How Long Does Amazon France Marketplace Preparation Take? Real Timelines & Troubleshooting Tips

Amazon France (Amazon.fr) seller backend is generally easy to use, but many sellers get stuck at one frustrating step: the message “Marketplace is being prepared, please check back in 2 hours.” If you’ve been seeing this message for days, you’re not alone.

In this article, we’ll break down how long Amazon France marketplace preparation actually takes and what you can do if the process is delayed.

How Long Does the Amazon France Marketplace Preparation Normally Take?

In most cases, Amazon France marketplace preparation takes between 2 hours and 24 hours after your account verification is successfully completed. During this period, Amazon completes several backend processes, including:

• Linking your seller account to Amazon.fr
• Verifying identity, banking, and tax information
• Activating marketplace-specific selling permissions

For some sellers—especially new or international sellers—this process may take 48 to 72 hours. This timeframe is still considered normal by Amazon.

When Is the Delay a Problem?

If the message “Marketplace is being prepared” continues to appear for longer than 3–5 business days, it could indicate one of the following issues:

• Pending internal compliance or security checks
• Tax information not fully validated
• Incomplete seller profile or missing declarations/documents
• A technical issue on Amazon’s side

Even if you receive an email stating that your account is active, the marketplace itself may still not be fully enabled.

Troubleshooting Tips to Speed Up Marketplace Activation

If your Amazon France seller account is stuck in preparation mode, try the following steps:

1. Log in via Seller Central France
   Use the Amazon.fr Seller Central link directly instead of accessing through another marketplace.
2. Check “Account Health & Verification”
   Review any pending actions, document requests, warnings, or notifications.
3. Verify Tax & Bank Information
   Ensure your bank account is approved and correct VAT details (or VAT intent) are submitted.
4. Clear Browser Cache or Use Incognito Mode
   Sometimes the issue is cached and can be resolved instantly.
5. Wait at Least 72 Hours Before Contacting Support
   In many cases, Amazon resolves the issue automatically within this timeframe.

How to Contact Amazon if the Issue Persists

If the issue continues beyond 5 business days, take the following steps:

• Open a case via Seller Central → Help → Contact Us
• Select Account Setup > Marketplace Activation
• Attach screenshots of the error message
• Keep your message brief, clear, and factual

Important: Avoid opening multiple cases for the same issue, as this can slow down the resolution process.