Visa Requirements for French Citizens

Visa requirements for French nationals are the rules and regulations regarding the paperwork that citizens of France need in order to enter foreign countries. Each sovereign state has its own visa policy for French visitors.

The French passport is one of the most powerful passports in the world, currently ranked joint 6th by the Henley Passport Index. It permits citizens of the French Republic to travel to over 180 countries without applying for a visa in advance.

Prior to embarking on a journey to a foreign country, it is important for nationals of France to check the visa requirements of the state or territory they plan to visit.

Different types of visa may be required for different purposes of visit or length of stay. For example, short-term tourist visas may be available online, while long-term work visas are usually only available from an embassy.

Electronic visas (eVisas) are available to French travelers for many countries. These can be obtained via an online application. Electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) are similar digital systems, but are visa waivers rather than visas. Citizens of France can obtain ETAs to visit a number of destinations.

French nationals must apply for a visa in person at an embassy in order to visit many countries for any reason, including for short-term leisure trips.

Embassy visas are a requirement for French passport holders who want to live, work, or study in the majority of foreign states and territories.

Visas on arrival are available for French citizens visiting around 20 different destinations. These can be obtained by applying at the border of the country or territory, which can involve long waits.

French nationals may travel to over 110 different destinations without any visa requirements, using only their passport to enter the country. They also enjoy the right of freedom of movement, including the right to live and work, in any EU member state visa-free.

List of Visa Countries for French Passport Holders

Although they enjoy visa exemption for a large number of countries, French passport holders must meet the relevant visa requirements in order to travel to many other destinations.

Citizens of France can apply online for either an eVisa or ETA to visit around 30 countries and territories.

In order to visit over 70 countries for any reason or length of stay, French travelers must apply for a visa at an embassy in person. An embassy visa is also required to live, work, and/or study in most foreign countries.

Citizens of France can obtain a visa on arrival at the border of certain countries, although this can mean standing in line for a length of time.

It is essential that all French travelers obtain the correct visa or travel authorization for the country or territory they plan to visit, for the reason they wish to go there (tourism, business, etc), and for the period of time they plan to stay. Some countries issue separate tourist visas, business visas, transit visas, and other types of visas and permits.

See below all of the destinations for which French passport holders must obtain a visa or travel authorization in order to visit.

Electronic Travel Visa Authorization

Electronic visas or e-Visas are a type of digital visa that can be obtained via an online application. French passport holders are eligible for eVisas for a number of countries.

These online systems enable eligible travelers to get a visa from the comfort of their own home without having to go to an embassy. The ease of the application process and the improved security have led many countries around the world to introduce eVisas.

Electronic Travel Authorizations or ETAs are a similar concept. These are digital visa waivers for travelers who do not require a visa, but are required to register their details online with immigration authorities before visiting a destination.

There are eVisas and ETAs available for French visitors for around 30 different countries.

The terms of ETAs and eVisas vary depending on the destination. For many countries, they grant the holder multiple entries; however, they only permit a single entry in other cases.

The maximum length of time a French national can spend in a foreign country with an eVisa or ETA also varies. Some permit visits for only tourism, while others additionally allow business visits and transit through the destination state.

Find all the countries that have eVisas and ETAs available for French passport holders in the list below.

Visa On Arrival

A visa on arrival for French passport holders is a visa that can be applied for at the international border of the destination country upon arrival, rather than in advance.

Citizens of France can obtain a visa on arrival for around 20 countries worldwide listed below. Also some countries that have online visas available also offer visas on arrival as an alternative. Online visas are generally recommended, as applying in advance avoids the need to wait in line to apply at border control.

A visa on arrival can be obtained by completing an application form at a border control checkpoint, which may include certain airports and/or land border crossings, depending on the country.

Obtaining a visa on arrival can be time-consuming, as there are frequently long lines at the border to apply, leading to lengthy waits for travelers. For this reason, it is advisable to apply for an eVisa in advance if this is an option for the destination country.

The conditions of a visa on arrival depend on the country. Different destinations have varying rules about the maximum number of days a French citizen can stay with a visa on arrival.

In some cases, visas on arrival grant multiple entries to the destination state; in others, they only permit a single entry.

Visas on arrival usually only cover certain purposes of visit. For some countries, they are strictly for tourism, while for others they allow French nationals to enter for business purposes.

See the list below for all of the different countries and territories that offer a visa on arrival for nationals of France.

Bangladesh
Burkina Faso
Comoros
Gabon
Gambia
Guinea-Bissau
Lebanon
Mauritania
Mozambique
Somalia
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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Embassy Visa Required

An embassy visa for French nationals is a visa that must be acquired in advance of a trip to a foreign country or territory by applying at an overseas diplomatic mission (an embassy or consulate).

Embassy visas are a requirement for French passport holders to order to travel to around 75 destinations for any purpose or length of visit.

Travelers from France may need to make an appointment to submit a visa application at the embassies of certain countries. In some cases, the application form must be downloaded and filled in before taking it to the embassy to submit it. In most cases, supporting documentation, such as the individual’s passport, will be required.

Work visas, residence visas, and student visas for the majority of countries can only be obtained from an embassy. This is also the case for some destinations that French passport holders can visit visa-free for the purpose of tourism.

Short-term tourist visas issued by embassies can be valid for a single entry or for multiple entries, depending on the country. The length of time a citizen of France can spend at the destination also varies.

See the list below for all the countries that require French nationals to apply for an embassy visa before traveling for any length of time or purpose of visit.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Algeria
American Samoa
Anguilla
Antarctica
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bonaire
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Burundi
Cameroon
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Congo
Cook Islands
Cuba
Curacao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guernsey
Iraq
Isle of Man
Jersey
Liberia
Libya
Mali
Martinique
Mayotte
Montserrat
Nauru
New Caledonia
Niger
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Pitcairn Islands
Reunion
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Seychelles
Sint Maarten
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Syrian Arab Republic
Tokelau
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen

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Visa Not Required

French nationals enjoy visa exemption for entry to over 110 different countries and territories, meaning they can visit without obtaining a visa or electronic travel authorization.

In most cases, French passport holders can only enter these countries for a certain length of time without a visa. This can vary from 14 days to one (1) year, depending on the destination.

Visa exemption for French citizens only applies for touristic and leisure visits for some countries, while for others, business trips and transit are also permitted without a visa.

However, in order to live and work in most visa-exempt countries, French passport holders must apply for the relevant visas and permits from an embassy.

The exception to this is the European Union (EU). As a member state of the EU, France shares a policy of freedom of movement with the 26 other countries. This gives French nationals the right to travel to, live in, and work in all parts of the EU without applying for a residence visa or work visa beforehand.

Check the list below for countries that citizens of the French Republic can visit without a visa.