General information

Depending on your nationality, a visa is required when intending to travel to France. All visas must be applied for prior to departure at the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.

The type of visa required depends both on the duration and purpose of your stay in France : tourism, professional purposes, studies, family purposes.

 

For stays equal to, or shorter than 90 days

 

Regulations and types of visas vary according to the French territory you intend to visit :

  • For European territory (mainland France), France complies with Schengen regulations related to the Schengen area, and issues a short-stay Uniform Schengen visa;
  • For non-European territories (French overseas territories), France issues a short-stay national visa;
  • If you intend to transit through a French airport without exiting the “international zone”, please check whether you need to apply for an "A" airport transit Schengen visa.

 

For stays longer than 90 days