What are Chèques-Vacances?
Chèques-Vacances are French holiday vouchers issued by ANCV, a state agency created in 1982. They are co-funded by your employer or works council (CSE) — you cannot buy them yourself. In 2025 they reached 4.8 million direct beneficiaries (around 11 million people counting families), with €1.3 billion issued per year and 115,700 tourism and leisure professionals accepting them. Since the ASAP law, the self-employed and heads of companies with fewer than 50 employees are also eligible.
Which Chèques-Vacances formats are there?
- Classic (paper) — denominations of €10, €20, €25 and €50. Not divisible and no change is given. Valid for 2 years plus the year of issue (issued 2024 → valid until 31 December 2026).
- Connect (digital) — a mobile payment app (iOS 15+/Android 9+) that pays to the exact cent, online and in person, with a real-time balance. Only merchants in the dedicated Connect network accept it — paper acceptance does not imply Connect acceptance.
Converting paper to Connect is free from €30; converting Connect back to paper costs €10. Expired vouchers can be exchanged until 31 March of the year after expiry (minimum €30, processing fees deducted).
How to use Chèques-Vacances?
- Receive vouchers through your employer or CSE, on paper or in the Connect app.
- Spend them on holiday and leisure categories only: accommodation, transport, restaurants, culture and sports — in France and for travel to EU destinations.
- Online, pay with Chèque-Vacances Connect at network merchants: SNCF Connect is confirmed, and ANCV's directory (leguide.ancv.com) lists airlines such as Corsair, French Bee and Air Austral, plus Kombo and TUI.fr.
- Air France accepts them only in physical agencies, not on airfrance.fr.
- Check the expiry year and exchange before the deadline — value is lost after it.
The pro's of using Chèques-Vacances
- Employer-subsidised: the employer share carries a URSSAF exemption within legal limits, so vouchers cost you less than face value.
- Accepted by 115,700 tourism and leisure professionals in France.
- Connect pays exact amounts to the cent — no change problem.
- Usable for EU travel bookings, not only domestic holidays.
The con's of using Chèques-Vacances
- France only, and only obtainable through an employer, CSE or eligible self-employment — not purchasable privately.
- Paper vouchers give no change and lose all value if the exchange deadline passes.
- The Connect online network is far smaller than paper acceptance; Booking.com and Expedia do not take them.
- Restricted to holiday and leisure spending — no general shopping.