France: Financial aid to pay for plane tickets and go on vacation

In the current frenetic climate of travel, many people feel the financial weight of airfare. In France, various aids have been introduced to ease this burden and make travel more accessible for everyone.

Key financial aids available

Whether you're planning a vacation or visiting family abroad, there are several financial aids to help make your trip a reality, including:

• Chèques-vacances (holiday vouchers)

• CAF travel support from the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales (Family Benefits Fund)

• Targeted travel loans

Many regions offer chèques-vacances to help fund airfare or accommodation. To qualify, applicants typically need to meet regional criteria such as:

• Holding French citizenship

• Residing in the specific region

• Meeting a household income ceiling

• Submitting an application and collecting the aid in person

List of travel aid programs

Paris Jeunes Vacances

The Paris Jeunes Vacances initiative provides support to young residents of Paris aged 16 to 30 to help them go on vacation. Each eligible participant can receive a 200 € holiday voucher. To apply, candidates must register online, submit required documents, and follow instructions to collect the vouchers if approved. Application periods align with school holidays, but approved projects can be scheduled for other times. For application details and deadlines, visit Paris Jeunes Vacances.

Watch our video guide for more information.

Départ 18:25 by ANCV

The ANCV’s (Agence Nationale pour les Chèques-Vacances) Départ 18:25 program offers financial support of up to 250 € for 18- to 25-year-olds living in France to help fund trips in France or within the EU. To be eligible, young people must meet criteria such as being bursary students, apprentices, or part of certain civil service contracts. The aid covers up to 80% of the stay cost with a minimum 50 € contribution required from the beneficiary. To check eligibility and learn more, visit Départ 18:25.

Watch our video guide to understand how it works.

CAF’s Aide aux Vacances Familiales (AVF) via Vacaf

The Caisse d’Allocations Familiales (CAF) offers the Aide aux Vacances Familiales (AVF) via Vacaf, a financial aid program for low-income families to help pay for holidays. The aid covers a significant portion of the stay, but families must pay at least 50 € themselves. Trips must usually take place during school holidays (except for families with children under 3 not yet at school) and can last up to a maximum of two weeks. Funding is limited by available CAF departmental budgets, so families should check with their local CAF. See the Vacaf website for details.

⚠️ Important requirements include:

• Planned travel involving transport costs for a trip within the department, region, France, or abroad;

• Household income (quotient familial) of less than €700 at the time of application.

Local AVF programs can vary significantly by region. For example, applicants in the Yvelines department may receive up to €600 if their household income does not exceed €500, while in Paris the aid can cover up to 60% of the stay cost, capped at €800 depending on resources.

Watch our video guide for further help.