Getting a visa

Several factors determine whether a visa is waived:

• the nationality of the foreign national;

the holding of a residence document in France or another country adhering to the Schengen Agreement;

  the length of stay;
  and which part of the territory of the French Republic the foreign national is to visit.As far as visas are concerned, legislation divides the territory of the French Republic into the following three sections, where different regulations apply:

  the European territory of France, which is part of the Schengen area;
  the territory of Overseas Departments (Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana);
  Overseas territorial communities: French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Mayotte, French Southern and Antarctic Territories.

1. The European territory of France

The European territory of France is part of the Schengen area. The Schengen area includes the territory of the following European Union countries and associated countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

1.1. Short stays (under 90 days in the Schengen area)

A short stay is a stay in the Schengen area under 90 days or multiple stays totalling less than 90 days in a period of six months.

For short stays, European regulations determine the list of countries from which citizens are not required to have a visa to enter the Schengen area.

A visa is waived for:

  citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela;
  holders of passports from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Special Administrative Region of Macao of the People’s Republic of China;
  holders of a valid residence document in France;
  holders of a residence document issued by a country which adheres to the Schengen Agreement;
  holders of a travel document issued by a country which adheres to the Schengen Agreement.

1.2. Long stays (over 90 days in France)

Citizens of the following countries are not required to have a long-stay visa: Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra.

2. Overseas Departments (DOM)
  Réunion
  French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique (the three French Departments of the Americas)

2.1. Short stays

A short stay is a stay under 90 days in an Overseas Department.

A visa is waived for:

  citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela;
  holders of passports from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China;
  holders of a valid residence document in France.

2.1. Long stays

Citizens of the following countries are not required to have a long-stay visa: Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra.

3. Other territories of the French Republic located overseasThey include:

  French Polynesia
  New Caledonia
  Wallis and Futuna
  Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  Mayotte
  French Southern and Antarctic Territories

3.1. Short stays

A short stay is a stay under 90 days.

A visa is waived for the citizens of the following countries:
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Bolivie, Brunei, Bermuda, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay.

3.2. Long stays

Citizens of the following countries are not required to have a long-stay visa: Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Monaco and Andorra.