Can you hide your face in a public place?

Verified 30 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice

Except for exceptions, it is prohibited hide your face in public space (in a public garden, cafe, shop, etc.). In addition, no one can force you to conceal your face because of your gender. These actions constitute infringements. We present you the information to know.

Concealment

You can be sued for the offense face concealment if:

  • You wear an outfit designed to conceal your face
  • And you are in the public space.

FYI  

When another offense is committed (violence, theft, etc.), concealing one's face in order not to be identified can be considered an aggravating circumstance.

In what cases is an outfit considered to be intended to hide one's face?

The offense is constituted when you wear one or more accessories/clothing having the effect, taken alone or with others, to hide your face and thus to render your impossible identification.

However, if the accessory or clothing worn does not conceal your face, the prohibition does not apply.

Example :

Wearing a scarf, cap, cap, scarf and sunglasses is allowed as soon as your face is identifiable.

However, if you wear a hood, a burqa, a mask or a set of clothes that covers your face, you are in violation.

In which places is it forbidden to wear an outfit intended to hide one's face?

It is forbidden to wear an outfit intended to conceal your face in public space.

This space covers:

  • Public roads (e.g. streets, roads and highways)
  • Places open to the public (public gardens, train stations, airports, beaches, cinemas, shops, restaurants, banking establishments, public transport, etc.)
  • Places assigned to a public service (courts, prefectures, town halls, hospitals, schools and universities, museums, libraries, France Laboretc.).

Warning  

It is also forbidden to hide voluntarily your face in order not to be identified during a demonstration on the public highway.

You have the right to wear an outfit that conceals your face under certain circumstances :

  • Where the law or the regulation order or authorize the wearing of a specific garment or accessory (wearing a helmet for two-wheeled drivers, wearing a mask during the health crisis, etc.)
  • If the outfit is mandatory for health or professional reasons (for example, a worksite helmet, equipment during a law enforcement intervention)
  • If you wear this outfit as part of a sporting practice (for example, a fencing mask)
  • If you wear this outfit on the occasion of an artistic or traditional event (for example, during a carnival or a theatrical performance)
  • If you wear this outfit in a place of worship.

Please note

Your vehicle is considered a private place. Thus, hiding your face behind the wheel of your car does not constitute the offense of concealing the face. However, by covering your face while driving, you are putting yourself at risk and putting other drivers at risk. Consequently, that conduct may constitute an infringement of the Highway Traffic Act.

When faced with a person wearing an outfit designed to conceal his or her face, certain authorized officers do not have the same powers as law enforcement. Moreover, a citizen cannot require you to remove this outfit.

Please note

These rules do not apply if face concealment is allowed.

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Law enforcement

If you wear an outfit designed to hide your face, the judicial police officer who notices it (or APJ: titleContent, or a APJA: titleContent under the responsibility of theOPJ: titleContent) may proceed to a identity check and verbalize you.

Authorized Agent

An authorized officer (municipal police officer, security officer, etc.) may ask you to remove the outfit intended to hide your face and invite you to leave the public place in which you are located.

If you refuse, the officer must involve law enforcement in order to fine you.

When not allowed, concealing the face in public space is a infringement.

The penalties depend on where you concealed your face:

General case

Wearing an outfit intended to conceal one's face in public space is a contravention.

The fine incurred is equal to €150.

This fine may be accompanied or replaced by a citizenship internship.

During a demonstration

Concealing voluntarily his face in order not to be identified during a demonstration is punished by a fine of €1,500. This contravention can be €3,000 in the event of recurrence.

If the deliberate concealment of the face takes place during a demonstration in which disorders public order are committed or may be committed, the penalty may amount to one year in prison and €15,000 of a fine.

Forced concealment

This infringement is constituted as soon as an individual force you to conceal your face because of your gender.

In order for this offense to be upheld, the perpetrator:

  • Uses threats
  • Use the physical or psychological abuse
  • You are physically or morally coerced (for example, an individual refuses to let you out of your home if you are not wearing an outfit that hides your face)
  • Abuse of authority or power over you (for example, your parents or employer forces you to wear a garment that completely covers your face).

In addition, for this offense to be retained, it is necessary that you have yes, indeed concealed your face. The attempt Forced face concealment does not exist.

Finally, forced facial concealment is an offense if it occurs in a public place or in the private sphere (for example, parents who require their daughter to wear an outfit intended to hide her face when they receive visitors at their home).

