Yes, a property owner can accept Chèques-Vacances for a holiday rental, but not without formalities: the Agence nationale pour les chèques-vacances (ANCV) requires an agreement, and an unclassified furnished rental is not eligible. For a host who sells direct, it is nonetheless a payment method that reaches a specific audience: the 4.8 million people who receive Chèques-Vacances every year.
This guide draws on the documents published by the ANCV (2026 tariffs, the agreement guide, the professionals' pages) to answer four questions: who can accept them, how to sign the agreement, how much it costs and when it is worth the effort. There is no obligation to accept this payment method: it is a commercial choice.
Last verification of sources: 9 October 2026. Quotations from French official sources are our own translations. ANCV conditions and tariffs may change: check your professional account before any decision.
What is a Chèque-Vacances, and who uses it?
The Chèque-Vacances is a payment voucher issued by the ANCV, a public industrial and commercial establishment, which beneficiaries spend with approved tourism and leisure professionals. According to the ANCV's page for tourism and leisure professionals, there are two formats: the Classic Chèque-Vacances, on paper, and the Connect Chèque-Vacances, which is digital and can be used on site, by phone or e-mail, and online.
The figures published by the ANCV give the size of the network: more than 115,700 tourism and leisure professionals, 4.8 million people who receive Chèques-Vacances each year and more than 1.76 billion euros of vouchers issued in 2025. The beneficiaries' site, leguide.ancv.com, receives more than 11 million visitors a year. Accommodation (hotels, campsites, gîtes, holiday clubs) is among the spending categories.
On the traveller side, the ANCV's website states that the vouchers are valid for 2 years in addition to the year of issue, that is, until 2028 for a voucher issued in 2026. Travellers therefore have a fairly long period to spend their vouchers, which leaves time to book a stay.
Which conditions must you meet to accept them?
To accept Chèques-Vacances you must sign an agreement with the ANCV, and five conditions apply. According to the ANCV guide "Me conventionner Chèque-Vacances", you must:
- offer an activity eligible for the agreement;
- hold a SIRET number (the French business identification number);
- have a bank account domiciled in the European Union;
- hold a classification if your application concerns a furnished rental;
- hold a label if your application concerns a gîte or bed and breakfast (chambre d'hôtes).
The fourth condition is the most important for an Airbnb or Booking host: a furnished tourist rental that has not been classified does not meet the criteria described in this guide. According to service-public.gouv.fr (page checked on 21 May 2026), classification is voluntary and paid, and the classification decision is valid for 5 years. Our guide on the classification of furnished tourist rentals details the grid, the steps and the tax benefits.
The SIRET is also required: service-public.gouv.fr states that a SIRET number, obtained from Insee, is needed for the tax formalities of a furnished tourist rental. If you run a bed and breakfast or a gîte, the label condition applies: see our comparison chambre d'hôtes or meublé de tourisme.
Photo: Jack ma, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 licence.
How do you sign the agreement with the ANCV, step by step?
The application is made entirely online on the ANCV professionals' portal, espace-ptl.ancv.com, in six steps. The ANCV guide asks you to gather beforehand: the company information (SIRET, NAF code), a Kbis extract in jpeg, png or pdf format less than 3 months old, and a bank account number (RIB or IBAN).
- Test your eligibility. On espace-ptl.ancv.com, click "Créer mon compte" (create my account) and enter the information requested: the eligibility result appears instantly.
- Create your account. You enter your contact details, a contact e-mail and a password, then activate the account through a link received by e-mail. The e-mail contains your identifier (6 digits), which is also your agreement number.
- Choose the products to accept. Chèque-Vacances and Coupon Sport: you can only select the products for which you are eligible. To accept the Chèque-Vacances Connect, you must first be an approved Chèque-Vacances provider.
- Enter the account administrator, the bank details and the reception point. The reception point is the establishment in contact with your customers, for which you hold a SIRET. At this stage only one reception point can be entered: if you have several, an amendment request is needed once the agreement is confirmed. This information personalises your presentation page on leguide.ancv.com, the beneficiaries' site.
- Validate the application. You read the general terms and conditions, then give the e-mail or mobile number that will receive the electronic signature code.
- Sign the agreement electronically. Your file is sent to the ANCV, which reviews it; you then receive a confirmation of the agreement by e-mail.
One point to check before you start: the guide asks for a recent Kbis extract. If your letting activity is not registered in the trade and companies register, ask the ANCV (form-professionnels@ancv.fr) which document it accepts, because the guide gives no alternative.
How much do Chèques-Vacances cost a host in 2026?
The commission is 2.5% of the face value of the vouchers, with no membership fee. According to the ANCV 2026 tariff brochure, applicable from 2 January 2026, the commission rate applied to the reimbursement of the vouchers is 2.5% of their face value, with a VAT exemption under article 261 C-1° of the French tax code. The ANCV professionals page specifies that registration is online, with no membership fee.
| Cost item | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Reimbursement commission (Classic and Connect) | 2.5% of the face value |
| Paper remittance without the original slip, up to €1,000 | €46 excl. VAT, i.e. €55.20 incl. VAT |
| Paper remittance without the original slip, above €1,000 | €138 excl. VAT, i.e. €165.60 incl. VAT |
| Remittance sent with the "declared value" option | €10.20 excl. VAT, i.e. €12.24 incl. VAT |
| Additional book of 12 or 25 remittance slips | €18.30 excl. VAT, i.e. €21.96 incl. VAT |
| Connect payment page in the professionals' portal | Not charged, included in the 2.5% commission |
| Connect via a payment intermediary | 2.5% commission; the intermediary's costs are extra |
| Connect via direct API access | Between €830 and €3,000 excl. VAT, on quotation |
Source: ANCV, 2026 tariff brochure, tariffs applicable from 2 January 2026. Fees are deducted from reimbursements.
