Your arrival in France

Whether or not you need a visa, entry into the Schengen area of third-country nationals must comply with a certain number of conditions, as provided for by the European and national regulations in force.

Documents to be presented on arrival in France

The following supporting documents must be presented at the request of the Border Police upon your arrival in France :

  • A valid passport issued less than 10 years before and valid for at least 3 months after the envisaged departure date
  • A valid visa, if required
  • Proof of accommodation covering the whole duration of the stay (hotel reservation and/or certificate of staying with a relative validated in the town hall)
  • Sufficient financial means. The means of subsistence shall be assessed according to the duration and purpose of the stay and by reference to the average prices for accommodation and food in the Member States
  • Your return ticket or the financial means to acquire one at the envisaged return date
  • Any document providing details on the profession or the capacity of the traveller as well as on the establishments or organisations located in France which are expecting you, if you are on a professional trip
  • You must have an insurance certificate covering all medical and hospital expenses for which you may be liable for the duration of your stay in France, as well as medical repatriation costs and expenses in the event of death

For travellers in transit, you must be able to present proof of satisfying the entry conditions in the final destination country (conditions of stay and accommodation during transit, continuation ticket and visa for the destination country).

What amount of resources must you justify ?

For France, this amount is :

  • 65 euros per day of stay in the case of presentation of a hotel booking
  • 120 euros per day in the case of non-presentation of a hotel booking
  • In the case of a partial hotel booking: 65 euros per day for the period covered by the booking and 120 euros per day for the remainder of the stay

You must have an insurance certificate covering all medical and hospital expenses for which you may be liable for the duration of your stay in France, as well as medical repatriation costs and expenses in the event of death.

For travellers in transit, you must be able to present proof of satisfying the entry conditions in the final destination country (conditions of stay and accommodation during transit, continuation ticket and visa for the destination country)

If you are hosted by an individual, you must provide a certificate of staying with a relative validated in the town hall at the request of the person who invited you.

At the border crossing you must also prove that you have, in addition to this certificate, a minimum amount per day of stay - this minimum amount is €32.50 per day.

In which cases are you exempted from presenting supporting documents at the border ?

You are exempted from presenting supporting documents at the border if you belong to one of the following categories :

  • You hold a valid French residence permit or a movement document for foreign minors (DCEM) or a French identity certificate (TIR)
  • You are spouse of a French citizen
  • You hold a long-stay visa marked with "residence permit must be applied for upon arrival in France"
  • You are the holder of a document attesting to one of the following functions :
    • Member of diplomatic missions and consular posts taking office in France
    • Member of parliament
    • Official, officer or agent of foreign public services, carrying an assignment brief from your government
    • An official of an intergovernmental organisation of which France is a member, carrying an assignment brief from that organisation
    • Ships and aircraft crew members engaged in service travel

Schengen Area Entry/Exit System (EES)

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is the new border management system that allows non-EU nationals travelling to Europe for a short stay to be registered every time they cross the external borders of 29 European countries.

Which European countries use the EES ?

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Who will be registered in the EES ?

Non-EU nationals travelling to European countries using the EES for a short stay (i.e. up to 90 days over a period of 180 days) are registered in the EES. Foreign diplomats from non-EU countries travelling to France for a mission of less than 90 days are also registered in the EES even if they have an exemption from biometric collection when applying for a visa. Traveller data is recorded in the EES, whether or not they need a short-stay visa. There are some exemptions listed below. Denials of entry are also recorded in the system.

What data is collected by the EES ?

  • Personal data appearing on the travel document, such as full name, date of birth, and nationality