Curfew in Paris on October 31 and November 1: Can you go home or work after 11 p.m.?

Residents and workers in République and Les Halles in Paris are exempt from the curfew in force from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the nights of October 31 to November 2, 2026. Which journeys are covered, and what documents should you have ready? Here’s a look at the exemptions and metro closures to expect.

Working after 11 p.m. or returning home is still possible under certain conditions despite the curfew. In Paris, Prefectural Order No. 2026-01485 of October 30, 2026 bans people from moving around within the République and Les Halles areas from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the nights of Saturday, October 31, to Sunday, November 1, and Sunday, November 1, to Monday, November 2. The order explicitly provides exceptions for residents, workers and public service employees.

These exemptions depend on the circumstances and the journey being made. Living nearby, commuting to work or responding on behalf of a public service is not the same as going out for leisure. To find out whether your route passes through an affected zone, check the boundaries on the maps attached to the order: Appendix 2 for République and Appendix 3 for Les Halles.

What exemptions apply to residents and workers?

Article 1 of the order of October 30 exempts the following categories from the ban:

Residents who can demonstrate by any means that their home is within or near the zone and that they need to cross it;
Workers who are required to travel through the zone;
Public service employees, particularly those involved in emergency response.

For residents, the text therefore also takes into account a home located on the outskirts of the zone, when reaching it requires crossing the zone. For workers, the exception applies when the work-related journey within the perimeter is necessary.

Traders are not listed as a separate category in this new order. Their travel may fall under the exception for workers when they are required to pass through the area for work. However, the text does not provide for a general exemption for customers of a shop, restaurant or Halloween party.

What documents should you prepare to prove your circumstances?

The order allows residents to prove where they live by any means. An invoice, rent receipt or document showing their address may help establish their situation. If their home is near the perimeter, it may also be useful to explain why their route requires them to cross it.

For a business trip, an employer’s letter, a work schedule or a document specifying the place and hours of work can help justify the need to travel. Someone who is self-employed can prepare a document confirming their business activity and the trip in question.

These documents are practical examples, not an official list of required supporting documents. The decree does not specify a particular form or refer to a health curfew certificate. Nor does a document create an exemption: the journey must fall under one of the exceptions set out in the text.

An exemption is no guarantee of a nearby metro

The curfew exemptions do not restore service to the closed stations. For Saturday, October 31, the RATP has announced closures as a security measure requested by the Prefecture of Police, starting well before the 11 p.m. travel ban:

République: closed from 9 a.m. on metro lines 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11;
Châtelet: closed from 8 p.m. on metro lines 1, 4, 7 and 14;
Les Halles: closed from 8 p.m. on Line 4;
Line 11: service suspended between Châtelet and Hôtel de Ville from 8 p.m..

Reopening will take place with the authorization of the Paris Police Prefecture, with no time announced. The end of the 6 a.m. curfew therefore does not guarantee that service will resume. On line 8, République also remains closed for renovation work scheduled through April 22, 2027, inclusive.

The bulletin issued concerns Saturday, October 31. It does not confirm that the closures will be extended into the evening of Sunday, November 1, although the curfew will again apply in both areas that night.

To get home or to your workplace, check the RATP traffic updates and plan a journey using the Île-de-France Mobilités journey planner. The final leg on foot from another station must also comply with the applicable restrictions and exemptions.

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