The official rule, with zero ambiguity
| Your situation | Price | Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18, any nationality | Free | Passport or ID card |
| 18-25, EU citizen | Free | EU ID card or passport |
| 18-25, non-EU but resident in the EU | Free | Residence permit or long-stay visa (Erasmus students included) |
| 18-25, resident outside the EU | Full price (€16-22) | — |
| Student aged 26 or over | Full price | A student card grants nothing here |
Source: prices and opening hours published on the official website paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr (Centre des monuments nationaux). Verified July 2026.
The point that surprises everyone: the youth free entry is a rule of residence, not student status. An American exchange student at the Sorbonne with a long-stay visa enters free; a student tourist from Boston of the same age pays €22. The magic words at the desk: "resident of the European Union".
Which documents actually work at the desk?
- ID card or passport from an EU country: the simple case — age and nationality are all it takes.
- Valid EU residence permit: proves residence for non-EU nationalities.
- Long-stay visa (VLS-TS) validated by OFII: accepted for international students settled in France.
- Student card on its own: not enough. It proves neither age nor residence. Save it for other Paris discounts.
- Staff genuinely check the documents — a passport photo on a phone is regularly refused, so bring the original.
How to get your free ticket
- 1. Go straight to the desk. €0 tickets are issued on site, proof in hand — no need to buy anything online.
- 2. Pick a quiet hour. Free entry does not skip the queue: aim for opening (10am, 11am on Tuesdays) or after 8pm in summer. Our detailed hours list the calm slots.
- 3. One ticket per person. Each young visitor collects their own ticket, with their own proof — even within a group of friends.
Plan B for 18-25s outside the EU
No European residence? Three ways to pay less:
- Visit October to March or on a summer Wednesday: full price €16 instead of €22.
- Winter first Sunday: free for everyone, no age or residence condition — dates on our free entry page.
- Combos: from ~€31 for Arc + Seine cruise, the saving beats the discount you were looking for (tiles at the top of the page — sold by our partner Headout).
An Étoile–Champs-Élysées day on a shoestring
The Arc free at 10am, then a walk down the Champs-Élysées (free), a break in the Tuileries garden (free), and — if you are under 26 and live in the EU — the Louvre free on Friday evenings and the Orangerie free year-round on the same terms. The flame rekindling at 6:30pm closes the day on the forecourt, no ticket required. A full day in monumental Paris for the price of a sandwich.
When you show your credentials at the entry check, travel light: the 40 × 40 × 20 cm bag limit applies to school backpacks too. And if you are with friends who do pay, book them a timed ticket so the whole group goes through the same short queue.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Arc de Triomphe free for students?
Not as such: free entry applies to under-18s (all countries) and EU residents aged 18-25, students or not. A student card alone does not qualify.
I'm an Erasmus student in France — is it free for me?
Yes: your residence permit or long-stay visa proves your EU residence. Show it at the desk with your passport to collect a free ticket.
Which document do I show for the 18-25 free entry?
An ID document from an EU country, or a residence permit/long-stay visa for non-Europeans living in the EU. Original documents are required — photos on a phone are often refused.
Do I need to reserve a slot for a free ticket?
No, free tickets are issued at the desk on site. To avoid the queue, come at opening or in the evening outside weekends.
Does a 17-year-old from outside Europe pay for entry?
No: free entry for under-18s applies to all nationalities, with no residence condition.
Is there a student discount for over-26s?
No, the Arc de Triomphe has no student rate. Visitors over 25 pay €16 (winter, summer Wednesdays) or €22 (summer) — or aim for a free winter first Sunday.
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