Market guide · Europe
Selling in France
Most French cards are co-branded with the domestic Cartes Bancaires network, so routing and acceptance matter. Shoppers also use instalment plans offered at checkout for larger baskets.
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Languages | French |
| Region | Europe |
| Local acquiring | Available |
| Settlement | T+1 |
| Payout rail | SEPA Instant · Seconds, 24/7 |
| Import consumption tax | VAT (TVA) · 20% |
Popular payment methods
Share of online payments by method. Illustrative figures.
| Visa, Mastercard, Amex | 60% (60% of online payments) |
|---|---|
| PayPal | 12% (12% of online payments) |
| Apple Pay | 10% (10% of online payments) |
| SEPA Direct Debit | 5% (5% of online payments) |
How to launch in France
- 1Open a sandbox accountTest every flow for France with test cards and methods before you sign anything.
- 2Turn on local methodsStart with PayPal, Apple Pay, SEPA Direct Debit.
- 3Process domesticallyDomestic processing in France avoids cross-border fees and lifts approval rates.
- 4Settle in EURHold EUR and convert when you choose, or pay out locally.
- 5Show duty-inclusive pricesQuote VAT (TVA) and duties at checkout so nothing is due on delivery.
- 6Go liveVerify your business, switch your keys and watch the first orders arrive.
Duties and import tax
VAT (TVA) at 20% applies to most imported goods.
Thresholds: VAT due from the first euro; IOSS for goods up to EUR 150
Estimate landed cost for an orderRegulatory notes
- Strong customer authentication under the EU's revised Payment Services Directive applies to most online card payments.
- Product and checkout information must be available in French.
- Consumers have a statutory withdrawal period for distance purchases.
Placeholder notes for the prototype, not legal advice.
Customer story nearby
Northwind Outfitters
Retail & Ecommerce
+3.4 pts
card acceptance in Germany · Illustrative
We stopped guessing which fees would land on an order. Duty-inclusive prices took returns down with them.
Mara Lindqvist, Head of Ecommerce Read the story: Northwind Outfitters
Launch in France
Try the France flow in the sandbox, or talk to us about your rollout.