The short answer
- • Digital certificate: 24–48 hours after ordering — valid immediately in all French ZFE zones
- • Physical sticker: up to six weeks from France by post (the French government's stated delivery window)
- • Travelling soon? The digital certificate is legally valid at roadside checks — you are covered while waiting for the physical sticker to arrive
The most common question we get from UK drivers is whether they will receive their Crit'Air sticker in time before they travel. The answer is almost always yes — but it depends on which part of the process you mean.
There are two separate things you receive: a digital certificate and a physical sticker. They serve the same purpose, but they arrive at very different speeds.
The digital certificate: 24–48 hours
When you order through Euro Permits, we submit your application to the official French government portal. Once your vehicle is registered and your Crit'Air category confirmed, you receive a PDF certificate by email. This normally takes 24–48 hours from the point of ordering — sometimes faster during quieter periods.
Your digital Crit'Air certificate — whether a PDF facsimile or a confirmation email with a QR code — is legally valid at French roadside checks. You are covered and compliant the moment your application is successfully submitted. Keep it on your phone or print it out while you wait for the physical sticker to arrive.
Once your physical sticker arrives, you should display it on your windscreen — the French government requires the physical sticker to be shown once it is in your possession. The digital version covers you in the interim.
Travelling within 48 hours?
Order now and you will almost certainly have your digital certificate before you leave. Keep the PDF on your phone as a backup. Once you return home, the physical sticker will be waiting for you — display it on future trips.
Order Now — £19.95 →The physical sticker: up to six weeks
The physical Crit'Air vignette is sent directly from France by La Poste (the French postal service). The French government quotes up to six weeks for international delivery — in practice many arrive sooner, but this is the official expectation and we cannot guarantee a shorter timeframe.
Once it arrives, affix it to the inside of your windscreen, clearly visible from outside — most UK right-hand-drive drivers use the lower left corner (passenger side). See our guide on where exactly to place the sticker on a UK car.
Travelling soon?
The physical sticker can take up to six weeks to arrive from France. If your trip is imminent, your digital certificate covers you immediately — you do not need to wait for the sticker to arrive before driving in French ZFE zones.
What to do if your sticker hasn't arrived
If it has been more than 3 weeks since you ordered and the physical sticker has not arrived, it is most likely delayed by La Poste — international mail from France to the UK can be slow. In this case:
- • Your digital certificate remains valid at roadside checks while you wait
- • Contact us at support@europermits.co.uk and we will chase the status with the French authorities
- • If the sticker is confirmed lost, a replacement can be issued
24–48 hrs
Digital certificate by email
Up to 6 weeks
Physical sticker by post from France
Valid immediately
Digital cert covers you from day one
Order Your Crit'Air Sticker
£19.95 all-in — digital certificate in 24–48 hours
- ✓ Valid in all French ZFEs immediately on receipt
- ✓ We handle the French government portal in English
- ✓ Physical sticker follows from France (allow up to six weeks)
- ✓ 100% money-back guarantee if we miss our window
Last Updated: July 2026