Special filming permits: your complete guide to navigating parisian regulations (4-step process)

How to secure your filming permit: the 4-step agate process that avoids delays

Navigating Parisian filming regulations is a structured process, not a bureaucratic maze. Since its launch in 2017, the AGATE portal has been the single, mandatory point of contact for all professional shoots, unifying what was once a fragmented system across 20 arrondissements. The key to avoiding the most common pitfall—delays—is understanding and respecting the unified **15 jours ouvrés (three-week) submission deadline, which has been standard across all Paris districts since September 1, 2024.

1. Determine Your Path & Submit.** For a crew of fewer than 10 people with a simple setup, a déclaration préalable on paris.fr suffices, submitted one week prior. For any shoot with 10 or more people, parking needs, traffic interventions, or complex setups, you must use the AGATE portal for a full autorisation de tournage, submitting **15 jours ouvrés before your shoot date.
2. Prepare the Mandatory Dossier. Your application must include a synopsis, technical sheets, a civil liability insurance certificate, and detailed implantation plans (the city’s CapGéo guide is essential here). Critically, since January 1, 2025, you must also attach the signed VHSS Charter (Lutte contre les Violences Harcèlement Sexuel Sexiste), a non-negotiable requirement for all productions.
3. Await Coordinated Review.** Your file is reviewed simultaneously by the Ville de Paris (Paris Film office) and the Préfecture de Police, a mandatory dual-authorization process that typically takes 2-3 weeks. This coordination ensures public order and urban management concerns are addressed in a single response.
4. Receive Authorization & Provide Feedback. Upon approval, you receive your formal permit. Post-shoot, the city requests feedback via a Google Form, closing the loop and contributing to process improvements.

For example, an international production filming a car chase sequence would need an AGATE permit (for the crew size and traffic disruption), coordinate with the Préfecture for precise street closures, and ensure all equipment imports are declared—a process where the 15-day lead time is your most valuable asset for seamless coordination.

By following this exact sequence and respecting the deadlines, you transform permit acquisition from a source of anxiety into a predictable logistical step, securing the legal foundation your production requires.

Declaration vs. permit: the critical legal distinction that determines your filming rights

Your legal footing on the first day of filming hinges on one fundamental choice: filing a simple declaration or securing a formal permit. This is not an administrative nuance; it is the critical legal distinction that defines your rights, liabilities, and the scope of what you are authorized to do. Misapplying this rule is the fastest route to a shutdown order and significant financial liability.

Here is the definitive breakdown:

• Déclaration Préalable (Prior Declaration): This is a notification of intent, suitable only for minimal-impact shoots. It applies if your team has fewer than 10 people, you are using no more than a tripod and handheld camera on a public sidewalk, and you require no parking spaces or interference with traffic or pedestrians. It offers a basic right to film but provides no legal cover for disruption.
• Autorisation de Tournage AGATE (AGATE Filming Permit): This is a formal, reviewed, and granted authorization. It is mandatory if any of the following apply: your crew comprises 10 or more individuals, you need parking for technical vehicles (stationnement), your shoot affects vehicular or pedestrian circulation, you use generators or complex lighting, or you film with props like uniforms or simulated weapons. This permit is your legal shield, confirming that the Ville de Paris and the Préfecture de Police have approved your planned activities.

The consequences of error are severe. Filming under a declaration when a permit is required constitutes an illegal occupation of public space, potentially leading to immediate expulsion, fines, and invalidation of your production insurance. Therefore, when in doubt, the rule is absolute: opt for the full AGATE permit. It is the only document that provides comprehensive legal protection for professional filming in Paris.

Public highway or private space? your 3-step guide to identifying the right authority

Jurisdictional confusion wastes precious time. Use this simple, three-step guide to immediately identify which authority manages your filming location and direct your request correctly.

