Where to find the VAT refund desk at Paris airports

Paris has three main airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly, and Beauvais. Each has a VAT refund desk, but the location and hours differ. At Charles de Gaulle, the refund offices are in Terminal 1 (near Gate 36), Terminal 2 (in the departure hall), and Terminal 3. At Orly, look for the desk in the departure hall before security. Beauvais has a smaller operation in the departure area.

The desks are typically open during peak travel hours but may close during quiet periods. If you are flying early morning or late night, call ahead to confirm the desk will be staffed. You can reach CDG information at +33 1 70 36 39 50 and Orly at +33 1 49 75 15 15. Beauvais is smaller and less reliable for refunds — if possible, process your refund at CDG or Orly instead.

You must visit the refund desk before you check in your luggage. The customs officer needs to see your purchases and your receipts together. If you have already checked bags, you cannot get the refund processed at the airport. Plan to arrive at least 3 hours before an international flight to leave time for this step.

Key Takeaways

  • Visit the VAT refund desk before check-in with your purchases, receipts, and passport — the customs officer must inspect the goods.
  • Charles de Gaulle has three refund locations; Orly has one; Beauvais has a desk but with limited hours and less reliable service.
  • The desk will stamp your forms and may ask you to open your bags, so pack purchases where you can access them quickly.
  • After the desk stamps your forms, you can either get cash on the spot, receive a credit to your card, or mail the forms back to the retailer for a refund.
  • If you miss the airport desk, you can mail your stamped forms to the retailer's refund service, but this takes weeks and some retailers charge fees.

What documents and items you need to bring

Bring your original receipts from the shops where you bought the items. The receipt must show the shop name, the date, the item description, and the price including VAT. If a shop gave you a separate VAT refund form (often called a détaxe form or bordereau de détaxe), bring that too — some shops complete it at the register, others hand it to you blank.

Bring your passport. The customs officer will check your nationality and the date you bought the items. Non-EU residents are the only ones who can claim VAT refunds, and the purchases must have been made within the last three months. The officer may ask to see your passport stamps to confirm you were in France on the purchase date.

Bring the actual items you bought, unworn and in their original packaging if possible. The officer will spot-check some purchases to confirm they match the receipts. If you packed an item in checked luggage, you will need to retrieve it, have it inspected, and repack it — this is why arriving early matters. Small items like cosmetics or scarves can stay in your carry-on.

How the inspection and stamping process works

Walk up to the VAT refund desk with your receipts, forms, items, and passport. Tell the officer you want to claim a VAT refund. Hand over your documents. The officer will check that your receipts match the items, that you are a non-EU resident, and that the purchase date falls within the refund window (usually three months from purchase).

The officer will stamp your forms — this is the critical step. Without the stamp, the retailer will not process your refund. Some officers will stamp all your forms at once; others will ask you to open bags or unwrap items to verify they have not been used. This takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how many purchases you have and how busy the desk is.

Once stamped, your forms are valid. You now have three options: cash refund at the desk (if the desk offers it), credit to your card (if you used a card to pay), or mailing the forms back to the retailer. Ask the officer which options are available that day. Some desks offer all three; others only mail-back.

Getting cash or card refunds at the airport

If the desk offers immediate refunds, you can receive your money before you board. Cash refunds are usually available but may come with a small fee — typically 2 to 3 percent of the refund amount. Card refunds (credited back to the card you used to buy the items) are often free or have a smaller fee. Ask which option costs less.

Cash refunds are paid in euros. If you need a different currency, you can exchange euros at the airport, but airport exchange rates are poor. A card refund avoids this step and avoids carrying large amounts of cash through the airport.

Not all desks offer immediate refunds every day. If the desk is very busy or if your refund amount is large, the officer may tell you that only mail-back is available. In that case, ask for the mailing address and instructions. Keep your stamped forms safe — they are your proof of the refund.

Mailing your refund forms if you cannot get cash at the airport

If you do not receive a refund at the airport, the stamped forms must be mailed to the retailer's refund service within a set time — usually 30 days from the purchase date, though this varies by retailer. The retailer will have printed the mailing address and deadline on the form itself. Mail the forms from France if you can, as some retailers will not accept mail from outside the country.

The refund process by mail takes 4 to 12 weeks. The retailer will verify the stamped forms, confirm the purchase in their system, and then send the refund to your card or address. Some retailers charge a processing fee of 5 to 10 euros even after you have the stamp.

Keep a photo of your stamped forms before you mail them. If the refund does not arrive within 12 weeks, you will need proof that you sent them. Some retailers offer tracking when you mail the forms — use it if available.

What to do if the refund desk is closed or you miss it

If you arrive at the airport and the refund desk is closed, you have two options: mail the forms yourself, or contact the retailer to ask if they will process an unstamped refund. Most retailers will not refund without the customs stamp, so mailing is your only realistic path.

To mail the forms yourself, ask the retailer for a mailing address. Some retailers have a dedicated refund service address; others want you to mail to the store. Include a note with your name, the date of purchase, and your card number or mailing address. Mail the forms as soon as you get home — the retailer's deadline is usually 30 days from purchase, and mailing takes time.

If you are flying from a smaller airport or a regional flight, you may not have a refund desk at all. In that case, contact the retailer before you leave France and ask for their mail-back procedure. Some retailers will send you a prepaid envelope or will accept forms mailed from abroad, though this is rare.

Common reasons refunds get delayed or denied

The most common reason for delay is a missing or illegible stamp. If the customs officer did not stamp your forms, or if the stamp is smudged, the retailer will reject the refund. This is why you must visit the desk before check-in — if you miss it, getting a stamp later is nearly impossible.

Refunds are also denied if the receipt does not match the item, if the item shows signs of use, or if you cannot prove you were a non-EU resident on the purchase date. Worn items, opened cosmetics, or items with tags removed will be rejected. Keep all packaging and tags until your refund is processed.

Some retailers set a minimum purchase amount for refunds — often 100 to 150 euros. If your total is below the minimum, the retailer will not process the refund even with a valid stamp. Check the receipt or ask the shop at the time of purchase if there is a minimum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a VAT refund if I am an EU citizen living outside France?

No. VAT refunds are only for non-EU residents. If you live in any EU country, you cannot claim a refund, even if you do not live in France. Your passport will show your residency, and the customs officer will check it.

What if I bought items in other European countries besides France?

Each country has its own VAT refund system. You must process refunds at the airport of the country where you bought the items. If you bought items in France and Italy, you would claim the French refund at a Paris airport and the Italian refund at an Italian airport. Do not mix receipts from different countries at one desk.

Do I have to open my checked luggage at the refund desk?

Only if the officer asks to inspect an item. If you packed something in checked luggage and the officer wants to see it, you will need to retrieve it from baggage claim, have it inspected, and recheck it. This is why arriving 3 hours early is important — it gives you time to do this without missing your flight.

What happens if my refund never arrives after I mailed the forms?

Contact the retailer with your receipt number and the date you mailed the forms. If you have a photo of the stamped forms, send that too. The retailer can check whether they received the forms and resend the refund if it was lost. If the retailer says they never received the forms, you may have no recourse — this is why tracking or a photo is important.

Can I get a refund if I am leaving France from a train station instead of an airport?

No. VAT refunds are only processed at airports and some seaports. Train stations do not have customs desks. If you are leaving by train, you must process your refund at an airport before you leave France, or mail the forms to the retailer after you leave.