Key facts — where to buy a Crit'Air sticker
- • The only legitimate source for a Crit'Air sticker is the French government at certificat-air.gouv.fr (€5.11 including postage)
- • Facilitation services like Euro Permits (£19.95 all-in) handle the French application on your behalf in English
- • Amazon, eBay, and UK shops do NOT sell genuine Crit'Air stickers — any physical sticker sold outside certificat-air.gouv.fr is not valid
- • Either way, a certificate arrives by email first and the physical sticker follows by post from France — typically 10–15 days, up to six weeks in summer
- • The sticker and the delivery time are the same whichever route you choose; what differs is who fills in the application
- • The sticker is vehicle-specific (linked to your registration number) and does not expire
If you need a Crit'Air sticker, UK buyers have two routes: order directly from the French government website, or use a UK facilitation service that handles the process for you. This guide explains both options honestly so you can choose what is right for your situation.
Already decided you'd rather have it done for you?
Upload a photo of your V5C and we complete the French application. Takes about 3 minutes.
Option 1: The Official French Government Website
The only official source for a Crit'Air sticker is the French government's own portal at certificat-air.gouv.fr. The site is available in English.
Key details:
- Cost: €5.11 including postage to the UK — less than £5 at current exchange rates.
- What you need: a photo or scan of your V5C registration document within the site's file size limit, and a debit or credit card.
- Delivery: typically 10–15 days by post from France, up to six weeks in summer. You will receive a certificate by email once your order is confirmed, which can be printed and kept in the car in the meantime.
The catch:
The form is built around French registration documents, so the details on a UK V5C don't map neatly onto it. Some people find it straightforward and others find it confusing — particularly the V5C upload step, which has strict file size and format requirements.
Option 2: UK Facilitation Services
Several facilitation services — including Europermits — handle the ordering process on your behalf. You upload your V5C to their site, they complete the application with the French authorities, and the French authorities post the sticker to your UK address — exactly as they would if you had applied yourself.
Cost & Delivery
- Cost: varies by provider
- Euro Permits: £19.95 all-in, including the €5.11 French government fee
- Digital certificate: within 24–48 hours of processing
- Physical sticker: posted from France, same timing as ordering direct
What you get
- Your application completed and checked for you, in English
- A certificate by email, valid while the sticker is in the post
- The physical sticker posted to your UK address
- The same official French government Crit'Air sticker
- Valid in all French ZFEs
Is it legitimate?
Yes — UK facilitation services are applying to the official French government portal on your behalf. The sticker you receive is the same official French government Crit'Air sticker, just ordered for you. The certificate is valid in all French ZFEs.
Side by Side: Official Site vs Euro Permits
| Official French site | Euro Permits | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €5.11 | £19.95 all-in (the €5.11 fee is included) |
| Who completes the application | You | We do, from a photo of your V5C |
| Who checks the details | You | A person checks every application before it is submitted |
| Help if something goes wrong | The French Crit'Air service | Us, by email, in English |
| The sticker you receive | Identical — the official sticker, printed and posted by the French authorities | |
| Delivery time | Identical — typically 10–15 days by post, up to six weeks in summer, with a certificate by email first | |
What You Get From Euro Permits for £19.95
We're a small independent service, not the French government. Here is exactly what the fee covers:
- No form to fill in. You upload a photo of your V5C, front and back, and we read the vehicle details from it.
- A person checks it. Every application is looked over by hand before it goes to the French portal, so a misread registration or VIN gets caught first.
- Your category explained. Our confirmation email tells you which Crit'Air category your vehicle has been given and what that means in Paris and other major French cities.
- Someone to email. Questions before or after you order are answered in English.
- A refund if we can't process it. If your application can't be completed, you get your money back less card fees.
What it doesn't buy is speed: the sticker is posted by the French authorities whichever way you order. If you're comfortable doing the application yourself, the official site is the cheaper route and we'd say so.
Which Option Should You Choose?
Use the official site if:
- You are comfortable completing the application and upload yourself
- You want the lowest possible price
- The £15 saving is worth your time
Use a UK service if:
- You want the process handled for you, in English
- You want someone to check your details and to contact if anything goes wrong
- You have had difficulty with the official site's file requirements
Delivery time is the same either way. The price difference is the cost of not having to deal with it.
What About Buying in France?
You cannot buy a Crit'Air sticker in France.
The sticker is only available via the official online portal, and it must be ordered before you travel. There is no option to purchase at a service station, at the Eurotunnel terminal, or from any shop in France.
If the physical sticker hasn't arrived by the time you travel, the certificate emailed to you covers you in the meantime — provided you ordered before you left.
Can I Buy on Amazon or eBay?
No.
Any Crit'Air sticker sold on Amazon, eBay, or other marketplaces is either counterfeit or invalid.
The sticker must be officially issued by the French government and linked to your vehicle's registration in their database. A sticker that wasn't issued by the French government for your vehicle is not valid, whatever is displayed on your windscreen, and leaves you open to a fine.
FAQ: What If My Sticker Doesn't Arrive Before My Trip?
What if my sticker doesn't arrive before my trip?
Your digital PDF certificate, received by email, is accepted as proof that you have ordered a valid sticker.
Print it and keep it in the car. It is accepted as proof while you wait for the physical sticker to arrive.
Order Your Crit'Air Sticker from Europermits — £19.95
All-in price — the French government fee is included
- ✓ Certificate by email within 24–48 hours
- ✓ Physical sticker posted to your UK address
- ✓ We handle all the forms — just upload your V5C
- ✓ £19.95 total
Last Updated: October 2026