When it comes to tourist destinations, saying France is pretty popular is an understatement. Because — with dozens of millions of international visitors yearly — the country actually consistently ranks as the most visited country on the planet. And those numbers are only expected to keep growing. So if you’re planning a trip to la République (aka France) from the third most visited country on the planet — aka the U. S. of A. — then French natives AXA can help you figure out whether you need a visa or not, how to get one, and more.
Technically speaking, yes. But let’s make sure we got the lingo straight. Because — while “Schengen” is a vague but somewhat familiar word here in Europe — it remains a very much foreign (and often confusing) concept in the U.S.
France is universally famous for having unparalleled character and culture, impeccable cuisine, cheese, wine, the Eiffel Tower, and — among many, many other things — a very rich, unique, and international history. And part of that international history is that it is one of the five founding member countries of the Schengen area.
The Schengen agreement was signed in part to allow for visa-free travel between all and any countries in the Schengen zone (currently 27 countries). In other words, if you are not coming from the Schengen zone, you might need a French visa indeed. And that would be — you guessed it — a Schengen visa.
Meanwhile, there are four basic types of Schengen Visa: business, work, student, and short-stay (aka the “tourist visa”, and probably the one you’re looking for if you do need one).You can also opt for a multiple-entry visa if you’re planning more than one trip, and have a few different options if you happen to have a partner living, working, and/or studying in France.
That depends. If you happen to be a citizen of one of the 27 countries within the Schengen zone, you obviously don’t need to apply for a Schengen visa to visit France — from the U.S. or anywhere else.
But even if you’re not a Schengen national, you might be in luck. Because several countries have signed visa-free travel agreements with the EU (and the Schengen area). These include Australia, Canada, the U.K., and the U.S.
So if you’re a U.S. citizen (and/or a citizen of one or more of the countries above) — you currently do not need to apply for a visa to France. That is if you’re not spending more than 90 days (within a 180-day period) in the Schengen zone.
And to save you a bit of time, AXA has compiled the following list. That is, you do not need to apply for a Schengen visa to visit France from the U.S. if you are a passport holder of one (or more) of the following countries:
| ALBANIA | MONACO |
| ANDORRA | MONTENEGRO |
| ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA | NEW ZEALAND |
| ARGENITA | NICARAGUA |
| AUSTRALIA | PALAU |
| BAHAMAS | PANAMA |
| BARBADOS | PARAGUAY |
| BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA | PERU |
| BRAZIL | SAMOA |
| BRUNEI DARUSSALAM | SAN MARINO |
| CANADA | SERBIA |
| CHILE | SEYCHELLES |
| COLOMBIA | SINGAPORE |
| COSTA RICA | SOLOMON ISLANDS |
| DOMINICA | SOUTH KOREA |
| EL SALVADOR | ST KITTS AND NEVIS |
| NORTH MACEDONA | ST LUCIA |
| GEORGIA | ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES |
| GRENADA | TAIWAN |
| GUATEMALA | TIMOR-LESTE |
| HOLY SEE (VATICAN CITY STATE) | TONGA |
| HONDURAS | TRINIDAD AND TOBACO |
| ISRAEL | TUVALU |
| JAPAN | UKRAINE |
| KIRIBATI | UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
| KOSOVO (*Kosovo passports holders should be exempt starting in 2024) | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA |
| MALAYSIA | UNITED KINGDOM |
| MARSHALL ISLANDS | URUGAY |
| MAURITIUS | VENEZUELA |
| MEXICO | HONG-KONG |
| MICRONESIA | MACAO |
| MOLDOVIA |
However, if you are a citizen of a country that has not signed a visa waiver agreement with the European Union, you will indeed need a Schengen visa to visit France. This includes nationals of Africa, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, and nearly a hundred other countries.
Not sure which list you made? AXA can help you figure out whether you need to apply for a Schengen visa for France or not in no time.
IMPORTANT NOTE: AXA continuously strives to bring you the latest regarding travel requirements to our hometown of France. However, before finalizing any travel arrangements — it’s always a good call to double-check with France’s official government visa website too. And you can also consult the official website of the European Union — including for the full lists of the countries above.
