Short stay visa-free
Middle EastQatar
French nationals are visa-exempt for a tourist stay under 90 days.
Health insurance is mandatory for stays over 30 days and some medicines are prohibited.
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 stay197 guides availableThese guides help you prepare your checks; they do not replace a consular decision or medical advice.
Visa required
AfricaCentral African Republic
A visa is required before travel from the Central African Republic embassy.
The entire country is either formally advised against or advised against except for essential travel because of armed insecurity.
Visa required
AfricaDemocratic Republic of the Congo
A visa is required before departure and may be requested through the DRC embassy.
Large areas in the east are formally advised against because of armed conflict; Go Pass charges apply to departing flights.
Online authorisation
AmericasDominican Republic
The free E-TICKET form is mandatory for both entry and exit, with a QR code to present.
The official form is free; paid intermediary websites are unnecessary.
European free movement
EuropeRomania
French nationals do not need a short-stay visa; the travel document must be valid on the day of travel.
Romania does not officially recognise the automatic extension of some older French identity cards, so prefer a valid passport.
Online authorisation
EuropeUnited Kingdom
An ETA is required before departure for most French visitors, even when no tourist visa is needed.
An ETA may also be needed in transit if you pass through UK border control.
Visa required
EuropeRussia
A visa is mandatory, including for transit; applications must be made through the Russian consular authorities.
All travel is formally advised against because of the war, the risk of arbitrary detention and severe constraints on leaving the country.
Visa required
AfricaRwanda
A free single-entry tourist visa is issued on arrival to French nationals.
Every exit requires a new application; areas near the Congolese border must be checked on the vigilance map.
Online authorisation
AmericasSaint Kitts and Nevis
A paid travel authorisation is required for air arrivals or any overnight stay; apply no later than 48 hours before arrival.
The application can be made up to 3 months before travel; also monitor hurricane alerts.
Short stay visa-free
EuropeSan Marino
No visa is required for a French tourist stay of up to 30 days in a 6-month period.
San Marino is not in Schengen but its border with Italy is open; prefer a valid passport to an older extended identity card.
Short stay visa-free
AmericasSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
French passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist stay under 6 months.
Follow alerts concerning La Soufrière volcano and hurricane season; medical capacity is limited.
Online authorisation
AmericasSaint Lucia
No visa for up to 42 days; air passengers are encouraged to complete the electronic immigration form before arrival.
An identity card that appears expired may be refused despite the French validity extension; use a valid passport.
Short stay visa-free
AmericasEl Salvador
French passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist stay under 90 days.
The state of exception involves increased checks and a risk of arrest if identification is insufficient; keep documents accessible.
Short stay visa-free
OceaniaSamoa
Schengen nationals do not need a visa for a short, non-remunerated stay.
Cyclone season generally runs from November to April; some lagoon currents are powerful and specialist rescue capacity is limited.
Short stay visa-free
AfricaSao Tome and Principe
No visa for a stay under 15 days; a visa or prior authorisation is required beyond that.
Transit through Gabon may require a multiple-entry Gabonese visa; local medical capacity is very limited.
Short stay visa-free
AfricaSenegal
No visa for a stay under 3 months.
Yellow fever vaccination and transit conditions should be reviewed with a travel vaccination centre.
Short stay visa-free
EuropeSerbia
No visa is required for a stay under 90 days.
A document reported lost or stolen remains invalid even if recovered and generally leads to refusal at the border.
Online authorisation
AfricaSeychelles
A paid online travel authorisation is required before boarding, followed by a short-stay visa issued on arrival.
A yellow fever certificate is required after a risk country, except for transit under 12 hours without leaving the terminal.
Online authorisation
AfricaSierra Leone
A visa is required: apply for an e-Visa before departure; a visa on arrival remains possible but should not be assumed.
Never export diamonds without a special licence and do not import more than USD 10,000.
Online authorisation
AsiaSingapore
No advance tourist visa, but the SG Arrival Card is required no earlier than 3 days before arrival.
A yellow fever certificate is required after certain risk countries and medicine rules are very strict.
European free movement
EuropeSlovakia
French nationals do not need a short-stay visa; the travel document must be valid on the day of travel.
Slovakia does not officially recognise the extension of some older French identity cards, so prefer a valid passport.
European free movement
EuropeSlovenia
French nationals do not need a short-stay visa; the travel document must be valid on the day of travel.
Not carrying a valid document can lead to a substantial fine, so bring the original for every traveller, including minors.
Visa required
AfricaSomalia
A visa is required; a one-month single-entry visa may be requested at Mogadishu for USD 60 cash.
Almost the entire country is formally advised against; Hargeisa, Berbera and the road between them are advised against except for essential travel.
Visa required
AfricaSudan
A visa is required before travel; government services are severely affected by the ongoing conflict.
The entire country, including Khartoum and Port Sudan, is formally advised against because of the deadly conflict and air strikes.
Visa required
AfricaSouth Sudan
A visa is required before travel because issuance at Juba airport is unreliable and may lead to denied boarding.
The whole country is formally advised against, except Juba, Wau, Yambio and Aweil, which remain advised against except for essential travel.
Online authorisation
AsiaSri Lanka
An ETA is required before arrival, including when it is free for French nationals.
A French or international driving permit alone is not sufficient; a local endorsement is required to drive.
European free movement
EuropeSweden
Free movement for French nationals, with no short-stay visa.
Temporary controls may be reinstated, so keep the original document accessible while travelling.
European free movement
EuropeSwitzerland
Free movement for a French short stay; no tourist visa is needed.
Switzerland remains outside the EU customs union, so check goods allowances.
Online authorisation
AmericasSuriname
A €52 tourist or family entry fee must be paid before travel and shown at check-in.
A yellow fever certificate is required after a stay in a risk area or transit longer than 12 hours.
Visa required
Middle EastSyria
A visa is required; issuance at border crossings is evolving and must be confirmed with the Syrian authorities.
All travel is formally advised against because of ongoing conflict, terrorism and kidnapping; France cannot provide consular protection in the country.
Short stay visa-free
AsiaTajikistan
No visa for a French tourist stay of up to 30 days; an eVisa is required beyond that.
The Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region requires a separate GBAO permit; also check registration requirements within 10 working days.
Online authorisation
AsiaTaiwan
No visa for under 90 days, but the free Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) is mandatory within 3 days before arrival.
Without an onward ticket or sufficient passport validity, entry may be systematically refused; meat imports are very heavily penalised.
Visa required
AfricaTanzania
A visa is required, available online or at certain entry points.
For Zanzibar, the mandatory local insurance is required in addition to your own travel insurance.
Visa required
AfricaChad
A visa is required before travel; none is issued at the border.
Air entry through N’Djamena is strongly recommended; a large part of the country is formally advised against.
European free movement
EuropeCzechia
French nationals do not need a short-stay visa; the travel document must be valid on the day of travel.
For stays over 30 days, registration with the foreign police may be required if the accommodation provider does not complete it.
Online authorisation
Middle EastPalestinian Territories
Access is through Israeli controls; an ETA-IL is required before departure and specific rules apply to the West Bank.
The West Bank is advised against except for essential travel and Gaza is formally advised against; its crossing points are currently closed.