If you are willing to visit Monaco, you need to find out whether you need a visa for entry. Since the Republic of Monaco does not have a visa system, you will need to apply for a French visa at the closest embassy/consulate of France in order to enter Monaco.
Do you need a visa to enter Monaco?
Since Monaco does not have its own visa system, French visa requirements apply here. Therefore, if you need a visa to visit France, you will also need a visa to visit Monaco.
If you wish to visit Monaco for a period of up to 90 days and are a citizen of one of the listed below countries, you do not need a visa for entry to this country.
● If you are a citizen of a country that has a visa-free regime in the Schengen Area;
● Citizens of the EU/EEA/Switzerland and their family members.
All others have to apply for a visa to Monaco.
Requirements and types of Monaco visas
There are two groups of Monaco visas:
● Short-term visas for Monaco;
● Long-term visas for Monaco.
Short-term visas are considered Schengen visas and they are grouped according to the purpose of the visit:
● Tourism.
● Cultural visit.
● Visit related to sports activities.
● Official visit.
● Medical reasons.
● Visiting family or friends.
● Business.
● Research.
● Transit.
List of required documents for a visa to Monaco
In order to apply for a visa to Monaco, you need to provide the listed below documents to the nearest French embassy/consulate in your country:
● A valid passport. Your passport has to be valid for at least 3 months after the return date. Add copies of previous visas (if available);
● Two photos. Photos have to be taken in the span of the last six months; they have to be in color and taken on a white background;
● Application form. You must fill out the Monaco visa application form completely and with honest answers. However, in order to complete the form, first, you need to download it online, print it, fill it out and sign it at the end.
● Commission payment receipt. You can complete the payment of the visa application form at the embassy/consulate of Monaco when you submit your documents. Be sure to include the payment receipt with the other required documents.
● Medical insurance. A document confirming that you have a valid health insurance. Your health insurance must be valid throughout the Schengen area and cover at least 30 000 euros in case of emergency medical care.
● Bank account statement. This is a document issued by your bank and it must confirm that you are financially stable, and able to provide for yourself during your stay in Monaco.
● Cover Letter. Your cover letter is an introduction to the embassy/consulate. The cover letter must explain the purpose of your visit, how long you plan to stay, which countries you plan to visit, etc.
● Proof of residence. Proof of residence is a document that confirms that you have a place to live during your stay in Monaco. It can be a lease agreement, an invitation letter, a hotel reservation, etc.
● Invitation letter (if available). An invitation letter is a document issued by a family member or friend living in Monaco that they will sponsor your trip or accommodate you.
● Certificate of criminal record. This is a document issued by the police of your country and it must confirm that you do not pose a threat to the Republic of Monaco.
● Flight route. This is the document that shows your flight plan, it should contain the date and time of the flight, the return ticket, the airline of the plane, etc.
The visa application process
You need to apply for visa for Monaco in the nearest consulate or embassy of France, following these steps:
● Contact the nearest embassy/consulate of France and book an appointment. Be sure to book your visit in advance of your trip – at least two weeks before.
● Prepare and submit all necessary documents to the French embassy/consulate. Make sure you collect all the necessary documents and submit them to the nearest French embassy/consulate in your country.
● Wait for a reply. Within ten working days, you will receive a text or email from the French embassy/consulate responsible for your Monaco visa application. Then you can go to France, and through France enter Monaco.
Keep in mind that any false information, or lack of documents may result in visa refusal.
Monaco visa fee
The fee for issuing a visa in Monaco is:
● 80 euros for a standard visa.
● 40 euros for children under 12 years old.
As Monaco visa applications are made through the French Embassy, the fee is the same as for a France visa.
You are exempt from paying the visa fee if you are:
● A child 0-6 years old.
● A researcher who travels for a scientific purpose.
● A student who travels with a school.
● EU/EEA/Swiss citizen. Then you and your family members will not need to pay for the visa application.
Visa issuance period
The visa processing period in Monaco is about ten working days.
However, processing time depends on several factors, such as:
● When you submit your application form.
● Your age.
● Where you live, etc.
Make sure you submit your application at least two weeks before your travel date to avoid travel disruption if processing is delayed.
How long can you stay in Monaco with a visa?
The validity period of a visa in Monaco depends on the type of visa you are applying for:
● If you apply for a short-term visa, its validity period is three months.
● If you apply for a long-term visa, its validity period is one year.
Extension of a visa to Monaco
If you need to stay in Monaco for longer than three months, you can apply for an extension.
