Rules for entering France without a visa
If you are a citizen of a country that allows you to travel to France without a visa, your stay will be 90 days in any 180-day period. You can travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sporting events, or for study purposes.
French Schengen visa
A Schengen short-stay visa (Schengen court séjour visa) allows you to enter and stay in a country of the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days. It can refer to a continuous stay of 90 days or several trips with a total duration of 90 days. As in the case of tourism and business, completing a short training program, internships, or working after obtaining a temporary work permit are valid reasons for obtaining a short-term Schengen visa.
The Schengen single entry short-stay visa (visa Schengen court séjour à une seule entrée) is valid for one trip only. If it allows two or more entries, it is a tourist visa that is valid for six months to five years;
Do I need to get a visa to visit France?
Due to the fact that the Schengen area is the only tourist area of which France is a part, the following persons need to obtain a visa for short-term trips to the territory of France on the European continent:
PLEASE NOTE that the visa policy of French overseas territories, departments or regions is slightly different from that of the metropolis. Depending on your nationality, you may need to obtain a visa to visit these countries.
Not every foreigner and not every French territory applies the same visa policy. Therefore, visa exemptions are largely influenced by various factors, including the nationality of the foreigner, the territory of France that the applicant wishes to visit, the status of the foreigner's stay in the Schengen area or in France itself, the purpose of the visit and the duration of the stay.
Speaking of French territories, the law divides them into the following three parts, which are subject to different visa policies:
- European territory of France
- French overseas departments or regions (DOM)
- French overseas territories (TOM)
What documents are required to apply for a French Schengen visa?
- Download the application form for a visa to France, fill it out. You can also fill out the application form for a Schengen visa to France electronically and then print it out in hard copy.
- You must attach 2 photos; the photo must be of passport size - a recent full-face photo against a light background;
- We need your passport and copies of previous visas - valid for at least 3 months after the return date. Your passport must have at least two blank pages.
- A copy of the ticket reservation back. It is not recommended to buy a ticket before obtaining a visa, unless otherwise required.
- Tourist visa insurance in the amount of at least EUR 30,000 within France and the entire Schengen area. To apply for a French visa, the French embassy/consulate requires a Schengen travel insurance policy valid in all Schengen countries. The French Embassy/Consulate also requires a proof of insurance letter as a proof of coverage, which must be submitted together with other requested documents and the French visa application.
- A cover letter indicating the purpose of the visit to France and the itinerary.
- Booking airline tickets;
- Proof of residence for the entire duration of your stay in France;
- A document confirming civil status (marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of a spouse, food stamp, if available)
- Means of subsistence - proof of sufficient financial resources for the period of stay. According to the European Commission, starting from June 19, 2014, any foreigner wishing to enter France, when applying for a visa to France, must be able to certify at the French embassy or consulate a daily amount of 120 euros, unless he/she has proof of prepaid accommodation. However, if the applicant has a prepaid hotel, this amount is reduced to €65 per day for the period of stay, and the rest is €120. Also, if the applicant confirms cheaper forms of accommodation, the amount is reduced to €32.25 per day.
Additional requirements for obtaining a French visa for minors
Minors applying for a short-stay visa to France or parents applying for a visa for their minor child must attach the following documents to their application:
- Birth certificate of a minor traveling to France.
- A questionnaire signed by both parents.
- A family court decision. In cases where only one of the parents has full custody of the child.
- Certified copies of both parents' IDs/passports.
- Notarized parental permission to travel to France signed by both parents/guardians if the minor is traveling alone.
Documents to be presented upon arrival in France
Upon arrival in France, you must present the following supporting documents at the request of the border service:
- A passport issued no more than 10 years ago and valid for at least three months after the expected date of departure;
- Valid visa (if required);
- A document confirming accommodation for the entire period of stay (hotel reservation and/or invitation from a relative certified by the city hall);
- Proof of sufficient financial security. The amount of livelihood is assessed based on the duration and purpose of the stay, as well as on average prices for housing and food;
- Return the ticket (or funds for its purchase) on the expected return date;
- Any document containing information about the traveler's profession or abilities, as well as about institutions or organizations located in France that are expected to receive you if you are on a professional trip.
