How the Culture Pass Works: Everything You Need to Know

The Culture Pass is a French government initiative aimed at facilitating access to culture for young people aged 15 to 18. This innovative scheme allows young people to benefit from a credit to discover and enjoy various cultural activities.

Officially launched in May 2021, the Culture Pass is now accessible to all young people residing in France. The program consists of two complementary components: an individual component allowing personal purchases via a dedicated application, and a collective component deployed in schools.

In this article, we will explore in detail how this cultural scheme works, who can benefit from it, and what offers are available for young people.

What is the Culture Pass?

Originating from a government initiative, the Culture Pass aims to democratize access to culture for young people. This emblematic measure in favor of youth and access to culture has been designed to provide young people with financial autonomy dedicated to discovering various cultural goods.

Origin and objectives of the scheme

The concept of the Culture Pass emerged in 2017, following the presidential campaign. Tested in several departments in 2019, the scheme has gradually been expanded to the entire national territory. The main objective is to bring young people closer to the world of culture and broaden their cultural horizons.

The Culture Pass was officially created by decree No. 2021-628 of May 20, 2021, after an experimental phase that began in 2018 in five pilot departments. This initiative represents a campaign promise from President Emmanuel Macron, realized to support both young people and the cultural sector, which has been particularly affected by the health crisis.

The two components: individual and collective

The Culture Pass is divided into two main components:

• The individual component allows young people to access an application containing various cultural offers that they can book according to their personal tastes.
• The collective component is intended for schools to fund cultural projects supervised by teachers, such as trips to the cinema or organizing a concert in a high school.

These two components aim to provide a rich and diverse cultural experience for young people while supporting the cultural sector.

Who can benefit from the Culture Pass?

To benefit from the Culture Pass, specific conditions must be met. The Culture Pass is a scheme designed to encourage young people to participate in cultural activities, including ideas for cultural activities.

Eligibility conditions

The Culture Pass is accessible to young people aged 15 to 18 residing in France, whether they are French or foreign nationals. Two cumulative conditions must be met: being of the required age and residing on French territory (mainland or overseas departments). Foreign young people aged 18 can also benefit from the scheme if they have been residing in France for at least one year.

The eligibility conditions are therefore:

• Be aged 15 to 18
• Reside in France (mainland or overseas departments)

Differences based on age

The scheme provides different amounts based on the beneficiary's age, with a progressive increase until the age of 18. Young people with disabilities receiving the Disabled Child Education Allowance or the Disabled Adults Allowance can benefit from a bonus of €50 in the year they turn 18. This same bonus is also granted to young people meeting certain income conditions to promote equitable access to culture.

These differences are designed to encourage young people to explore various cultural activities throughout their adolescence.

How does the Culture Pass work exactly?

The Culture Pass is an innovative scheme that allows young people to discover new cultural experiences. It functions as a cultural credit whose amount varies according to the beneficiary's age.

Amounts available by age

The amounts credited to the Culture Pass change based on age. For young people aged 15, the amount is 20 euros. This amount increases to 30 euros for 16 and 17-year-olds. When they reach 18 years, young people benefit from a credit of 300 euros. With these amounts, young people can purchase books, tickets for cultural outings, subscriptions to magazines, or even e-books.

It is important to note that for young people aged 15 to 17, the credit cannot be used for streaming services. The goal is to promote the discovery of cultural goods different from their consumption habits.

Validity period of credits

The validity period of credits also varies based on age. For 15-17 year-olds, the credits are valid until December 31 of the current school year. They cannot be carried over to the following year.

For young people who turn 18 years, the credit of 300 euros is valid for 24 months from its activation, thus offering more flexibility to take advantage of cultural offers.

It is also possible to use up to 100 euros of the credit for subscriptions to streaming video or music platforms starting from 18 years.

In summary, the Culture Pass is a valuable tool that encourages young people to explore various cultural experiences. With amounts tailored to their age and an appropriate validity period, young people can fully enjoy this scheme. For those looking to learn more, a practical guide to the Culture Pass is available to help them navigate the different options offered.

How to create and activate your Culture Pass account?

Creating a Culture Pass account is a simple and quick process that can be done via the mobile application or the official website. This process is open to all young people aged 15 and older residing in France.

Registration on the application or website

To get started, simply download the Culture Pass application on your smartphone or visit the website pass.culture.fr. Young people aged 15 to 17 must obtain their ÉduConnect identifiers from their teacher to activate their account.

Once the application is downloaded or the website is accessed, you need to fill out a registration form with your personal information. The process is simple and secure to ensure the confidentiality of your data.

• Download the Culture Pass application or visit the website pass.culture.fr.
• Fill out the registration form with your information.
• Follow the instructions to complete the creation of your account.

