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Destination · Europe · Schengen area

France visa requirements (2026)

Of 198 passports, 93 can travel to France without arranging a visa in advance. 0 can apply online for an e-Visa and 105 need a visa from an embassy or visa centre.

Who can visit France: passports by requirement

How to enter France: official routes

Checked November 2026

⚠️ The official ETIAS site says it is the only EU website that takes ETIAS applications directly and warns that intermediary sites collect your data and charge extra; ETIAS is not yet accepting applications, so any site selling one now is not official. Use only the official links below.

Official route

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)

Fee
EUR 20 once the system starts (raised from the originally planned EUR 7); applicants under 18 or over 70 pay nothing
Valid for
3 years, or until the passport used to apply expires if that is sooner; covers multiple trips of up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Processing
Most decisions within minutes; some applications can take up to 30 days
Status
Not yet live. As of November 2026 the official ETIAS site says the system is not in operation and no applications are being taken; the EU says it will give the start date several months ahead. No start date was found on the official pages checked. Applies to visa-exempt travellers only.
Official site →
Official route

Schengen short-stay visa (type C), for nationalities that need a visa

Fee
EUR 90 for adults; EUR 45 for children aged 6 to under 12; free under 6. Some nationalities pay reduced rates under EU agreements (for example EUR 35; EUR 67.50 for Cabo Verde). External service-provider charges are extra.
Processing
Normally decided within 15 calendar days; can be extended to 45 days. Apply no earlier than 6 months and normally at least 15 days before travel.
Official site →

At the border

  • Passport (or travel document) must have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.
  • Visa-free and visa holders alike may stay no more than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together.
  • Entry/Exit System: on your first crossing since EES started, border officers record your passport data, a facial image and fingerprints; passports are no longer stamped since 10 April 2026.
  • Border police may ask for proof of accommodation, a return ticket (or money to buy one), funds and travel medical insurance covering hospital costs and repatriation.
  • France sets funds at EUR 65 per day with a hotel booking or EUR 120 per day without one; guests staying with a private host need a town-hall-validated 'attestation d'accueil' plus at least EUR 32.50 per day.
  • Visa applicants need travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area with at least EUR 30,000 cover, including emergency care and repatriation.

Recent changes

  • October 2025: the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) began a phased rollout at external borders on 12 October 2025.
  • April 2026: EES became fully operational on 10 April 2026 and replaced manual passport stamping for short-stay non-EU visitors.
  • July 2025: the European Commission set the future ETIAS fee at EUR 20 instead of EUR 7; ETIAS itself has not launched.

Official source: France-Visas (official visa website of the French government) · Not yet confirmed officially: France-Visas own warning about look-alike visa sites (not checked; scamWarning uses the EU ETIAS statement instead), France-Visas FAQ figure of EUR 90 seen only in a search excerpt; fee confirmed separately on EU and German official pages, Minimum insurance amount (EUR 30,000) not stated on the France-Visas pages read; it is the Schengen-wide rule confirmed on the German mission page

Do I need a visa for France?

Entry requirement Choose a passport and a destination.

Popular passports

PassportRequirementStay
United States Visa-free 90 d
United Kingdom Visa-free 90 d
India Visa required –
Philippines Visa required –
Nigeria Visa required –
Pakistan Visa required –
Canada Visa-free 90 d
Australia Visa-free 90 d
China Visa required –
Germany Visa-free –

Access by passport region

Passports that enter visa-free, with a visa on arrival or an eTA.

RegionPassports
Europe 43/45
Asia 12/50
Africa 2/54
North America 18/23
South America 8/12
Oceania 10/14

France is in the Schengen area: visa-free visitors may stay 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries. Calculate your remaining days.

Passports that can enter France visa-free

93 passports

Passports that need a visa for France

105 passports

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit France?

It depends on your passport. 93 passports can enter France visa-free, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 need an eTA, 0 can apply for an e-Visa online and 105 need a visa from an embassy or visa centre.

Which countries can enter France without a visa?

93 passports can enter France visa-free, including Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados and others.

Is France part of the Schengen area?

Yes. Short stays in France count toward the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared across all Schengen countries.

Holding a France passport? See where the France passport can travel visa-free.

Data last updated February 2026. Rules can change at short notice and may differ by purpose of travel. Confirm with the embassy or official immigration website of France before you book.