris-Orly Airport. In the other terminals, you can obtain your VAT reimbursement at any Travelex foreign exchange office.

 Electronic VAT refunds in France for tourists - PABLO
The information presented here is not legally binding.
Source: Direction Générale des Douanes et des Droits indirects (General Directorate of Customs and Excise)
For more information visit www.douane.gouv.fr

Offices you can visit for your tax refund

At Paris-Orly Airport
- Orly 2: Departures level, public aera
- Orly 3: Departures level, shopping aera
- Orly 4: Departures level, Gate F

At Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
- Terminal 2E:
Arrivals level, public aera
Arrival Level, baggage claim
Departures level, Gate K
Departures level, Gate L


- Terminal 2F:
Arrivals level, public aera
Departures level


PABLO terminals

At Paris-Orly Airport
- Departures level, Orly 4
- Departures level, Orly 2

At Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
Terminal 1: CDGVAL level, Hall 6
Terminal 2A: Departures level, Gate 5
Terminal 2C: Departures level, Gate 4
Terminal 2E: Departures level, Gates 3/4
Terminal 2F: Arrivals level,
Terminal 3: Departures level, international customs zone