If you've received an email from Edenred, Swile, or another issuer, don't panic — but you do need to act quickly. Your 2025 meal vouchers, whether in paper or digital form, have a use-by date set for February 28, 2026. After this deadline, they will no longer be valid or redeemable. We’re sharing all the tips to make sure you don’t lose a cent and even how to do a good deed with any remaining balance.
First step: check your balance. For e-tickets, visit your issuer’s app (Edenred, Swile, Pluxee, Up Déjeuner). There, you can see the details sorted by issue year, allowing you to identify exactly how much of your 2025 vouchers you still have left to spend. For paper vouchers, simply count the ones marked with 2025. Be aware that many stores are increasingly refusing paper tickets, so double-check before heading out.
If you haven't used up all your benefits by the end of February, there's a simple solution: you can ask your employer to exchange your expired cards for valid ones for the current year, free of charge, within 15 days of their expiration date. For digital cards, the transfer of your 2025 balance to 2026 usually happens automatically between mid- and late March, depending on your issuer. Some transfers require manual approval, so keep an eye on your notifications. For paper cards, you'll need to hand them in to your employer, who will then send them back to the issuer before the end of March.
Options have expanded significantly in recent years. Beyond traditional restaurants, you can now use your meal vouchers at supermarkets to purchase food products—whether ready-to-eat or not (this measure has been extended until December 31, 2026). You can also use them at bakeries and pastry shops, fruit vendors, cheese shops, and even on certain delivery platforms like Deliveroo or Uber Eats.
The spending cap remains set at €25 per day from Monday to Saturday. But here’s a little-known tip: with certain cards like Pluxee, you can activate an option to spend up to €55 per transaction by linking your bank card. The system first deducts €25 from your meal vouchers, then automatically switches to your bank account for the remaining balance. A handy trick for dining at slightly pricier restaurants or making larger grocery purchases.
If you're looking for a great way to clear out your leftovers quickly, consider checking out the gourmet halls and food courts springing up across Paris and Île-de-France. You can also do your weekly shopping at stores that accept these options or gather friends for a meal out. In short, it's smarter to plan ahead than watch your money go up in smoke.
Looking to give back or simply can't use all your meal vouchers? Several charities such as Restos du Cœur, the Red Cross, Action Against Hunger, Secours Populaire, and the Abbé Pierre Foundation are accepting expired meal vouchers as donations. These organizations have special permission to use them until March 31 to support people in need.
To make a donation using your paper tickets, simply write the name of the chosen organization across the ticket and send it in an unstamped envelope to the organization's address. For example, for the Red Cross, the address is: Croix-Rouge Operation, Free Reply No. 13935, 92249 Malakoff Cedex. For the Restos du Cœur: Restos du Cœur - Donor Services, Free Reply No. 70614, 75884 Paris Cedex 18.
If you have a digital card, making donations is even easier: you can contribute directly through your app or the organization's website. Keep in mind, donations are capped at 25 € per day with a meal voucher card, but you’re free to donate every day of the year.
Good to know: these donations qualify for a 75% tax reduction on the amount given, up to a limit of €1,000. In practical terms, if you donate €100 worth of meal vouchers, you can deduct €75 from your taxes, meaning your actual cost is only €25. To take advantage of this tax benefit, make sure to provide your contact details so the organization can send you your official receipt. All the official information can be found on the Service-Public.fr portal, which outlines the current regulations.
Dates and Opening Time
From January 13, 2026 to February 28, 2026
