Visa requirements for european passport holders

1- Visa requirements

Citizens of Switzerland or of the European Economic Area do NOT need any visa to enter France, no matter what the purpose or the duration of the stay is.

This rule applies to citizens of the following countries:

2- Requirements for a short stay (maximum 90 days)

Citizens of the E.E.A. may enter :

• Metropolitan France and the French overseas departments ("DOM") with a valid National Identity Card or a valid passport.
  
  

• the French overseas territories ("TOM") with a valid passport.

3- Requirements for a long stay (more than 90 days)

Citizens of E.E.A. may move to metropolitan France and the D.O.M. [1] with just a valid national identity card or a valid passport. Citizens of the above listed countries are no longer required to obtain a visa or a residence permit (" carte de séjour ") to live in France.

However, a long stay visa application must be submitted for stays of more than 90 days in the T.O.M. [2] (form in French only).

Exception: if you are over 18 years old, hold a passport from Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia AND if you wish to work in France, you will still have to apply for a residence permit ("carte de séjour pour ressortissant européen") within two months after arrival in France at the Préfecture of city of residence. Note that it is always advisable to contact the Préfecture BEFORE leaving the U.S., in order to get a complete list of documents to provide to apply for such permit.

4- American family members of european passport holders

Please note that you do not need any visa to enter and live in France for longer than 3 months if :

 you hold a valid U.S. passport

 and you are the legal spouse (marriage certificate) or child (under 18y.o.) of a citizen of the above listed countries

 and you are accompanying your spouse / parent who is also moving to France.

However, you will have to apply for the residence permit ("carte de séjour pour membre de famille d’un ressortissant européen") within 2 months of entry into France, at the Préfecture of city of residence. Note that it is always advisable to contact the Préfecture BEFORE leaving the U.S., in order to get a complete list of documents to provide to apply for such permit.

Last update: 05/22/2009

[1] Overseas Departments (D.O.M.) : Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélémy, Guyane & Réunion

[2] Overseas Territories (TOM) : New-Caledonia, Polynesia, Wallis & Futuna, Mayotte and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon