Before you go · 2026 country guides

Know your destination before you go.

Visa, passport, electronic authorisation, vaccines and driving permits: the essentials for 197 countries, explained simply with official sources.

Covered case: French passport · tourism · short stay
197 guides availableThese guides help you prepare your checks; they do not replace a consular decision or medical advice.
Visa required
Africa

Guinea-Bissau

A visa is required from the embassy; airport issuance is limited to prior local notice, emergencies or lack of a consulate.

The country lacks adequate emergency services for serious accidents; insurance and medical evacuation via Dakar are essential.
Online authorisation
Americas

Guyana

No visa for tourist stays up to 90 days; an electronic form is required before every entry and exit.

Use official border crossings only; irregular entry may lead to imprisonment.
Official check required
Americas

Haiti

Non-residents pay a tourist tax of USD, CAD or EUR 10; confirm visa and transport conditions directly before taking any step.

All travel is formally advised against because of armed gangs, crime and the very high kidnapping risk.
Short stay visa-free
Americas

Honduras

No short-stay visa is required; tourist admission is governed by the shared C4 regime.

Use increased caution because of crime and accidents; avoid night road journeys.
European free movement
Europe

Hungary

French nationals do not need a short-stay visa; the travel document must be valid on the day of travel.

An older extended identity card may cause problems when leaving for a non-Schengen country, so prefer a valid passport.
Short stay visa-free
Oceania

Marshall Islands

European Union citizens are visa-exempt according to the official Marshall Islands embassy.

Consular support and medical capacity are limited: arrange evacuation cover and check vaccination requirements before departure.
Short stay visa-free
Oceania

Solomon Islands

A free visitor permit is issued on arrival to French nationals.

The whole country requires increased caution; outside Honiara, essential services and emergency support are very limited, especially during cyclone season.
Visa required
Asia

India

A visa is required before travel; the official e-visa covers many tourist stays.

Since October 2025, an e-Arrival Card must also be completed before arrival.
Visa required
Asia

Indonesia

Paid visa on arrival or e-VOA for 30 days, plus the All Indonesia digital form before arrival.

A damaged passport may lead to immediate refusal; Bali also applies a separate tourist levy.
Online authorisation
Middle East

Iraq

A visa is required; since 1 March 2025, the tourist visa for federal Iraq must be requested online before travel.

Large areas are formally advised against and the remainder is generally advised against except for essential travel because terrorism, kidnappings and mines persist.
Visa required
Middle East

Iran

A visa is required and should be requested several weeks in advance; pre-registration exists for some visas issued on arrival.

All travel is formally advised against for French nationals, including dual nationals, because of the significant risk of arbitrary arrest and detention.
European free movement
Europe

Ireland

Free movement for French nationals; no tourist visa is needed.

Ireland is not in Schengen, so a document check on arrival is normal.
European free movement
Europe

Iceland

Schengen free movement for French nationals, with no tourist visa.

Transit through a non-Schengen country may require a passport even though an ID card is sufficient in Iceland.
Online authorisation
Middle East

Israel

No tourist visa for up to 3 months, but an ETA-IL has been mandatory before departure since 1 January 2025.

Travel to Israel remains advised against, including for tourism or family visits; flight disruption, missiles and drones may affect the entire country.
European free movement
Europe

Italy

Free movement for French nationals; no short-stay visa is needed.

Carry the original document: a photocopy alone may be refused during an identity check.
Online authorisation
Americas

Jamaica

No tourist visa for up to 30 days; the free C5 immigration and customs form is mandatory before travel.

Some areas are advised against because of crime; use only the official C5 form, which is free.
Short stay visa-free
Asia

Japan

No visa is required in advance for a tourist stay of up to 90 days.

Visit Japan Web is not a visa, but it can be used to prepare immigration and customs formalities online.
Visa required
Middle East

Jordan

A visa is required and is available online or on arrival at major border points and Amman airport.

For stays over 14 days, register the address with police; the Jordan Pass requires at least 3 nights.
Short stay visa-free
Asia

Kazakhstan

No visa for up to 30 calendar days per visit for tourism, a private visit or a short business trip.

The host must report arrival within 3 working days and every address change; overstays are severely punished.
Online authorisation
Africa

Kenya

An electronic travel authorisation (eTA) is required before boarding.

Use only the government portal and keep the authorisation available offline.
Short stay visa-free
Asia

Kyrgyzstan

No visa for a tourist or business stay of up to 30 days.

Registration becomes mandatory beyond 30 days; an overstay may require an exit visa.
Short stay visa-free
Oceania

Kiribati

France is covered by the official visa-exemption regime; an onward ticket and sufficient funds may be requested.

Healthcare, payments and communications are very limited outside Tarawa; arrange evacuation cover, carry cash and allow for disrupted flights.
Short stay visa-free
Europe

Kosovo

No visa is required for up to 90 days in 6 months, but the residence address must be declared within 3 days of entry.

Exercise increased caution in northern municipalities. A Kosovo–Serbia itinerary can also lead to border refusal depending on the order of crossings.
Online authorisation
Middle East

Kuwait

A paid visa is available on arrival, but applying for the official eVisa before travel is recommended.

Travel has been advised against except for essential reasons since 17 July 2026; the strip bordering Iraq is formally advised against.
Visa required
Asia

Laos

A visa is required and may be requested online, from an embassy or at selected borders.

Not every land border accepts the eVisa or visa on arrival, so check the exact route.
Short stay visa-free
Africa

Lesotho

No visa is required for a stay under 14 days; visitor permission is issued on arrival.

At South African borders obtain both stamps and check opening times; notify the rental company before taking in a vehicle.
European free movement
Europe

Latvia

French nationals do not need a short-stay visa; the travel document must be valid on the day of travel.

Transit through a non-EU or non-Schengen country requires a separate check of that country’s entry rules.
Visa required
Middle East

Lebanon

A visa is required; French nationals are normally issued a renewable one-month short-stay visa on arrival.

The entire country is either formally advised against or advised against except for essential travel; the regional situation may deteriorate rapidly.
Visa required
Africa

Liberia

A visa is required before travel from the relevant embassy; online applications are limited to residents of a country without a Liberian mission.

Beware of fraudulent visa sites; only the Liberia Immigration Service handles authorised online applications.
Visa required
Africa

Libya

A visa is required before arrival and must be requested from the Libyan embassy.

Tripoli and almost the entire country are formally advised against; Misrata and Benghazi are advised against except for essential travel.
European free movement
Europe

Liechtenstein

French nationals do not need a short-stay visa; the travel document must be valid on the day of travel.

Access is generally through Switzerland or Austria, so their transit and driving rules also apply to the trip.
European free movement
Europe

Lithuania

French nationals do not need a short-stay visa; the travel document must be valid on the day of travel.

Lithuania does not recognise the automatic extension of some older French identity cards, so prefer a valid passport.
European free movement
Europe

Luxembourg

French nationals do not need a short-stay visa; the travel document must be valid on the day of travel.

A copy or driving licence does not replace an identity card or passport during an identity check.
Short stay visa-free
Europe

North Macedonia

No visa is required for a tourist stay under 3 months.

Prefer a passport to an older identity card with an expired printed date and strictly respect the authorised stay.
Visa required
Africa

Madagascar

A non-immigrant visa is issued before travel or on arrival; a €10 administrative fee applies even for stays under 15 days.

The short-stay visa cannot be converted or directly extended; also prepare for road and cyclone risks.
Online authorisation
Asia

Malaysia

No visa for under 90 days, but the MDAC is required within 3 days before arrival.

Check the entry stamp at land or sea borders and the specific duration granted in Sarawak.