French Parents Risk Jail Time for Taking Kids on Early Vacation: What You Need to Know
Paris, France – June 30, 2025 – As the school year draws to a close for French students, a growing number of parents are contemplating an early start to their summer holidays. However,doing so by pulling children out of class before the official end of term could land them in serious legal trouble,including potential jail time and hefty fines.
French law mandates school attendance until the age of 16 [[2]]. Children are required to attend scheduled classes and complete assigned work. While exceptions exist for illness, family emergencies (like weddings or funerals), or transportation issues, a desire for an early beach vacation is not considered a valid reason for absence.
What are the Risks?
According to the law, even a single unjustified absence requires parents to provide an description to the school. Failure to do so can trigger a notification to authorities. More frequent and unjustified absences can lead to criminal sanctions: up to two years imprisonment and a fine of 30,000 euros.
Heatwave Considerations
The situation is further complicated by the current heatwave sweeping across France. education Minister Elisabeth Borne has acknowledged the need for pragmatic solutions,suggesting that schools with adequate natural cooling can remain open,while parents who can keep their children home should be allowed to do so [[1]]. Though, this is a case-by-case decision and does not constitute a blanket authorization for early departures.
Bottom Line:
French parents eager to beat the traffic or simply start their summer break early should be aware of the meaningful legal risks involved in taking their children out of school before the official end of term. While the heatwave offers a potential, albeit limited, exception, unauthorized absences remain a serious offense.
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