- Price
- from €11.95incl. VAT, 2 pages included
- Delivery time
- 2 to 3 business daysusually, after handover to the post
- Proof
- Recipient's signature+ tracking and proof of posting
- Handed to the post
- Upload by 12:00Central European Time on a business day, posted the same day
- Counts as
- Domestic registered mailprinted and posted in France
How do you notify a dismissal in France?
The Labour Code names the registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR). Courts also accept hand delivery against a signed discharge, but the LRAR is the method the code names and the safest way to date the notification.
The invitation to the preliminary meeting also goes by LRAR or by hand against a discharge. They are two separate letters, each with its own deadline.
| Lettre recommandée | LRAR (with avis de réception) | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Tracking, proof of posting and delivery against the recipient's signature | The same, plus the avis de réception: a card signed and dated by the recipient |
| Recipient signs | Yes | Yes |
| Handed to the post | Same working day if uploaded by 12:00 Central European time | Next working day at the latest |
| Delivery time | 2 to 3 business days | 2 to 3 business days |
| Who can send it | Any sender, wherever you live | Senders with an address in France |
| Good for | Cancellations, formal notices, claims, resignations | Letters where French law asks for LRAR, such as a tenant's notice |
| Price | €11.95 | €13.95 |
Which deadlines apply?
| Step | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Invitation to the preliminary meeting | At least 5 working days between the first delivery attempt and the meeting |
| Sending the dismissal letter | At the earliest 2 working days after the meeting |
| Disciplinary dismissal | At the latest 1 month after the meeting |
| Notice period starts | On the first delivery attempt, collected or not |
| Clarifying the reasons | Within 15 days of notification, at the employee's or your own initiative |
How do you send it, step by step?
- Write and sign the letterPrecise reason, notice, the employee's last known address.
- Upload the PDFPut the recipient's address in the window area.
- We print it in FranceLa Poste delivers it against a signature.
- Keep the proofThe tracking number and proof PDF date the posting and the delivery.
Sample dismissal letter in French
The reason must be precise and verifiable. Check what your collective agreement adds.
[Raison sociale de l'entreprise]
[Adresse]
[Prénom Nom du salarié]
[Dernière adresse connue]
[Ville], le [date]
Objet : notification de licenciement
Madame, Monsieur,
À la suite de l'entretien préalable du [date], auquel [vous vous êtes présenté(e) / vous ne vous êtes pas présenté(e)], nous vous notifions votre licenciement pour le motif suivant : [exposé précis des faits et du motif].
Votre préavis, d'une durée de [durée], commencera à la date de première présentation de cette lettre. [ou : Nous vous dispensons d'exécuter votre préavis, qui vous sera rémunéré.]
Votre certificat de travail, votre reçu pour solde de tout compte et votre attestation France Travail vous seront remis à la fin du contrat.
Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, nos salutations distinguées.
[Nom, fonction et signature]
What to check before you send
- Example: meeting on Thursday 3 December 2026. Friday 4 and Saturday 5 are the two working days (jours ouvrables include Saturday), so the letter goes out on Monday 7 December at the earliest.
Frequently asked questions
Does a French dismissal have to go by LRAR?
Yes, the Labour Code names the registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. Courts accept hand delivery against a signed discharge.
When can the dismissal letter be sent?
At the earliest 2 working days after the preliminary meeting. For a disciplinary dismissal, at the latest 1 month after it.
When does the notice period start?
On the first delivery attempt of the registered letter, whether or not the employee collects it.
Can you dismiss by email in France?
No. Email does not meet the required form and dates the notification poorly.
Does the meeting invitation also go by registered mail?
Yes, by LRAR or by hand against a discharge, at least 5 working days before the meeting.
Does the registered letter prove what was in the envelope?
No. La Poste proves the posting and the delivery, not the text. Keep the PDF you sent: your proof of posting identifies that exact file.