Refund Policy
Last updated: September 10, 2026
Colonies guarantees a full refund of the Certificate when the visa application is refused solely on the ground related to accommodation conditions (reason 5).
1. Cases eligible for a refund
A 100% refund of the Certificate price (€199) is due where the visa application was refused for reason 5 only — “the information submitted to justify the conditions of stay is not reliable or is insufficient” — after presentation of the Certificate to the consular authorities.
The guarantee requires that this be the only ground retained by the consulate. Where the refusal notification lists several grounds, at least one of which is unrelated to accommodation conditions (doubt about the real purpose of the stay, insufficient resources, unreliable documents, etc.), no refund is due, even if reason 5 is among the boxes ticked.
2. Excluded cases
- refusal based on any other ground (false or falsified documents, insufficient resources, public-order concerns, etc.), unrelated to accommodation;
- refusal based on several grounds, at least one of which is unrelated to accommodation: reason 5 appearing alongside another ground gives no right to a refund;
- request made more than 30 days after the Certificate purchase date;
- inaccurate information provided by the client when ordering;
- no visa application filed, or Certificate not included in the file;
- mere change of mind: as the Certificate is digital content delivered immediately, it is non-refundable outside this guarantee (Article L.221-28 of the French Consumer Code).
3. Procedure
- submit your request within 30 days of the Certificate purchase, from the site's Refund request page;
- attach the official refusal notification stating reason 5 and your Certificate reference;
- after verification, the refund is made to the payment method used for the order, within 14 days at the latest.
4. Certificate amendments
Correcting a certificate (typing error, change of city, etc.) is not a refund: it is billed €30 and done online, immediately, from the customer account, as per the Terms of Sale.