- You must have an insurance policy that covers all medical and hospital expenses for which you may be liable during your stay in France, as well as medical repatriation and death expenses.
- If you are staying at a hotel, you will need to provide a hotel reservation, as well as a minimum amount per day of stay, which differs depending on the Schengen country.
Determine where to apply for a visa to France
- The French authorities regulate the issuance and processing of visas differently in different countries. Depending on how the French authorities regulate the issuance of visas in your country of residence, you may need to apply at one of the following locations:
- Embassy of France
- French Consulate
- The visa center to which France has outsourced visa processing functions
- Embassy/consulate of another Schengen country with which France has concluded a visa outsourcing agreement
In order to complete the application process for a short-stay Schengen visa for France, you must follow the following steps:
- Choose the type of French visa you need according to your purpose of entry.
- Find the French visa authority in your country;
- Fill out the French visa application form.
- Gather the necessary documents for a short-term visa to France.
- Schedule your visa interview.
- Attend the interview at the relevant French embassy/consulate/visa center.
How much does a French Schengen visa cost?
The French Schengen visa costs 80 euros for adults and 40 euros for children under 12 years old. Take the time to check out the list of French Schengen visa fees as there are categories of applicants who are exempt from paying the fee, as well as others who have to pay a lower amount.
Whether you belong to these categories or not depends on your age, citizenship, and some other factors, such as the purpose of entry, etc.
Do I need a visa to enter France as a tourist/visitor?
As France is a member of the Schengen area, this allows citizens of 62 countries to enter France for tourism purposes without the need for a visa. Starting from 2024, citizens of these countries must register in the ETIAS system before traveling to France.
Documents required to apply for a visitor/tourist visa to France:
- Visa application form. Completely filled out with the correct information, printed and signed at the end.
- Two recent photographs. Taken within the last three months, in accordance with the criteria for Schengen visa photos.
- A valid foreign passport. Not older than ten years and valid for at least three months after the planned stay in the Schengen area. It must have at least two blank pages so that the visa sticker can be affixed.
- A reservation or a round-trip itinerary. A document containing dates and flight numbers indicating entry and exit from the Schengen area. Learn how to get a flight reservation for applying for a tourist visa.
- Travel health insurance. Proof that you have purchased medical insurance that covers medical emergencies in the amount of at least EUR 30,000 for the entire period of your stay in France. The insurance policy for France can be easily purchased online on the Europ Assistance website Travel insurance policies issued by Europ Assistance are accepted by French embassies/consulates around the world.
- Proof of residence. Evidence showing where you will live for the duration of your stay in the Schengen area. It can be
1. Hotel/hostel reservation. The name, full address, phone number and e-mail address for the entire stay in France.
2. A rental agreement. If you are renting an apartment in France.
- A letter from the tour organizer. If you are traveling with a travel agency.
- Proof of financial solvency. Proof that you have enough money to support yourself throughout your stay in the Schengen area. This can be
1. Bank account statement.
2. Sponsorship letter. When another person will financially sponsor your trip to the Schengen area. It is also often called a statement of support.
3. A combination of both documents.
- Confirmation of an invitation from a relative/friend living in France inviting them to come and visit you.
1. Letter of invitation from the host party in France with a copy of the passport and/or residence permit in France
2. Attestation d'accueil. This is a residence/hospitality certificate issued by the relevant French authorities in the city of residence of your host in France. To obtain this certificate, your host in France must submit the following documents:
- Identity card.
- A document confirming his/her status as the owner, tenant or resident of the apartment in France where he/she will be hosting you.
- Proof of the last place of residence (water, electricity, telephone bill or rent receipt).
- Any document confirming his/her financial resources (three previous salary certificates, the most recent tax return) and his/her obligation to financially support the foreigner if he/she lacks them.