A simple calculation shows the order of magnitude. For a €600 stay of which €200 is paid in Chèques-Vacances, the commission is €5 (2.5% of €200) and the host receives €195 for that share. Majordia calculation based on the ANCV 2026 tariff brochure. Conversely, a €200 paper remittance without the original slip incurs €55.20 incl. VAT of flat fees, or 27.6% of the amount: paper Chèques-Vacances therefore call for rigour in tracking remittance slips.
How quickly does the ANCV reimburse?
Reimbursement takes 5 working days. According to the ANCV professionals page, Classic vouchers are reimbursed 5 working days after receipt, and Connect payments 5 working days after each transaction, directly to the bank account.
For a host, it is better to define in advance the share of the stay that will be paid with this method and when you hand over the vouchers or trigger the payment, so that the balance does not depend on the ANCV reimbursement.
Should you accept Chèques-Vacances in your rental?
It is worthwhile if you sell direct and want to reach the beneficiaries of these vouchers. Here are the points to weigh:
- For: an identified audience (4.8 million beneficiaries a year according to the ANCV), visibility on leguide.ancv.com after the agreement, no membership fee, reimbursement within 5 working days.
- Against: a compulsory classification for a furnished rental, a 2.5% commission on each payment, tracking for paper vouchers, and a file to put together.
- To consider: most bookings on platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Abritel) are paid online through the platform. In practice, Chèques-Vacances suit direct booking best. For the commercial logic, read our article on direct bookings to reduce platform commissions and our comparison of Airbnb, Booking and Abritel.
Photo: JLPC, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 licence.
How do you tell your guests?
Say so in your direct listing, in your confirmation message and in your welcome book: a traveller does not always think to ask whether Chèques-Vacances are accepted. A few pointers:
- Mention it on the booking page: "Chèques-Vacances accepted, for direct bookings only".
- Explain how it works: paper vouchers to send or hand over, or Connect payment to be made in the way you have chosen.
- Specify the deposit and the time of the balance, to avoid misunderstandings on arrival.
- Keep the remittance slips if you receive paper vouchers, because the absence of an original slip triggers the flat fees.
Majordia is a digital welcome book platform: each property has a guidebook accessible by QR code, with sections for Wi-Fi, door code, contacts and emergency numbers, automatically translated into six languages. You can use the digital welcome book to remind guests of the payment methods you accept or the house rules; Majordia is not a Chèques-Vacances payment tool and does not replace the agreement with the ANCV. To complement your income in other ways, also see our ideas for paid services that increase revenue.
Key takeaways
Information
- To accept Chèques-Vacances you need an agreement with the ANCV: SIRET, a bank account in the European Union, a classification for a furnished rental, a label for a gîte or bed and breakfast.
- In 2026 the commission is 2.5% of the face value, with no membership fee; the Connect payment page is included.
- Paper vouchers without the original slip cost €46 excl. VAT (remittance up to €1,000) or €138 excl. VAT above.
- Reimbursement takes 5 working days, after receipt (Classic) or after each transaction (Connect).
- The vouchers are valid for 2 years in addition to the year of issue; the commercial argument is mainly for direct booking.
FAQ
Can an unclassified furnished tourist rental accept Chèques-Vacances?
According to the ANCV's agreement guide, you must hold a classification if the application concerns a furnished rental. An unclassified rental therefore does not meet this condition. Classification is voluntary and valid for 5 years, according to service-public.gouv.fr.
Do you have to pay to become a Chèque-Vacances provider?
The ANCV states that registration is online and has no membership fee. Fees then apply to reimbursements: a 2.5% commission on the value of the vouchers in 2026, and flat fees if paper remittances arrive without an original slip.
How long does the ANCV take to reimburse?
Five working days after receipt of the paper vouchers (Classic) or after each transaction (Connect), according to the ANCV professionals page. The agreement itself is reviewed by the ANCV after the electronic signature: the exact time is not stated in the documents consulted.
Can you accept Chèques-Vacances on Airbnb or Booking?
The ANCV documents consulted do not mention any way of collecting them through these platforms. In practice, Chèques-Vacances suit direct booking: ask the ANCV before promising their use on a platform.
How long are Chèques-Vacances valid?
The ANCV states 2 years of validity in addition to the year of issue. A voucher issued in 2026 therefore remains valid until 2028: check the date on the voucher.
Which documents are needed to sign the agreement?
The ANCV guide cites the SIRET and NAF code, a Kbis extract less than 3 months old and a RIB or IBAN, with a bank account domiciled in the European Union. The documents may change: check on espace-ptl.ancv.com.
From intention to agreement
Chèques-Vacances do not suit every host, but they deserve a simple calculation: the 2.5% commission, the classification to obtain or renew and the time spent handling paper vouchers, against the volume of stays booked direct. Start by testing your eligibility on the ANCV professionals' portal, then decide with your own figures.
To present your property and your payment rules clearly to every guest, create one welcome book per property with Majordia and compare plans on the Pricing page.
Image credits. Cover: photo "a large house sitting in the middle of a field" by Valentino Casavecchia, Unsplash, Unsplash licence. Illustrations: Jack ma (CC BY-SA 3.0) and JLPC (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons; images converted to WebP and resized.
