- You can report a crime at any police station or gendarmerie in France; they must take your complaint.
- You are entitled to an interpreter and to a receipt for your complaint, which your insurer will usually ask for.
- To be compensated by the criminal court, you must become a civil party (« partie civile ») — and you do not need to be present in person.
How do I report a crime in France?
Go to any police station (« commissariat ») or gendarmerie. They cannot refuse to register your complaint (« plainte »), even if the crime happened elsewhere. Bring your passport, any evidence (photos, messages, bank statements, names of witnesses) and, for theft, a description and the serial numbers of the stolen items.
Ask for the receipt (« récépissé ») and a copy of your complaint: you will need them for your insurer, your bank and, if your passport was stolen, your consulate.
Lost your passport or had it stolen? Report it to the police, then contact your consulate to obtain an emergency travel document.
I have already left France. Is it too late?
No. You can file a complaint by letter to the public prosecutor (« procureur de la République ») of the place where the offence was committed — for example the Nice court for an offence in Nice. Your lawyer can draft and file it for you, in French, and follow up the case while you are abroad.
What are my rights as a victim?
to be assisted by an interpreter when filing your complaint and to receive a translation of the essential information;
to be informed of the progress of the case and of any decision to close it;
to be assisted by a lawyer and by victim support services;
to become a civil party and claim compensation from the offender.
How do I claim compensation?
In France, the criminal court can decide both on the offender's guilt and on your compensation. To do so, you must declare yourself a civil party: when filing your complaint, during the investigation, or at the latest at the hearing, before the prosecutor makes their closing submissions.
You can claim for all your losses: medical costs, stolen or damaged belongings, lost income, cancelled travel, pain and suffering, emotional distress. If you live abroad, your lawyer can represent you at the hearing — you do not need to travel back.
What if the offender is never found, or cannot pay?
Two French schemes, funded by the national guarantee fund, can step in, and they are open to foreign victims of crimes committed in France:
the CIVI (crime victims' compensation board) provides full compensation for the most serious harm (death, permanent disability, total incapacity for work of at least one month, sexual offences), and capped compensation, subject to income conditions, for some less serious cases. It should generally be approached within 3 years of the offence;
the SARVI (victims' debt recovery service) pays you all or part of the damages awarded by the court when the offender does not pay, then recovers the money from them.
These schemes have strict time limits and conditions. If you were seriously injured, seek advice early — ideally before leaving France.
Practical checklist
Report the crime as soon as possible, and keep the receipt and a copy of your complaint.
See a doctor and keep the medical certificate describing your injuries.
Keep all receipts for your expenses.
Notify your travel insurer, your bank (for card fraud) and, if needed, your consulate.
Write down everything you remember while it is fresh: times, places, descriptions, witnesses.
Victim of a crime in Nice or on the French Riviera? I can represent you, in English.
This guide provides general information on French law. It is not a substitute for advice on your individual situation.