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 Algerian Citizens Need a Visa to Enter France?

Yes, Algerian passport holders must obtain a Schengen visa to enter any European country in the Schengen Zone.

However, there are some categories of people residing in Algeria that are exempt from the visa requirement, as follows:

• Nationals of Schengen countries living in Algeria.
• Nationals of countries that have established visa-free regimes* with the EU.
• Algerian citizens that hold dual citizenship:

1. Algerian citizenship and of one of the Schengen member states (These persons will have to travel with their European passport).

2. Algerian citizenship and one of the countries with a visa-free regime with the Schengen Zone (These people will have to travel with their Schengen-visa-exempt-country passport).

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:

1. Choose the type of French visa you need according to your purpose of entry.
2. Find the French visa authority in your country;
3. Fill out the French visa application form.
4. Gather the necessary documents for a short-term visa to France.
5. Schedule your visa interview.
6. Attend the interview at the relevant French embassy/consulate/visa center.

How much does a French Schengen visa cost?

The French Schengen visa costs 90 euros for adults and 45 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 90 euros for adults. Children aged 6 to 12 must pay 45 euros. Citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus must pay 35 euros, and citizens of Cabo Verde must pay 67.50 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.