Visa Requirements for French Citizens

Visa requirements for French citizens are applicable for French citizens' rules and conditions that are in force when crossing a border with any foreign country.

A visa is a permit to enter a country and is issued for the temporary stay of foreign nationals abroad. To be granted a visa, the applicant must meet the specific criteria pre-established by the government of the country they want to visit.

There are a couple of visas that French citizens can apply for. These include:

Embassy visas

Embassy visas are granted to French citizens who want to stay in the country they're visiting for both short and long-term trips. Embassy visas are issued by Embassies and make it possible for French citizens to go on vacation, handle business affairs, transit, work, study, or even live abroad.

The purpose of the planned trip must correlate with an appropriate Embassy visa type selected. These are the most difficult visas to obtain and are luckily required upon visiting over 20 destinations from France.

eVisas

An eVisa is electronically granted by the country of destination and makes it possible for French citizens to enjoy leisure, professional, or transit purposes. eVisas are the easiest visas to obtain since the whole process can be complicated online.

The approved documents are then delivered to applicants via email, usually within 3 business days. French passport holders can enjoy using the eVisa system upon visiting over 40 destinations.

Visas on Arrival

A visa on arrival is usually granted to those who want to stay abroad for short-term trips relating to leisure, business, or transit.

This visa is granted upon arriving at the border and is currently offered for French citizens by over 40 destinations.

Visa-free entrance for French citizens

French citizens enjoy visa-free entrance to over a hundred different destinations. Visa-free travel is perfect for all short-term trips that relate to tourism, business, or transit. Thus, going on vacation, visiting friends and family, going on a business trip, or simply taking a layover abroad.

Further information on visa requirements as well as lists of countries for each visa type required from French citizens is available below.

Electronic visa

An eVisa is an electronic visa that allows travelers to enter a country without having to apply for a paper visa. It's often cheaper and easier than purchasing a paper visa, and it can be obtained in less time than the traditional process.

An eVisa works just like any other passport stamp: it attaches electronically to your passport when you get through immigration at the airport or border crossing. If not, it comes in a simple PDF form and needs to be printed.

List of countries that offer eVisas for French citizens

Over 40 destinations offer an eVisa option for French citizens making their visits abroad much more effortless.

The process of applying for the eVisa can be done online and takes only minutes! Applicants must fill out some basic information about themselves and then pay with either PayPal, credit/debit card, or using any other online payment method.

After paying, each traveler receives a confirmation email, and within the next 72 hours, eVisa will be delivered as well.

The length of the permitted stay differs among the different countries. Each destination sets out its own rules and regulations regarding the maximum stay. However, it's usually either 30 or 90 days from arrival.

eVisa holders can enjoy not only a quick and simple online application process, long stays abroad but also all leisure, business, or transit-related trip. This includes going on vacation, visiting friends and relatives, attending a business meeting or a trade fair, or simply taking a stopover while abroad.

Visa on Arrival

A Visa on Arrival is a short-term visa that allows foreign visitors to enter the selected VoA country without having to apply for a paper visa before the planned trip takes place.

List of countries offering a Visa on Arrival for French citizens

  • Angola
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Cambodia
  • Comoros
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Kuwait
  • Laos
  • Lebanon
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • The Maldives
  • Mauritania
  • Mozambique
  • Nepal
  • Nigeria
  • Niue
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Somaliland
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

France can travel to over 40 countries using the Visa on Arrival system. This means that French passport holders can apply for their visas after arriving at any of the above-listed countries.

To obtain a Visa on Arrival, one must first research the current VoA requirements they need to comply with. Some countries require travelers to provide additional supporting documents along with their VoA applications, e.g., a return ticket, hotel bookings, or proof of having sufficient funds.

The next steps of applying for a Visa on Arrival include filling an application form obtained at the border upon arriving. Travelers are advised to carefully check the provided date to ensure successful approval.

The length of stay for VoA holders varies from destination to destination but usually is either 30 or 90 days from the date of arrival.

All French citizens should note that most VoA countries also offer an eVisa option as an alternative to the VoA system.

Using eVisas is a great way to avoid long lines and the stress of filling out paperwork at the airport immigration. It only takes about five minutes to apply for your eVisa online, and then it arrives in your email inbox as a PDF attachment, usually within three business days.

Embassy visa

An Embassy visa is a type of long or short-term visa that allows foreign visitors to enter the selected country for different reasons, including working, studying, or even living abroad.

This type of visa may be obtained at the nearest Embassy or Consulate, unlike eVisas that are obtained online.

List of countries that require French citizens to present an Embassy visa upon arrival

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Belarus
  • Bhutan
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • The Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • China
  • The Republic of the Congo
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Cuba
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ghana
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Mongolia
  • Nauru
  • Niger
  • North Korea
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Turkmenistan
  • Yemen

Over 20 countries have made it a requirement for citizens of France to have a valid Embassy visa upon arrival. That's highly convenient for French passport holders that these few countries require an Embassy visa from them since obtaining one may be difficult and tiresome.

Most Embassy visa applications should be submitted at least a few weeks ahead of the planned trip, and the preparations should also get started at least a few weeks before applying.

Some documents necessary for Embassy visa applications may have to be official and thus, take a longer time to be obtained. Once the applicant is fully prepared with all the required documents on hand, they can file the complete paperwork at an Embassy or a Consulate.

It's worth noting that some Embassies may require applicants to go through a few additional steps, such as covering the visa issuing fee or going through a visa interview.

Visa-free countries

French citizens have been able to travel visa-free to over 100 destinations for short-term visits. All one needs is an identity document, such as a valid passport or a valid ID for short stays.

Which one citizens of France need to a particular place depends on the agreement France has with the selected destination.

Check the list of visa-free countries for French citizens.

  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Aruba
  • Austria
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Brunei
  • Bulgaria
  • Cape Verde
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • The Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominica
  • The Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Estonia
  • Eswatini
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Greenland
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Indonesia
  • Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kiribati
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Latvia
  • Lesotho
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • The Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Namibia
  • The Netherlands
  • Nicaragua
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • The Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Romania
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • The Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Thailand
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Tuvalu
  • Ukraine
  • The United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vatican City
  • Venezuela

The length of the permitted stay will depend on the country French passport holders are visiting. Moreover, some countries require additional documentation, such as booking hotel accommodation, showing proof of accommodation, or arranging medical insurance.

Despite these requirements, traveling visa-free is still quite simple. If French citizens plan a visit to any of the countries France has the Freedom of Movement agreement with, they will usually need only a valid ID. Other destinations usually simply require having a valid passport upon arrival.

Visa-free travel allows French citizens to engage in all leisure, professional, or transit-related trips. This includes traveling to explore the world, making connections with business people and companies around the globe, or even transiting when traveling long distances.

Bogdan T
2022-09-28

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