- Any document confirming their ability to accommodate you in accordance with French standard living conditions (in terms of space, safety, hygiene and comfort).
- Issuance of the certificate costs 30 euros, which are paid in regular tax stamps.
To apply for a tourist/visitor visa to France, just follow the steps below:
- Apply in advance: You must apply at least 3 weeks before your travel date, which means you should make an appointment in advance. In many French embassies, waiting times for an appointment can last for weeks or months.
- Find the nearest French embassy/consulate and make an appointment. If there is no French embassy/consulate in your country, you should find a French embassy in a neighboring country that is responsible for receiving Schengen visa applications. Similarly, the embassy of another Schengen country may accept visa applications on behalf of France, or visa applications may be outsourced to a visa application center.
- Fill out the application form accurately and truthfully. When applying for a French tourist visa, you will be asked to fill out a visa application form. Depending on the application method, this can be done online or by hand. Regardless of how you fill out the application form, you must submit two signed copies to the visa application center.
- Pay the visa fee. The embassy, consulate or visa application center will tell you how to pay the visa fee. You can often do this online or by bank transfer. You should take a confirmation of payment and attach it to the rest of your documents.
- Prepare for your visa interview. Familiarize yourself with the common questions asked in French tourist visa applications to be prepared for your visa interview.
- Check the availability of all documents before submitting your application.
- Submit your application on the day of your visa interview. Make sure you are on time, not too late and not too early.
How much does a French tourist/visitor visa cost?
A French tourist/visitor visa costs 80 euros for adults. Children aged 6 to 12 must pay 40 euros. Citizens of countries that have visa facilitation agreements with the EU must pay 35 euros.
NOTE: The Schengen visa fee is subject to change at any time and if your visa application is rejected, your money will not be refunded.
A transit Schengen visa is a permit for persons who need to enter the territory of the Schengen area only to change their vehicle.
Depending on how you travel (by plane or by sea), there are two types of French transit visas:
- Transit Schengen visa for the airport
- Schengen transit visa for seafarers
They have different requirements and validity periods.
The Schengen visa for airport transit is a permit intended for travelers who need to make a connection at a Schengen airport. It allows them to stop and wait in the international transit area of a Schengen airport for their flight to their destination country.
However, this visa does not allow its holder to leave the international transit zone of the airport, even if the traveler has to wait all night.
Who needs a transit visa to the French airport?
You need an airport transit visa to change flights at a French airport if you are from the following countries:
- Angola
- Bolivia
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Republic of Congo
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Guinea
- Haiti
- India
- Small
- Mauritania
- Nepal
- Philippines****.
- Russia***
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkey
- Palestinians****
*A transit visa is required even for holders of a diplomatic passport of Guinea.
**A transit visa is not required for seafarers who hold a seafarer's identity card in accordance with the International Labor Organization (ILO) Seafarers' Identity Card Convention No. 108 (1958) or No. 185 (2003), the Convention on the Facilitation of International Carriage by Sea (FAL Convention) and French national legislation.
***A transit visa is required for persons traveling from an airport in any of these countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Turkey or Egypt.
**** Transit visa is required only for holders of Palestinian refugee travel documents.
Documents required to obtain a transit visa to the French airport:
- Passport or travel document (recognized by the French authorities, valid for no more than 10 years, valid for at least 3 months of the visa validity period, undamaged and with at least 2 blank pages) + photocopy of the passport data page.
- Duly completed application form for a short-term visa to France;
- Two recently taken passport-size (biometric) photographs.
- Visa or other authorization document for entry to the final destination (valid) + photocopy.
- Booking a round-trip flight.
- An official cover letter from the employer stating that the reason for traveling to the final destination is related to the candidate's work (signed and stamped) + a full travel itinerary if traveling for work.
- A cover letter written by the candidate, stating the reason for traveling to the final destination - if traveling for private matters.
- A completed list of children or family members who live outside the candidate's home country (if applicable).