If someone forces you to conceal your face because of your gender, you can report this act from a chat which depends on the Ministry of the Interior:

Report domestic, sexual or gender-based violence to law enforcement

FYI  

This service is available to you regardless of your status (victim or witness) and regardless of your age (adult or minor).

To make this report, you must first enter your postal code.

Then, you can talk to a police officer or a gendarme specially trained in sexual, gender-based or domestic violence.

The police and/or gendarmes help you in your steps (example: filing a complaint) and refer you to any structure allowing a complete care (example: legal information structure, psychologist).

If you are a victim of the offense of forced concealment of the face, you can file a complaint against the perpetrator.

The time limit for filing a complaint is 6 years from the commission of the facts.

To file a complaint, you can go to a police station or a gendarmerie brigade. You can also write to public prosecutor.

Please note

As soon as you file a complaint, you can ask for the assistance of a lawyer. If your income is not sufficient to pay his fees, you can possibly apply for legal aid.

On site

To file a complaint, you have to go to a police station or to the gendarmerie of your choice.

Who shall I contact

Police or gendarmerie services are obliged to register your complaint if you are a victim of an offense.

When filing a complaint, you are received and heard by the police or gendarmerie. At the end of this interview, you receive a receipt and a copy of your complaint if you request it.

The filing of a complaint leads to a police investigation that may lead to the conviction of the perpetrator.

If you are a civil party, you can get damages and interest.

FYI  

If you are a minor, you can lodge a complaint. However, if you wish to obtain compensation, you must mandatory be accompanied by your legal representatives (e.g. your parents) to constitute a civil party in your place.

If your parents are involved in the offense, a ad hoc administrator is appointed by the court and may become a civil party for you.

By post

You can file a complaint with the public prosecutor.

To do this, you must send a letter to court of the place of the offense or of the domicile of the offender.

Your mail should include the following:

  • Your marital status and full contact details (address and telephone number)
  • Detailed account of the facts, date and place of the offense
  • Name of the alleged perpetrator if you know him (otherwise, the complaint will be filed against X)
  • Name and address of any witnesses to the offense
  • Description and provisional or definitive estimate of injury
  • Your proof documents: medical certificates, work stoppages, photographs, videos, various invoices, statements, etc.

You can use a mail template:

File a complaint with the public prosecutor

You can send your complaint by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, by simple letter or by followed letter.

A receipt is given to you as soon as the public prosecutor's office has registered your complaint.

The filing of a complaint leads to an investigation that may lead to the conviction of the perpetrator.

If you constitute yourself civil party, you can get damages and interest.

FYI  

If you are a minor, you can lodge a complaint. However, if you wish to obtain compensation, you must mandatory be accompanied by your legal representatives (e.g. your parents) to constitute a civil party in your place.

If your parents are involved in the offense, a ad hoc administrator is appointed by the court and may become a civil party for you.

The individual who requires you to conceal your face, because of your gender and by using threat, violence, coercion, or by abusing his authority or power, may be condemned by the correctional court.

He shall be liable to:

  • 1 year in prison
  • And of €30,000 of a fine.

If you are a minor, the author of this infringement shall be punished by:

  • 2 years in prison
  • And of €60,000 of a fine.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • To know your rights in case of prosecution for concealment of face

    House of Justice and Law

  • Being defended during a facial concealment procedure

    Lawyer

  • To get help as a victim of forced facial concealment

    This service allows victims of infringements (excluding damage to property on the internet) to be listened to and referred to a victim support association or a specialized service. It is accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people.

    In metropolitan France

    116,006

    Free call

    Service available every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm.

    Outside metropolitan France (or from the foreigner)

    + 33 (0)1 80 52 33 76

    Free call

    Service available every day of the year, from 9am to 8pm (Paris time).

    By email

    By email: victimes@116006.fr

  • To know your rights as a woman victim of an offense

    Listen, inform and guide women victims of violence, and witnesses to such violence.

    Deals with physical, verbal or psychological violence, at home or at work, and of any kind (including sexual harassment, assault and rape).

    Does not deal with emergencies (this is not a police or gendarmerie service).

    For other types of violence, 3919 provides a first-level response and directs or forwards to a useful number.

    By phone

    39.19 (free call from a landline or mobile phone in metropolitan and DOM)

    Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

    Anonymous call

    Call not listed on phone bills