Country Overview

Business Culture

Clothing Size Guides

Communications

Cost of Living

Culture and Society

Demographics

Driving and Autos

Economy and Trade

Education

Educational Resources

Environment

Export Process

Food Culture and Drink

Geography

Government

Health and Medical

History

Holidays and Festivals

Import Process

Language

Kids' Stuff

LGBTQ+

Life Stages

Maps

Media Outlets

Money and Banking

Music

Names

National Symbols

Points of Interest

Quality of Life

Real Estate

Religion

Security Briefing

Social Indicators

Travel Essentials

Travel Essentials: Visa and Passport

Passports

Summary of Requirements

Passport

Valid passport, or national ID card for EU citizens, is required for all travelers

Visa

Not required for citizens of the Schengen Area and some other countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States; see Visa-exempt
Required for citizens of all countries not mentioned in Visa-Exempt

Return Ticket

Return ticket or adequate means to purchase one required to obtain a short-term visa

Additional Restrictions

All foreign citizens traveling to France must be able to present:

Regulatory proof of the purpose of their stay
Means of support and accommodation
Valid medical travel insurance that covers all eventual medical and repatriation costs

Passport

Citizens of the European Union may use a valid national ID card or a passport for entry. All other travelers must present a passport valid for at least three months beyond the intended date of departure from France.

Visa

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States are not required to obtain a visa to enter France.

Visa-Exempt

France is a member of the Schengen Agreement. Short-stay (total of 90 days in six months in the Schengen Area) visas are not required for citizens of the Schengen Area and the European Economic Area (EEA), as well as citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Israel, Japan, Macao (SAR), Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Serbia (except holders of Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate, Koordinaciona Uprava), Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, St. Christopher and Nevis, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, and Venezuela.

The only European Union countries that do not participate in the Schengen Agreement are Ireland and the United Kingdom. Citizens of all of these countries may enter Iceland without a visa.

Visa Required

Citizens of all countries not listed in section Visa-Exempt are required to obtain a visa to enter France.

Citizens of and refugees from the following countries are required to obtain an airport transit visa in France (with some exceptions): Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea (Conakry), Haiti, India, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Syria.

Visa Requirements

Required documents for a short-term visa:

A passport valid for at least three months beyond the date of the requested visa
A minimum of one blank passport page
A visa application form duly completed and signed
A maximum of three passport photographs
Proof of the purpose of the visit to the Schengen area
Proof of means of support and accommodation during stay
Proof of travel and repatriation insurance
Guarantees of repatriation to country of residence (return ticket or adequate personal means to purchase one)
Any documents helping to convince the consular authority of intention to leave the Schengen area when visa expires

Please note that additional documents may be required in some cases.

Visa Types

France issues the following types of visas:

Short-Stay Visa (up to 90 days)
Long-Stay Visa (over 90 days)
Short-Stay Visa to Marry a French Citizen in France
Long-Stay Visa to Marry a French Citizen and Move to France
Airport Transit Visa

More Information

All foreign citizens traveling to France must be able to present regulatory proof of the purpose of their stay, means of support and accommodation, and valid medical travel insurance that covers all eventual medical and repatriation costs.

Please note that passport and visa information is subject to change. Also, requirements for specialty visas can be complex. Travelers are advised to obtain the most current information from the primary source. For more information about visas, residence, and immigration, as well as application forms and fee information, please visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Ministère des affaires étrangères et européennes), www.diplomatie.gouv.fr, or contact the nearest French Embassy or Consulate.

Source: French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs; US Department of State