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FranceEntry and visas

France entry rules

Citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Serbia and Australia do not need to arrange a visa for France in advance: the stay is up to 90 days. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye need a visa from a consulate before the trip.

Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026.

Entry rules by passport

For a tourist trip. Checked on 8 October 2026 against the official sources listed below the table.

The 90-in-180-days limit counts across the whole Schengen area, not France alone. ETIAS is not running yet: once it starts, visa-free passports will need an online authorisation before travel.

Sources: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Annexes I and II · Service-public.fr — entry of EU citizens to France · European Commission — ETIAS · EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2026/496 on Georgian official passports

What is checked at the border

  • Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure date.
  • Funds for your stay: €65 (≈ $73) per day with a hotel booking, €120 (≈ $134) per day without one. If you stay with a private host under an invitation certified by the town hall, at least €32.50 (≈ $36) per day.
  • Accommodation for the whole trip (a hotel booking or an invitation certified by the town hall) and a return ticket, or the money to buy one.
  • Medical insurance for your whole stay in France with cover of at least €30,000 (≈ $33,600).
  • At the border you are registered in the Entry/Exit System (EES): a facial image and/or fingerprints are taken. This applies whether or not you need a visa.

How to extend your stay

An issued visa can be extended: free of charge for force majeure or humanitarian reasons, or for €30 (≈ $34) for serious personal reasons. In France you apply at the prefecture where you are staying.

Overstay penalties

If you stay beyond your visa or more than 3 months after a visa-free entry, the prefect may order you to leave France (OQTF), usually within 30 days. If no time to leave is given, a ban on returning of up to 5 years is added automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for France?
Citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Serbia and Australia enter without a visa. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye get a visa from a consulate before the trip.
How long can I stay in France without a visa?
90 days in any 180 days for citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, the UK, the US, Canada, Serbia and Australia.
Can the stay be extended?
An issued visa can be extended: free of charge for force majeure or humanitarian reasons, or for €30 (≈ $34) for serious personal reasons. In France you apply at the prefecture where you are staying.
What happens if I overstay?
If you stay beyond your visa or more than 3 months after a visa-free entry, the prefect may order you to leave France (OQTF), usually within 30 days. If no time to leave is given, a ban on returning of up to 5 years is added automatically.
What is checked on entry to France?
Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure date. Funds for your stay: €65 (≈ $73) per day with a hotel booking, €120 (≈ $134) per day without one. If you stay with a private host under an invitation certified by the town hall, at least €32.50 (≈ $36) per day. Accommodation for the whole trip (a hotel booking or an invitation certified by the town hall) and a return ticket, or the money to buy one. Medical insurance for your whole stay in France with cover of at least €30,000 (≈ $33,600). At the border you are registered in the Entry/Exit System (EES): a facial image and/or fingerprints are taken. This applies whether or not you need a visa.
How can I stay in France longer?
A visa-free stay does not give the right to live in the country. A longer stay needs a long-term visa or a residence permit: salaried employment visa, talent Passport for skilled professionals, investors and company founders, entrepreneur / liberal profession visa, student visa, long-stay visitor visa (no work allowed), family reunification.

Sources

Checked on 8 October 2026. Entry rules change: check them on the consulate website before you travel.