"If you're planning on inviting French guests to your house for dinner, or if you've been invited, you should probably know about the quart d'heure de politesse, which means the quarter-of-an-hour courtesy. In this case, for some French people, it is considered courteous to arrive roughly 15 minutes late to give the host time to settle down and be ready. So, if you're hosting, don't be surprised if your guests are slightly late."
"More than 15 minutes, however, and you start to be seen as late, and possibly rude. Even the 15-minute courtesy doesn't wash with everyone. "I think it's generally impolite to show up late," 54 year-old Beatrice told The Local. "I don't think you should aim to arrive late, but consider that you can be if you have a valid excuse, like you couldn't find a parking spot or because the Metro was late.""
French lateness norms differ from neighbouring Italy and Spain, where tardiness is more accepted. A common practice in France is the quart d'heure de politesse, a roughly 15-minute courtesy for social visits to allow hosts time to finish preparations. Arriving within this window is often tolerated, especially among friends as a grace period. More than 15 minutes is likely to be seen as late and possibly rude. Some individuals remain strictly punctual and expect timely arrival, though valid excuses such as transport delays or parking problems can make lateness acceptable.
Read at The Local France
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