Guide
The expat's guide to MaPrimeRénov': what the government website doesn't tell you
MaPrimeRénov' is France's main grant scheme for home energy renovation. The official information is thorough and accurate, but it's written for French residents who file a tax return in France, have a numéro fiscal, and understand how the ANAH portal works. If you're an English-speaking expat or a foreign national owning property in France, several critical details are either buried or absent entirely. This guide covers the friction points that catch people out.
Does MaPrimeRénov' apply to secondary residences?
No. This is the single biggest point that doesn't appear prominently on the official site. MaPrimeRénov' applies exclusively to the applicant's primary residence (résidence principale), defined as the property where you live for at least eight months of the year. Secondary residences are not eligible, regardless of their DPE rating, regardless of the work being done, and regardless of whether you pay tax in France.
This means a significant proportion of English-speaking property owners on the Côte d'Azur (those who own a holiday home or seasonal residence in PACA while their primary residence is elsewhere) do not qualify for MaPrimeRénov' on their French property. CEE subsidies (from energy suppliers) and the Éco-PTZ zero-interest loan remain available for secondary residences, so renovation work can still be subsidised, but not through MaPrimeRénov'.
If your French property is your primary residence, the rules are the same as for any French resident. Read on.
Do you need a French tax number (numéro fiscal)?
Yes. Creating an account on maprimerenov.gouv.fr requires a French numéro fiscal. This is the 13-digit reference number at the top of your French tax return (avis d'imposition). If you live in France and file a French tax return, you already have one.
If you don't have one because you haven't yet filed a French tax return, you'll need to register with the French tax authorities (Direction Générale des Finances Publiques) before you can access the portal. This can be done at your local Centre des Finances Publiques or, in some cases, online via impots.gouv.fr. Allow time: getting a numéro fiscal as a new resident can take several weeks.
Non-residents who are not required to file a French income tax return face an additional hurdle. Contact the Direction des Résidents à l'Étranger et des Services Généraux (DRESG), the tax office that handles non-resident taxpayers, to establish your situation before attempting the ANAH portal.
How is income classified and why does it matter?
The MaPrimeRénov' grant amount depends on which income bracket (tranche) you fall into. The thresholds are based on your revenu fiscal de référence (RFR), the figure on your French tax return, and the number of people in your household. The four tranches are: très modeste, modeste, intermédiaire, and supérieure. Higher-income households receive lower grants.
The income thresholds are updated periodically. Check the current bands at maprimerenov.gouv.fr or through ANAH before planning your project around a specific grant amount.
For expats who have recently moved to France and don't yet have a French tax return, the income assessment uses other documentation. The process can be slower. Starting the application early is advisable.
The devis timing rule: where most people go wrong
This is the rule that catches the most applicants, including experienced renovators: you must not sign the devis (quote) before your MaPrimeRénov' application is submitted and accepted in principle.
Signing the devis before the application is treated as evidence that work has already commenced. An application submitted after the devis is signed will be rejected. The correct sequence is:
- Get quotes from RGE-certified contractors and identify the work you want to do
- Submit the MaPrimeRénov' application on the portal
- Receive confirmation that your application has been accepted in principle
- Sign the devis and commission the work
- Have the work completed
- Submit the completion documents (invoice, before/after photos) for payment
The grant is paid after the work is completed, not before. You pay the contractor first and are reimbursed (or the contractor deducts the grant amount directly from your invoice in some cases). Confirm which applies with your installer and document everything.
What is an RGE contractor and how do you find one?
Work must be carried out by a contractor holding an RGE (Reconnu Garant de l'Environnement) qualification relevant to the work type. For heat pumps, this means QualiPAC. For solar thermal, QualiSol. For insulation, QualiBAT or similar. You cannot claim MaPrimeRénov' if the contractor is not RGE-certified for the specific work at the time they carry it out.
Verify RGE status before signing any quote, using the France Rénov' search at france-renov.gouv.fr. Certifications can lapse. Checking takes two minutes and protects your grant.
What is parcours accompagné and do you need a mandataire?
MaPrimeRénov' has two routes. The par geste route covers individual measures (a single heat pump, a single insulation job) without requiring a prior energy audit. The parcours accompagné route is for global renovation projects that achieve a gain of at least two DPE letter classes, requires a prior audit énergétique, and offers higher subsidy rates for lower-income households.
For parcours accompagné, using an AMO (assistant à maîtrise d'ouvrage), sometimes called a mandataire, is required. An AMO is an independent adviser who helps you navigate the application process, liaise with contractors, and ensure the project meets the grant conditions. ANAH certifies AMOs; many work as part of France Rénov' or as independent practitioners.
For par geste, an AMO is optional but genuinely useful if you're not confident with French administrative processes or if you're not resident in France during the work period. For expats managing a renovation remotely, a good AMO is often the difference between a smooth application and a rejected one.
What work qualifies for MaPrimeRénov' par geste?
The eligible measures under par geste include: air-to-water heat pumps (PAC air-eau), ground-source heat pumps, solar thermal systems, insulation (roof, floor, walls), ventilation systems, and condensing boilers in specific circumstances. They do not include: standalone PAC air-air (reversible splits), EV charging equipment, solar PV panels, or cosmetic renovation work.
Since January 2026, pellet boilers and stoves are also excluded from MaPrimeRénov' par geste. CEE subsidies remain the main route for biomass heating.
What is the timeline from application to payment?
Budget 6-12 months from submitting the application to receiving the grant payment. The application phase takes 4-8 weeks for par geste. The work itself adds however long the contractor takes. The final payment claim is reviewed by ANAH, which adds further time. Projects that run into documentation issues or require corrections can take longer.
Start early. If you have a deadline (for example, a rental ban deadline driving the DPE improvement target), factor in at least 12 months from starting the application process to completion of works.
What other subsidies are available if MaPrimeRénov' doesn't apply?
For secondary residences and for work that doesn't qualify for MaPrimeRénov':
- CEE (Certificats d'Economies d'Energie): energy supplier subsidies available to all property owners, regardless of residence status or income. No portal application; the contractor handles it. See our CEE guide.
- Éco-PTZ: zero-interest loan up to 50,000 EUR for qualifying rénovation globale (or lower ceilings for single measures). Available for secondary residences and primary residences. No income conditions. See the Éco-PTZ glossary entry for current ceilings.
- TVA réduite: reduced VAT rate on eligible energy renovation work (5.5% for air-to-water heat pumps, 10% for most other renovation work). Applies automatically when you use a qualified contractor; no application required.