That depends on your home country. For example, U.S. green card holders and permanent residents whose home countries are exempt from a Schengen Visa can visit France visa-free.
Meanwhile, if your home country requires a visa to enter the Schengen Zone — then you’re going to need to apply. So — again — consult the lists and official websites above to make sure you covered all your bases.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The overseas territories of France (i.e., French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, St Pierre and Miquelon, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, and Wallis and Futuna Islands) are subject to their own bilateral arrangements between the countries concerned. So if your destination is not continental France, you can — and should — learn more about the visa requirements for visiting overseas French territories here.
And now down to brass tacks. Fortunately, the process for applying for a Schengen visa is pretty universal — and in the U.S. it’s relatively painless (although it may require some traveling before you actually get to France).
In terms of the proper paperwork, you’ll need (at the very least):
Again, that’s the bare minimum, so keep in mind that the specific paperwork you’ll need will of course depend on your particular situation. And note that, to be granted a Schengen visa to France, you’ll also need to:
To help you with the process in general, AXA has for you a complete guide to applying for a French visa. But we also have a quick summary of the process specifically in the U.S. — courtesy of France’s official government visa website) — below:
*NOTE: This includes people living in Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (hence, the traveling).
Residents of Puerto Rico, meanwhile, can also apply at the Spanish Consulate in San Juan.
IMPORTANT NOTE (from the source): The visa application submission procedure does not end after filling the form online on the France Visas website. You still need to print the application form and take it with you, along with all other required documents, when you submit your application at VFS.
The costs of the Schengen Visa are the same in the U.S. as anywhere else. €80 is the standard fee (roughly $86). For kids between the ages of six and twelve, it’s €40 (or around $43). And children under the age of six can get a Schengen visa for free.
Your short-stay Schengen visa allows you three months (or 90 days) in France within any 180-day period. If you want to stay longer, here’s what France’s official visa website says:
Well, that depends on what exactly you want to do. But, legally speaking, the sufficient funds required per day when traveling to France vary as follows:
That’s also up to you. But if you are carrying a sum of money that is equal to or greater than €10,000 (or roughly $10, 860), you will have to declare this to customs upon your arrival in/departure from France. That’s according to the official website of the European Union.
Not until 2025. But in case you haven’t heard, ETIAS — aka the European Travel Information and Authorization System — is a new system of requirements for entering Europe (including France) that’s been in the works for years. And AXA can tell you all about it here.
While we can’t give you the France (aka Schengen) visa itself, we can definitely help ensure you get one. How? By doing what we do best — providing you with some quality Schengen travel insurance. Because to be granted a Schengen visa for France (or anywhere else in the Schengen zone), your insurance must meet the following criteria:
Not only do our plans check all the boxes above, but we also offer all sorts of other great benefits — starting at as little as 22€ (or around $24) a week.
You can learn more about and compare our 3 different plans here. And, once you’ve found what you’re looking for, you can download (and/or print) the AXA travel insurance certificate — accepted at all French embassies and consulates near and far — instantly.
With it — and its 24/7 protection, assistance, and peace of mind — not only will you be one big step closer to obtaining your Schengen visa for France from the U.S. But you will also ensure that your trip to the most visited country in the world is a bon voyage indeed.
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Yes. France is one of the 27 Schengen member States (and it’s also one of 27 members of the European Union).
Yes. Along with being a founding Schengen State, France is one of 27 members of the European Union.
France is also a member of the Eurozone. Its currency is, therefore, the Euro (€).
NOTE: However, the currency in Tahiti (French Polynesia) is the French Pacific Franc (i.e., the F CFP). And one Euro is roughly 119.33 F CFP.
No. As of late 2022, all COVID restrictions for visiting France have been lifted. But you can double-check the COVID section of France’s official Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs website for the latest info.
Yes. However, to do so, you’ll need to apply for a long-stay Schengen visa.
The consequences of overstaying your visa range from paying a fine, deportation, jail time, or even being banned from ever visiting France again. Fortunately, AXA is happy to help you avoid all of them .