How to apply for a Schengen transit visa
- Fill out the application form.
- Gather the necessary documents;
- Make an appointment.
- Attend the appointed time to submit the necessary documents.
- Pay the fee. The fee for a transit visa is 60 euros. However, you should check the list of visa fees, as you may have to pay a lower fee or none at all.
Where to apply for a Schengen transit visa
You have to apply for a Schengen transit visa at the visa office of the country where the airport/seaport where you will change to another flight/ship is located. Such a representative body may be
- Embassy of the country where the airport/seaport is located
- consulate
- A third-party visa center to which the country has outsourced the visa application process
- Embassy/consulate of another country with which this country has concluded an agreement on outsourcing visa services
How much does a transit visa to a French airport cost?
Applicants will have to pay 80 euros after applying for a visa at the French airport.
Pets imported from third countries (non-EU countries) must be declared and presented to customs for document and identity verification before they can be allowed into the European Union. Importing an undeclared animal may result in a fine and confiscation of the animal.
Only the following animals accompanying the traveler are considered pets according to veterinary regulations and, as such, are allowed under the conditions set out below:
- dogs (including guide dogs), cats, ferrets;
- reptiles;
- amphibians;
- invertebrates (except for bees and crustaceans);
- rodents and domestic rabbits;
- ornamental fish;
- all types of birds (except poultry).
All other animals (including monkeys) are excluded and must be presented for veterinary examination at a border inspection post when entering France.
The person accompanying the animal must be either the owner or a person who is responsible for it on behalf of the owner.
Customs authorities carry out the inspection in the context of non-commercial transportation involving no more than five specimens. If these conditions are not met, the veterinary authorities are responsible for the inspection of the animals concerned at the border inspection post. A Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED) is issued after the inspection is completed and must be submitted with the customs declaration.
PLEASE NOTE: if traveling in connection with exhibitions, competitions or sporting events, the maximum number of domestic carnivorous animals (dogs, cats, ferrets) may exceed five if the animals are over six months old and have written proof of registration;
Restrictions and bans on the import of animals
- There is a ban on the import of certain attack dogs into France. These are category 1 dogs without a pedigree recognized by the French Ministry of Agriculture, belonging to the following breeds: Staffordshire Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier (pit bull), Mastiff (bull) and Tosa.
- Special conditions and restrictions apply to protected species, especially certain birds and reptiles, according to the Washington Convention - the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
- There are special conditions for importing such animals to other EU member states. You should consult the embassies of these countries in your third country of residence.
For more information, please follow the link https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/travel-coming-france-your-pet.
When imported into France:
When entering the territory of France from countries that are not members of the European Union and that are not part of the French customs territory (e.g. French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Martin), you have the right not to declare goods that are imported without payment of customs duties and customs charges, in limited quantities, and that meet the following requirements:
- You have the right to carry (import) only those goods that you carry in your personal luggage with you.
- Non-commercial goods for personal use, consumption or gifts, goods purchased in the EU or other countries with receipts or invoices that include VAT;
- The total value of the goods must not exceed the amounts indicated below in the equivalent in euros (traveler aged 15 years and older):
1. in the case of transportation of goods by any means of transport, except for air and sea - 300 €;
2. in case of transportation by air or sea - 430 €;
3. for children under the age of 15 in the amount of up to € 150.
Duty-free import of cigarettes - 200 pcs, spirits - 1 liter, wine - 2 liters, perfume - 50 g, coffee - 500 g, food: fish - 2 kg, caviar - 250 g, animal products - 1 kg, new items or food for personal consumption - up to a maximum of 300 euros (150 euros for children under 15 years of age) is allowed.
PLEASE NOTE that the country allows the import of cash at the rate of 10 thousand euros per family, not per person. The amount does not change regardless of the number of family members.
It is prohibited to import gold bullion, plates and coins without the permission of the country's bank, as well as illegally produced printed materials.
The following are subject to mandatory customs control when exported: Weapons, antiquities and art, gold and precious metals.
