October 18, 2025

How to Retrieve Your Digital Stamp (E-Timbre) After Payment Failure

How to Retrieve Your Digital Stamp (E-Timbre) After Payment Failure - Main Image

Paying a tax stamp online is now mandatory for nearly every French immigration procedure: residence-permit renewals, long-stay visa validations, OQTF appeals and naturalisation files. The system is fast—until the payment page freezes or the bank’s 3-D Secure loop drops you back to “Transaction failed”. If you already authorised the charge but never received the 16-digit code or PDF, this guide shows you exactly how to retrieve your digital stamp (e-timbre) and keep your prefecture deadline safe.

1. How the E-Timbre System Records Your Purchase

When you purchase an e-timbre on timbres.impots.gouv.fr, the Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP) stores three pieces of data:

  1. Your payment authorisation (via Carte Bancaire, Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay or Google Pay).
  2. A unique 16-digit stamp number + QR code issued after the payment platform returns a success flag.
  3. The contact method you entered on the first step—either an email address or a French mobile number starting with 06/07.

If the browser crashes between steps 2 and 3, the stamp exists on DGFiP servers but you never see it. That is why most “lost” e-stamps can be recovered in minutes.

2. Instant Checks Before You Panic

  • Wait at least 10 minutes and refresh your email inbox (search for « Votre timbre électronique »).
  • Inspect your spam folder and Gmail “Promotions” tab.
  • Verify the card was actually debited—many banks show a pending transaction that disappears within 24 h if payment truly failed.

If you still have no stamp but see a debit, proceed with the retrieval steps below.

A woman sitting at a laptop late at night, looking at an online banking screen that shows a pending debit, while holding a French residence permit application folder in her other hand.

3. Three Ways to Retrieve Your Stamp

Method What You Need Processing Time Best For
Self-service re-download Email or French mobile number used during purchase 1–2 min Most users who can still access their contact details
DGFiP support form Transaction date, amount, last 4 card digits, email/mobile 24–48 h Card debited but no longer have access to email/phone
Phone helpline (0809 401 406, France only) Same details as above 10–15 min Urgent prefecture deadlines within 24 h

3.1 Self-Service Re-Download

  1. Go to the official retrieval page: https://timbres.impots.gouv.fr/.
  2. Click « Vous avez déjà un timbre ? Retrouvez-le ».
  3. Enter either the email address or the mobile number you provided when you bought the stamp.
  4. Press Rechercher. If a stamp exists, the system instantly displays a PDF and sends a fresh copy by email/SMS.

Tip: You do not need the 16-digit code to search, only the original contact method.

3.2 DGFiP Online Support Form

If you mistyped your address or changed phone numbers, use the contact form embedded at the bottom of the same page.

Provide:

  • Full name exactly as on the card.
  • Transaction date and approximate time.
  • Amount paid (e.g., 225 € for a titre de séjour renewal in 2025).
  • Last four digits of the card.
  • Explanation: “Stamp not delivered after successful payment for ANEF file.”

A support agent will email a direct PDF link or, if no stamp exists, confirm that the bank authorisation dropped and the amount will unblock automatically.

3.3 Telephone Helpline

Calling from France: 0809 401 406 (price of a local call, Monday–Friday 8:30–19:00). Have your card and bank statement handy. Agents can resend the stamp or flag the transaction for refund.

4. Card Charged but Stamp Missing: Will You Get a Refund?

Under Article L112-10 of the French Monetary Code, merchants must cancel a payment within 24 h if no goods are delivered. DGFiP usually triggers the reversal automatically the next business day. The credit may take 3–5 banking days to appear, depending on your bank.

You can safely buy a second stamp at a tobacconist (Tabac) or online if your prefecture appointment is tomorrow—the first charge will still be refunded once DGFiP confirms non-delivery.

5. Presenting Proof to the Prefecture if Time Is Tight

Even with no stamp in hand yet, immigration services generally accept one of the following while you wait:

  • Bank screenshot showing the debit labelled DGFIP TIMBRES.
  • Confirmation email from DGFiP support stating that the stamp will be re-sent.
  • Attestation sur l’honneur explaining the glitch, combined with the retrieval request number.

Attach these to your ANEF file or bring paper copies to the in-person visit. Our guide on Lost Prefecture Mail explains how to formalise missing-document explanations. Read it here.

6. Preventing Future Payment Failures

  1. Use a desktop browser instead of a mobile device.
  2. Disable pop-up blockers for timbres.impots.gouv.fr.
  3. Complete 3-D Secure within 10 minutes; expired sessions trigger silent failures.
  4. Never open multiple stamp tabs at the same time.
  5. Save the PDF locally and print it immediately.

Creating a secure FranceConnect account helps you track immigration fees in one place. Follow our step-by-step tutorial: Digital FranceConnect: Creating a Secure Account.

Close-up of a computer screen displaying the FranceConnect logo next to a downloaded PDF icon, while a hand holds a printed e-stamp with QR code.

Frequently Asked Questions

I entered the wrong email address—can I still retrieve my stamp? Yes. Use the French mobile number entered during purchase or contact DGFiP support with your payment details.

The site says “No stamp found” but my card is debited. What now? Wait one business day. If the charge remains, file a support ticket. DGFiP will either resend the stamp or cancel the payment automatically.

Is the 16-digit stamp number case-sensitive? Numbers have no letters, so case does not matter—but make sure you copy all 16 digits accurately when pasting into ANEF.

Can I reuse a partly-used stamp after an application is rejected? No. Once an e-stamp QR code is scanned at the prefecture or online, it is locked to that specific application.

Does ImmiFrance handle refund requests on my behalf? Yes. Our advisers can draft the DGFiP claim, supply supporting bank evidence, and ensure you receive the refund in the shortest time possible.

Get Expert Help Before Deadlines Expire

Payment glitches should never derail your immigration plans. If you still cannot retrieve your e-stamp, or a prefecture refuses your file because of a missing QR code, our ImmiFrance team can intervene immediately.

  • One-on-one troubleshooting via secure video call.
  • Drafting official letters and sworn statements.
  • Liaising with DGFiP and prefecture back-offices.
  • Real-time case tracking inside your ImmiFrance dashboard.

Book a 15-minute emergency consultation today at ImmiFrance.com and turn a technical hiccup into a solved problem—before it threatens your legal stay in France.