1. Identify the Domain. Is the location a public street, square, or sidewalk (voie publique)? If yes, proceed to Step 2A. Is it a privately-owned building, courtyard, or business? If yes, proceed to Step 2B.
2. Apply the Rule.

• A. For Public Highways: All requests, without exception, are managed via the AGATE portal. This single platform coordinates the necessary approvals from both the Mairie de Paris (for city property and management) and the Préfecture de Police (for public order and circulation). You do not contact these entities separately.
• B. For Private Spaces: You must first secure written authorization from the property owner or manager. However, if your shoot in a private space generates spillover effects onto the public highway (e.g., parking, queueing, equipment loading), you also require a complementary AGATE permit for that public domain impact.

1. Confirm for Special Cases. For locations like museums, national monuments, or train stations, which are often "private spaces with public access," you must obtain permission from the managing institution (e.g., the Musée du Louvre, SNCF) in addition to any AGATE requirements for exterior activities.

This flowchart ensures you never send a request to the wrong office, preventing automatic rejection and restarting the clock on your deadline.

Who to contact and when: your direct line to paris film and the préfecture de police

For professional filmmakers, "who to contact" has a clear, modern answer: the AGATE digital portal. Established as the unified professional gateway, AGATE is your direct line to the two essential authorities—the Mission Cinéma de Paris (Paris Film) and the Préfecture de Police—eliminating the need for separate, parallel inquiries. The "when" is dictated by strict, non-negotiable deadlines designed for administrative review.

• For All Authorizations: The AGATE Portal. This is the exclusive point of contact for all permit applications and declarations. The portal is managed by Paris Film, the city's cinema office, which oversees filming logistics, public space use, and parking. Through AGATE, your application is automatically shared with the relevant department of the Préfecture de Police, which reviews all aspects related to security, public order, and traffic modifications. You do not and should not contact the Préfecture directly for standard filming permits.
• The Critical Timeline. Your submission date is your most important variable.
• **Full AGATE Permit (Autorisation): You must submit your complete dossier 15 jours ouvrés (15 working days, effectively three weeks) before your first filming day. This lead time is mandatory for the dual-entity review.
• Simple Declaration (Déclaration Préalable): Requires a minimum of one week prior notice.
• Strategic Advice: For complex shoots involving street closures, stunts, or large crowds, initiating a pre-application dialogue through the AGATE portal's messaging function several weeks in advance** of the formal 15-day deadline is a best practice. This proactive step flags your project for early logistical review.

By using AGATE as your sole conduit and respecting these timelines, you ensure your request enters the official processing queue correctly and on time, providing the authorities the window they need to grant your legal authorization.

Cross-border filming: the 3 essential steps for importing equipment without customs headaches

Importing filming equipment from outside the European Union is a regulated procedure. For non-EU productions, bypassing these steps guarantees customs delays, potential seizures, and crippling cost overruns. Follow this three-step checklist for a smooth transition.

1. Secure an ATA Carnet. This is the "passport for goods." Obtain it from your national chamber of commerce before departure. The carnet lists all equipment, serial numbers, and values, allowing for temporary, duty-free import into France and simplifying re-export. It is the most widely accepted and efficient document.
2. Prepare for Simplified Temporary Admission. If an ATA Carnet is not used, you must apply for a Bona Fide temporary admission procedure. This requires submitting a detailed inventory to French customs via your production's appointed agent or carrier, a process that can take at least one week to arrange through diplomatic channels.
3. Declare at Point of Entry. Upon arrival (airport, port, or land border), you must present your ATA Carnet or temporary admission paperwork to French Customs (Douanes). Do not use the "nothing to declare" green channel. Failure to make this declaration results in the equipment being treated as a permanent import, subject to full VAT and duties.

For productions originating within the European Union, equipment transit is generally exempt from customs formalities, though commercial transport regulations still apply. For all others, this triad of steps—Carnet, Preparation, Declaration—is non-negotiable for avoiding logistical and financial headaches at the border.