Crit'Air Sticker Not Arrived? What to Do (2026)

If your Crit’Air sticker has not arrived yet, you are not alone. Delivery from France to the UK typically takes 10 to 14 working days, but delays are common. The good news is that the French government has already emailed you something you can carry in the meantime.

Check your inbox for the invoice. The PDF the French government emailed after your application has a detachable facsimile at the bottom showing your Crit’Air class, your registration and a QR code. Print it and keep it in the car. Track your order to see its current status and delivery estimate.

How long does a Crit’Air sticker take to arrive?

A Crit’Air sticker takes 10 to 14 working days to arrive at a UK address in normal periods, and 4 to 6 weeks during the July-August summer peak. The facsimile on your emailed invoice is what you carry in the meantime.

The physical Crit’Air sticker is printed and posted by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition. It is sent from the Imprimerie Nationale in France via La Poste (the French postal service) as standard international mail.

Here is what to expect:

• Normal periods: 10-14 working days from application date
• Summer peak (July-August): 4-6 weeks due to high demand from holiday traffic
• December-January: 3-4 weeks, with additional delays around French public holidays
• Post and customs delays: occasional disruption from cross-border mail processing

The sticker travels from France to the UK via standard international post. There is no express or tracked option available from the French government, regardless of how you applied.

The digital facsimile on your emailed invoice

Once your application has been submitted, the French government emails you an invoice for the order. This comes directly from the service de délivrance des certificats qualité de l’air, not from us, and the PDF is issued by the Imprimerie Nationale, the state printer that produces and posts the stickers.

Most of the page is an ordinary invoice. The useful part is below the dotted tear line at the bottom: your digital facsimile, carrying a QR code, your Crit’Air category as the numbered coloured vignette, and your registration number. The French text calls it the coupon and says it evidences the vehicle’s classification while you wait for the certificate to arrive by post.

How to use it

1. Print the PDF from the government’s email
2. Keep it on the dashboard or in the glovebox where it is readily accessible
3. Show it if stopped by police at a roadside check
4. It does its job until the physical sticker arrives and goes on your windscreen

One caveat worth knowing: this is proof for a person who asks to see it. ANPR cameras read your number plate against the government database rather than anything in the PDF, so do not count on the facsimile to stop a camera-issued fine. Apply early enough that the sticker is on the glass before you travel.

The invoice is emailed shortly after your application is submitted, and arrives separately from the submission receipt we send you. Check your spam folder if you cannot find it.

Why you cannot track your sticker

One of the most frustrating aspects of waiting is the lack of tracking. The sticker is sent by La Poste as untracked standard international mail. This means:

• No tracking number is issued at any point
• Royal Mail has no visibility of the item until it enters the UK postal system
• No delivery confirmation is available

This is a limitation of the French government service, not something any third-party provider can change. The sticker is a small, flat item posted in a standard envelope, so it moves through the mail system like a regular letter.

When to start chasing

If your sticker has not arrived, here is a timeline for when to take action:

Before 3 weeks - sit tight

Delivery within 3 weeks is completely normal. Most stickers arrive between days 10 and 18. There is no benefit in contacting anyone before this point.

After 4 weeks - make enquiries

If 4 full weeks have passed since your application date, it is reasonable to follow up. If you applied through France Stickers, email us with your order reference and we will chase the French ministry on your behalf. If you applied directly through the French government site, contact them with your application reference number.

After 6 weeks - request a replacement

At the 6-week mark, your sticker may have been lost in transit. A replacement can be requested from the French government. They do not charge for replacements if the original was confirmed as dispatched.

Leaving for France soon?

If your trip is days away and the sticker has not arrived, do not panic. Here is exactly what to do:

1. Print the invoice the French government emailed you - the facsimile at the foot of it is your proof of classification
2. Place it visibly on the dashboard when parked in a ZFE zone
3. Keep a copy on your phone as a backup, but the printed version is preferred
4. Check your category is allowed in the zones on your route before you set off

Delivery delays on foreign-registered vehicles are a familiar situation, and the facsimile exists precisely because the certificate takes time to arrive by post. It shows an officer that the vehicle has been classified and the certificate paid for and dispatched.

Common reasons for delays

Several factors can slow delivery beyond the normal timeframe:

• High-volume periods - summer and school holidays generate a surge in applications
• French public holidays - the Imprimerie Nationale does not operate on French bank holidays
• Cross-channel mail processing - customs checks can occasionally delay international post
• Incorrect address - double-check that your delivery address was entered correctly at application

If you suspect an address error, contact us immediately so we can arrange a re-send to the correct address.

The sticker lasts forever once it arrives

One reassuring fact: once your Crit’Air sticker does arrive, it never expires. It is valid for the lifetime of your vehicle. So even if the wait feels frustrating now, you only ever need to go through this process once per vehicle.