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Buying with the Culture Pass: Instructions

25 Jul 2025·6 min read
Articles

The Culture Pass is a French government initiative aimed at facilitating access to culture for young people aged 15 to 18.

This mobile and web application offers individual credit through a personal account, allowing users to discover new cultural activities.

culture pass application

To fully benefit from activating the culture pass, it is essential to understand how to activate your account, search for offers, and make your cultural purchases.

This guide assists you in the optimal use of your pass, from registration to purchasing cultural goods and services.

What is the culture pass?

Designed to encourage culture among young people, the culture pass offers a unique experience. It is a system aimed at promoting cultural diversity among the youth.

Origin and purpose of the system

The culture pass is a government initiative designed to encourage young people to explore various forms of culture. The main objective is to make culture accessible by offering credit that can be used to purchase cultural goods and services. This system is particularly innovative as it allows young people to freely choose their cultural activities.

The general functioning of the culture pass

The culture pass consists of two distinct parts. The individual portion is accessible via the culture pass application, which young people can download on their smartphones. The credit allocated varies by age: €50 at age 17 and €150 at age 18, with a possible bonus of €200. Young people can use the culture pass to book cultural activities and purchase cultural goods. The offered cultural services are diverse, ranging from cinema tickets to concert subscriptions.

The credits are cumulative and usable until the day before the beneficiary turns 21, thus providing flexibility of use over several years. The culture pass application centralizes all available offers, making it easier to book cultural activities.

Who can benefit from the culture pass?

The culture pass system is designed for young people, allowing them to enjoy enriching cultural experiences. This program aims to encourage the discovery and exploration of various cultural activities.

Age and residency requirements

To be eligible for the culture pass, young people must meet certain age and residency conditions. Young people aged 15 to 18 can benefit from this system, provided they reside in France.

Available amounts by age

The amount of culture pass credit varies by the beneficiary's age. Young people aged 15-16 have access to free offers via the application, allowing them to discover various cultural activities without spending. At 17, a credit of €50 is granted to book paid cultural offers. At 18, an additional credit of €150 is awarded, bringing the potential total to €200. Furthermore, 18-year-olds with disabilities or meeting certain income conditions receive a bonus of €50, raising their total credit to €250.

In summary, the culture pass offers progressive benefits based on age, promoting access to culture for young people.

How to activate your culture pass?

Activating the culture pass is a simple and effective procedure that allows you to enjoy your credit as soon as possible. To start, you need to download the dedicated application on your smartphone.

Downloading the application

The first step is to download the culture pass application on your device. This application is available on app stores for Android and iOS devices. Once downloaded, install the application and open it to continue the activation process.

Creating a personal account

After opening the application, you will need to create your personal account. This step requires providing certain personal information such as your name, first name, date of birth, and email address. Be sure to enter accurate information to avoid any issues during verification.

Identity verification and credit activation

Verifying your identity is a crucial step to activate your culture pass credit. You will need to provide a copy of your identity document (identity card or passport) as well as a recent proof of residence. Once your documents are verified, your credit will be automatically activated on your account.

  • Verifying your identity is essential to activate your credit.
  • You must provide the required documents to confirm your age and residence.
  • The verification process is generally quick, but it can take up to 24 hours.
StepDescriptionApproximate duration
Downloading the applicationDownload the culture pass application1 minute
Creating the accountCreate your personal account2 minutes
Identity verificationProvide the required documents for verificationUp to 24 hours

How to purchase with the culture pass?

The purchasing process with the culture pass is designed to be easy and secure. Beneficiaries can purchase eligible cultural products and services directly through the application or the partner site.

Reservation process on the application

To reserve a cultural product or service, users must first choose their item from the catalog available on the application or site. Once the choice is made, they place the order, and the amount is deducted from the total balance available on their culture pass.

After the reservation, a unique QR code is sent to the beneficiary. This code must be presented at the entrance of the event or in-store to collect or consume the product or service.

Using the reservation code in-store

For physical cultural goods like books or musical instruments, beneficiaries must go in person to a partner store. Upon arrival, they present their reservation code along with an identity document to confirm their purchase.

  • Once your reservation is made, you will receive a unique code or QR code to present in-store or at the entrance of the event.
  • The merchant or organizer will scan your code to validate the transaction, without you having to pay any additional money.

What can you buy with the culture pass?

With the culture pass, users can access a wide range of cultural goods and services. This initiative allows for the discovery of new experiences and enjoyment of various enriching activities, including the possibility of activating their culture pass to fully benefit from these offers.

Authorized cultural goods

The culture pass provides access to a variety of cultural goods, including books, CDs, vinyl records, and musical instruments. Users can also purchase tickets for live performances such as theater, concerts, or festivals. The cinema is particularly accessible through the pass, with the possibility of reserving screenings in partner cinemas.

culture pass cinema

Accessible cultural services

Beyond physical goods, the culture pass offers a multitude of enriching cultural services. Users can take artistic practice courses (music, dance, theater, drawing) to develop their talents. Additionally, digital subscriptions to music streaming, film services, or online press are available up to a limit of €100.

  • Reserve tickets for live performances.
  • Access courses and workshops in artistic practices.
  • Digital subscriptions to streaming services.

The culture pass also offers various offers to enrich cultural experiences, including meetings with artists and discoveries of professions.

Buying specific products with the culture pass

The culture pass is designed to facilitate young people's access to a wide range of cultural products, both physical and digital. It offers a variety of options to explore different cultural universes.

Buying books

To buy books, simply open the culture pass application, search for partner bookstores, and select the desired books. The chosen books can then be reserved and picked up in-store. This feature allows young people to discover new authors and literary genres.

Booking cinema tickets

Booking cinema tickets is also possible with the culture pass. Users can choose their movie, select available seats, and finalize their reservation directly in the application. This allows them to enjoy a unique cinematic experience.

Buying music and instruments

The culture pass also allows for exploring the musical universe by purchasing musical instruments or accessing music streaming services like Deezer. Users can search for partner music stores in the application, browse their catalog, and purchase instruments or CDs/vinyl records. It is important to note that accessories for instruments are not eligible.

Limitations and restrictions of the culture pass

The culture pass, while innovative, has certain limitations that are essential to understand. These restrictions are in place to ensure appropriate use of the allocated credit.

What cannot be purchased with the culture pass

It is important to note that certain categories of products and services are not eligible for the culture pass. For example, non-cultural goods or services that are not directly related to cultural activities are excluded. Additionally, the culture pass cannot be used for online purchases with home delivery; beneficiaries must go to a store to use their credit.

culture pass

Usage ceilings and limits

The culture pass is subject to several usage ceilings and limits. For example, digital offers such as ebooks, video games, or subscriptions are limited to a maximum of €100. Furthermore, the credit must be used before the day before the beneficiary turns 21, after which it is permanently lost. It is also important to note that bonuses may be granted in certain situations, such as for beneficiaries with disabilities.

Conclusion: Fully enjoy your culture pass

The culture pass represents a unique opportunity for young people to develop their artistic and cultural curiosity. The initiative launched by Emmanuel Macron offers a multitude of opportunities to explore various cultural activities.

To fully benefit, young people are encouraged to regularly explore the application to discover new cultural offers near them. This allows them not only to discover new forms of art but also to learn how to manage a budget.

By supporting the cultural sector, the culture pass contributes to the cultural richness of France. Do not hesitate to use your culture pass to enrich your cultural experience and support artists and cultural institutions.

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