However, extensions are granted only in exceptional cases:
● You have a good personal reason.
● Your country is facing political problems.
● Force majeure or humanitarian reasons that prevent you from leaving Monaco.
What can you do if your application was denied?
If you were refused a visa to Monaco, you can:
● Apply again for the same visa.
● Apply for a visa for a different country of the Schengen Area;
● Appeal the refusal. You can write an appeal letter to the Monaco embassy/consulate that refused your visa.
Your Monaco visa can be refused for many reasons, such as:
● Your passport is not in good condition or is invalid.
● Some documents are missing.
● You did not arrive at the visa appointment on time.
● You provided false information.
Medical insurance
Insurance medicine is widespread in the country. It is possible to be insured both in France and in Monaco, but only in institutions that have received the appropriate license from the government of Monaco. On the territory of Monaco, it is possible to get insurance in the state institution Casses Sociales de Monaco (for residents) or in private institutions.
The insurance must be valid throughout the territory of the member states, and cover the entire time of the visa applicant's stay or transit. The insurance should be valid only for the duration of the stay, not for the duration of the visa.
The insurance must cover medical expenses, including medical repatriation, emergency medical care and/or urgent medical care, and has to have the minimum coverage required is 30 000 euros.
Transit through the territory of Monaco is not provided.
Alcohol and cigarettes
From a European country (not a member of the EU) it is allowed to freely import cigarettes – up to 200, cigars – 50, tobacco – 250 g.
Alcoholic beverages
Up to 1 liter, wine – up to 2 liters.
Jewelry and precious things
Expensive jewelry must be declared when entering the country.
Artistic, cultural and historical valuable things, weapons and ammunition are prohibited for export. Payment means for import and export are unlimited.
Cash and securities worth more than 9 000 euros must be declared.
A duty of 6-7% of their value is charged for the export of goods for a total amount of 7.5 thousand euros or more.
It is also allowed to import coffee beans up to 0.5 kg, perfumes up to 50 ml, toilet water up to 0.25 l, as well as items and personal belongings without charging customs duty.
Sanitary control. When importing medicines for personal use, it is necessary to have an appropriate doctor's prescription, no other permits are required.
Phytosanitary control. Plants, animals and products of plant origin must be presented to representatives of the quarantine service for inspection.
Veterinary control. Animals must be vaccinated, which must be confirmed by an appropriate certificate in French, issued no later than 5 days from the time of entry.
Monaco is a pet-friendly destination.
When importing pets, it is important to keep the following things in mind:
● The first step is to microchip your pet with an ISO-compliant 15-digit pet microchip.
● All pets must have proof of current rabies vaccination.
● A rabies titer test should be performed at least 30 days after rabies vaccination. All samples must be processed in an approved laboratory. If the test results are within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Monaco 3 calendar months after the date of blood collection.
● According to the non-commercial regulations, the transportation of the pet should not involve purchase, sale or transfer of ownership rights by the pet’s owner or their legal representative.
● A licensed veterinarian in the country of origin must complete the EU non-commercial certificate for Monaco within 5 days before travel.
● In case of commercial transportation, a licensed veterinarian in the country of origin must complete the EU Commercial Certificate for Monaco within 48 hours before travel.
● All pets must enter Monaco via Côte d’Azur airport in Nice, France. They can be imported as part of the registered luggage, in the plane cabin or as air cargo.
● Pets should enter Monaco directly through France or transit through a different EU-member state. ● If your pet transits trough a country with high rabies levels, you will need to provide a declaration stating that your pet did not have contact with any animals with a rabies infection and was safe in the plane or the airport.
● Pets must not have symptoms of diseases that can be transferred to humans during an examination when entering France.
● The following breeds are not permitted to be imported to Monaco (category 1): Staffordshire terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier (Pitbull terriers), Mastiff (Boerbull), Tosa without pedigree registration.
● The following breeds can be imported into Monaco with certain restrictions (category 2): Rottweiler, Staffordshire terrier and American Staffordshire terrier, Tosa Inu. These dogs must be registered with a pedigree which is recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Non-pedigree and cross-breed dogs with “an appearance of a Rottweiller” are also included into this category.
● Owners of breeds of the category 2 have to be over 18 and in good standing. Dogs must be registered with local authorities. The pet must be muzzled all the time and it is not allowed to enter public gatherings or places with children.
For more detailed information, follow the link below:
https://www.airpets.in/blogs/relocating-pets-to-monaco
https://www.pettravel.com/immigration/Monaco.cfm
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