France Visa Requirements 2026
Visa requirements for France: schengen area for up to 90 days within 180. Updated 30 May 2026. Plus passport rules, customs, and prohibited items.
France visa at a glance
- Policy
- Schengen area
- Length of stay
- 90 days within 180
- Cost
- Free (ETIAS €20 once active)
- Passport
- Must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure date from the Schengen area. Must have been issued within the last 10 years.
- Official source
- travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en
Schengen visa-free for US/UK/Canada/Australia/NZ. ETIAS authorisation required from late 2025 (€20, valid 3 years).
Schengen area. Most Western nationalities (US, UK, Canada, Australia) get 90-day visa-free entry within any 180-day period. This covers the entire Schengen zone, not just France. ETIAS authorization may be required – check before travel.
Customs allowances
Duty-free allowance from non-EU: 200 cigarettes, 1 liter of spirits, 4 liters of wine, goods worth up to 430 EUR. No customs limits when traveling within the EU. Must declare cash over 10,000 EUR.
Prohibited items
Counterfeit goods can be confiscated with heavy fines. Pepper spray requires a license. Some knife types are restricted. Bringing meat and dairy from non-EU countries is generally prohibited.
Frequently asked questions about France visas
Do I need a visa to visit France?
Schengen area applies for France: Schengen visa-free for US/UK/Canada/Australia/NZ. ETIAS authorisation required from late 2025 (€20, valid 3 years).
How much does a France visa cost?
Entry to France is free under the current schengen area policy for eligible passports. There is no visa fee. Always check whether your nationality is eligible before booking flights.
How long can I stay in France?
The standard schengen area allows 90 days within 180 per entry. Most policies are extendable in-country at an immigration office for an additional fee — check the official source for current extension rules. Visa runs (leaving and re-entering to reset the clock) are increasingly scrutinised; do not rely on them.
What passport validity does France require?
Must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure date from the Schengen area. Must have been issued within the last 10 years.
Where do I apply for a France visa?
Apply directly at the official government source: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en. Many third-party sites charge inflated fees for the same form. Always check the URL ends in a government domain (.gov, .gov.<country>, or the country's official immigration domain) before paying.