Necessary documents and identity verification

To validate your account, you will need to provide certain documents. This includes a form of identification (national identity card, passport, or residence permit) and proof of residence.

Identity verification is done through a secure procedure that may include a photo of your identification document and sometimes a selfie. This step is crucial to secure your account.

• A valid form of identification.
• A proof of residence.
• A photo of your identification document and possibly a selfie.

Once your registration is verified and validated, you will receive a confirmation email and can access your credit to explore the available offers.

What can you buy with the Culture Pass?

The Culture Pass allows young people to enjoy a wide range of cultural offers. It has been designed to facilitate access to cultural goods and services, whether physical or digital.

Accessible cultural offers

Holders of the Culture Pass can access a multitude of enriching cultural experiences. Among the available offers are:

• Movie tickets
• Tickets for exhibitions, concerts, or shows
• Visits to museums and historical monuments
• Artistic courses and workshops to develop personal skills

Physical cultural goods such as books, comics, CDs, vinyl records, and musical instruments can also be purchased via the Culture Pass application and picked up in stores.

Restrictions and limitations

Although the Culture Pass offers a wide variety of options, some restrictions apply. For example, streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ are not eligible.

Additionally, video games are only accepted if they have recognized cultural value. Computer hardware, electronic accessories, and services with no direct cultural link (such as catering or transportation) cannot be purchased with the Culture Pass.

It is essential to check the terms of use on the Culture Pass application to fully enjoy the available offers.

The individual component of the Culture Pass

The individual Culture Pass is designed to provide young people with a personalized cultural experience. It allows them to manage their cultural credit independently through an intuitive mobile application while having the option to access free money options.

How the application works

The Culture Pass application offers a user-friendly interface that geolocates the user to suggest cultural offers nearby. Young people can thus discover new cultural experiences through the platform that includes many partners, such as FNAC.

Booking and payment

To book an activity or purchase a cultural good, simply browse the catalog of available offers, select the one that interests you, and confirm the booking. Payment is made directly in the application, which automatically debits the corresponding amount from the available credit.

Once the booking is made, the user receives a QR code or a voucher to present to the cultural partner. The Culture Pass application also allows users to favorite offers and invite friends for duo bookings.

The collective component in schools

The collective component of the Culture Pass is an initiative aimed at schools to promote artistic and cultural education. This scheme allows teachers to design cultural projects with partner organizations such as museums, artists, and associations.

Organization of outings and cultural projects

Teachers can access the “Culture Pass Education” platform to discover available offers and organize outings or cultural interventions. Projects can take various forms, including museum visits, shows, workshops with artists, film screenings, or even artistic residencies within the school.

This approach aims to strengthen artistic and cultural education from the 8th grade onwards, promoting collective outings and educational interventions within the school framework. The collective component ensures that all students, including those who may not have activated their individual share, have equitable access to culture.

Budget allocated per class and per student

In 2025, the allocated amounts are distributed as follows:

Schools have some flexibility in using these funds, being able to pool credits from several classes for large-scale projects or distribute them across multiple activities throughout the year.

Tips for optimizing the use of the Culture Pass

The Culture Pass offers many cultural opportunities, but one must know how to fully exploit them. To make the most of it, here are some practical tips.

Practical advice for young people

To maximize the benefits of the Culture Pass, young people should activate their account as soon as possible to fully enjoy the validity period of the credits. It is also advisable to regularly explore the application to discover new offers and use the geolocation feature to find cultural activities near them.

• Smartly combine your purchases by mixing small offers with more expensive experiences to maximize your budget.
• Take advantage of special promotions or partner offers, often highlighted on the homepage.

Reading enthusiasts can check out special offers at partner bookstores that sometimes offer additional discounts on certain books.

Advice for parents and teachers

Parents can accompany their children in discovering the application and encourage them to explore cultural areas they are not yet familiar with, such as theater or art exhibitions.

Teachers have every interest in familiarizing themselves with the collective platform to identify cultural opportunities that complement their educational program, especially for cinema outings or museum visits.

Conclusion: The future of the Culture Pass in France

The future of the Culture Pass in France looks promising, with ongoing efforts to improve access to culture for young people. Since its creation, the Culture Pass has undergone several adjustments to meet the expectations of young people and the challenges of equal access.

The scheme has evolved to adapt to the needs of users and the realities of the cultural sector. The government continues to invest in this scheme, with a budget that exceeded 200 million euros in 2023.

Current priorities include promoting cultural outings and meetings with artists. The Culture Pass also contributes to revitalizing the cultural offer in rural areas and priority neighborhoods.

For young people, the Culture Pass represents valuable financial assistance and an invitation to become actively engaged culturally. The future of the Culture Pass will be marked by strengthened synergies between national education and cultural actors.