site en français Do you need a visa ?
Every foreigner entering and staying on French territory must have a valid entering and visiting visa, unless this obligation has been waved.
Waving on a visa depends on :
- The nationality of the foreigner
- The possible possession of a Visitor’s permit to enter France or one of the Shengen convention states.
- The length of the stay
- In which part of the French Republic travel is planned
Concerning Visas, the law divides the territory of the French republic into categories, where distinct rules apply:
- The European territory of France, which is part of the “Schengen space”
- The overseas French Departments (Reunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana)
- Overseas territories: French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Mayotte, Austral and Antarctic territories.
1. France’s European territory
France’s European territory is part of the « Schengen space » which includes other’s European Union or Associated States: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Greece, Island, Luxemburg, Norway, The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden.
1.1. The short stay (less than 90 days) in the “Schengen space”
The short stay is a stay in the “Schengen space” that is less than 90 days or a succession of stays which totals less than 90 days each 6 month period.
For the short stays, the European legislation establishes the list of countries whose citizens don’t need a visa to get into the “Schengen Space”
Visas are waived for:
- Citizens from Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, South Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, Salvador, The United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New-Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Saint-Marin, Saint-Siege, Singapore, Uruguay, Venezuela;
- Passport holders from the administrative region of Hong-Kong (Popular Republic of China) and the administrative region of Macao (Popular Republic of China)
- Holder’s of a visitor’s permit that has been delivered by a State that put into practice Schengen’s agreements.
- Owners of a title of travel that has been delivered by a State that put into practice Schengen’s agreements.
1.2. The long stay (more than 90 days in France)
Citizens of the following countries are exempted from entrance and long stay visa: States which are members of the European Union and the European Economic Space (EES), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra.
2.Overseas departments (DOM)
- Réunion
- Guyana, Guadeloupe and Martinique (that are the three departments of America)
2.1. Short stay
A short stay is a stay less than 90 days in an overseas department.
Visas are waived for:
- Citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, South Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, Salvador, The United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New-Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Saint-Marin, Saint-Siege, Singapore, Uruguay, Venezuela;
- Passport holders from the administrative region of Hong-Kong (Popular Republic of China) and the administrative region of Macao (Popular Republic of China)
- Holders of a valid French visitor’s permit
2.1. Long stay
Citizens of the following countries are exempted from entrance and long stay visa: States which are members of the European Union and the European Economic Space (EES), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra.
3. Other overseas territories of the French Republic
Il s’agit de :
- French Polynesia
- New Caledonia
- Wallis and Futuna
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Mayotte
- French Austral and Antarctic territories
3.1. Short stay
A short stay is a stay less than 90 days in an overseas department.
Visas are waived for:
Citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Brunei, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, South Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, Salvador, The United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong-Kong, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New-Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Saint-Marin, Saint-Siege, Singapore, Uruguay, Venezuela.
3.2. Long stay
Citizens of the following countries are exempted from entrance and long stay visa.: States which are members of the European Union and the European Economic Space (EES), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra