You can renew a French passport at any time. You do not have to wait for it to expire, and there is no penalty for renewing early. In practice, start about six months ahead, especially if you plan to travel over summer, because the online ANTS step and the in-person appointment at a town hall can both back up when demand peaks.
How long a French passport lasts
An adult passport is valid for 10 years, a child’s for 5. A renewal is really a fresh application, so the old expiry date does not limit when you can begin.
The two-step process
First you complete a pré-demande online through ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés). Then you book an in-person appointment at a mairie equipped with a biometric station, where your photo and fingerprints are captured. You collect the finished passport there a couple of weeks later.
The summer trap
Appointment slots are the bottleneck, not the printing. From spring onward, before the holidays, the wait for a town hall slot can stretch to many weeks in busy areas. Booking early is the whole game.
Don’t forget the trip rule
Many countries ask that your passport stay valid for several months beyond your return date. So a passport that has not technically expired can still block a trip. Check the requirement for your destination before you travel.
FAQ
Can I renew before my passport expires? Yes. You can apply for a new French passport at any point, and renewing early simply resets the clock to a fresh 10 years for an adult.
What actually slows renewals down? The in-person appointment. The ANTS pre-application is quick, but town hall biometric slots fill up, especially in spring and early summer.
How far ahead should I start in 2026? Around six months is comfortable. It leaves room for a delayed slot, or a destination that needs extra validity beyond your travel dates.
Give yourself the six-month runway
Set a reminder six months before your passport expires and you will always beat the ANTS queue. Add your passport date to LapseGuard in seconds. Free, on your device, no account.
Related reading: How early can you renew a passport? and When your passport expires before a trip