Filming in Paris
Everything
you need to know
before you shoot.
Paris is one of the most filmed cities in the world, and one of the most regulated. This guide explains how permits work, how long they take and the special cases that catch productions out. It’s written by Bloom, a Paris production company and production service partner that deals with these authorities every week.
ONE CITY, MANY AUTHORITIES
There is no single permit for Paris. Each type of shoot is handled by its own dedicated authority, with its own rules and its own timings: the City’s film office for streets and public spaces, each town hall outside Paris, the police authorities for drones and anything touching public safety, the transport operator for the metro, and each landmark’s own management. Knowing who to ask, in what order and with which file is half the job.
LIGHT SHOOT OR FULL PERMIT?
- Light shoots, with a small crew and light equipment in the streets, only need a declaration, filed at least 5 business days ahead.
- Everything else needs a full permit, filed at least 15 business days ahead: parks, the Seine, monuments, drones, parking and traffic, stunts, police uniforms, prop weapons, larger crews.
- High-impact shoots, with major traffic or parking disruption, should be planned around three months ahead.
A full permit file is detailed: synopsis, insurance, technical plans, safety measures and compliance charters. We prepare it for you.
SPECIAL CASES
- Drones. Flying over Paris is prohibited without a special exemption from the police authorities, granted only to certified professional operators.
- The metro. Possible, through the transport operator’s own film office, with limited time slots and several weeks’ notice, even more in summer.
- Landmarks. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or the Arc de Triomphe are negotiated directly with each site. Every one has its own rules.
- The Champs-Élysées. Filming is currently suspended by the police authorities.
- Police uniforms and weapons. Strictly supervised: actors dressed as police officers must stay on set, and realistic sirens are not allowed on public roads.
WHY YOU NEED A FRENCH PRODUCTION PARTNER
France has one of the most protective film labour systems in the world. That’s great for crews, and a trap for productions that aren’t ready for it.
- Collective agreements. French crews work under collective agreements that set minimum rates for each role, working hours, overtime, and night, weekend and holiday premiums. They apply to every shoot in France, whoever the client.
- A French employer. Crews are hired on French contracts, with French payslips and social declarations. That takes a French company to employ them, and that’s exactly what a production service partner is for.
- Social contributions. Employer contributions in France are high and come on top of crew wages. They belong in the budget from the very first estimate: our quotes include them, so there are no surprises.
- Compliance. Insurance, health and safety, the charter against sexual and gender-based violence, permits filed in French with the right authorities: everything has to be in order before day one.
In Paris, almost anything is possible. It just has to go through a local partner who knows the system, and whom the system trusts. That’s what we do.
THE FRENCH TAX REBATE
Scripted fiction and animation can get up to 40% of their French spending back through the TRIP, claimed through a French production service company. Commercials and documentaries are not eligible. Read our guide to the French tax rebate.
YOUR TIMELINE AT A GLANCE
- Light street shoot: 1 week
- Full permit: 3 weeks
- Drone, metro: several weeks
- High-impact shoot: 3 months
- Landmarks: case by case, talk to us early
HOW BLOOM HELPS
We know every office, every form and every deadline, and we’ve spent years earning the trust of the people who hold the keys. Tell us what you want to shoot, and we’ll tell you what it takes, how long it takes, and how to make it happen.
See how we work on commercials, music videos and fashion and luxury shoots, and discover our shooting locations in France.
Last checked: September 2026. Rules can change: we always confirm timings for your project.