Visa policies of Overseas France

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Although the European portion of France is part of the Schengen Area, its overseas departments, collectivities and other territories apply their own visa policies, which have some additional exemptions or restrictions compared to the visa policy of the Schengen Area.

Overseas departments and regions Overseas collectivities Special status Overseas territories
(no permanent population) 		Public domain of the state
(uninhabited)
French Guiana[a]
Guadeloupe
Martinique[a]
Mayotte[a]
Réunion 		French Polynesia
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Wallis and Futuna 		New Caledonia French Southern and Antarctic Lands Clipperton Island

Visa exemption

[edit]
Visa exemptions for Overseas France:     
  All or most territories, unlimited period
  All territories, up to 90 days
  All or most territories, up to 90 or 15 days
  Some territories, up to 90 days
  Some territories, up to 15 days on organized trips
French Guiana exit stamp
Guadeloupe entry stamp
Martinique entry stamp
Saint Barthélemy entry stamp
Saint Pierre and Miquelon entry stamp
New Caledonia entry stamp
French Polynesia entry stamp

Unlimited period

[edit]

Nationals of the following countries can enter and reside for an unlimited period without a visa in Overseas France:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Nationals of EU and EFTA member states may use their national identity card instead of their passport as a travel document to enter any French territory.[8][c] They may also work freely in the parts of Overseas France that are part of the European Union (overseas departments and regions, and Saint Martin), as well as Saint Barthélemy,[9][10] but those who are not nationals of France need a permit to work in Saint Pierre and Miquelon,[11] New Caledonia,[12] Wallis and Futuna,[13] and French Polynesia.[14]

Short stays

[edit]

For stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period,[b] visa-free entry is granted to nationals of the following countries and territories (except as otherwise noted):[1][2][3][4][5][6]

This exemption also applies to:[1][2][3][4][5][6]

  • Holders of a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by France or another Schengen Area country
  • Nationals of the following countries holding a multiple-entry visa issued by France with validity between 6 months and 5 years:
Nationals of these countries traveling by cruise ship are also granted a visa exemption for a stay of up to 24 hours.

The following categories of travelers may also transit without a visa:[1][2][3][4][5][6]

  • Passengers transiting only the international transit area of an airport, except the same categories required to have an airport transit visa for the European part of France
  • Airline and ship crew members
  • Cruise ship passengers holding a visa for any French territory or a residence permit for Andorra, Canada, Japan, Monaco, San Marino or the United States, for a stay of up to 24 hours
  • Cruise ship passengers not leaving the ship

Additional exemptions for specific territories

[edit]

For specific territories, nationals of the following countries are also granted visa-free stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period (except as otherwise noted).

For French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique:[1]

For Saint Martin:[2]

  • Travelers of any nationality coming directly from Sint Maarten (open border)

For Saint Pierre and Miquelon:[1]

  • Holders of a Canadian identification document (e.g. a driver's licence or student card), of any nationality, traveling directly from Canada; passport not required either

For Mayotte:[3]

For Réunion:[1]

Nationals of China, India and Russia traveling from Mauritius or Seychelles to Réunion may obtain a free visa on arrival for a stay of up to 15 days.[1]

For New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and French Polynesia:[4][5][6]

Summary of visa exemptions

[edit]
Country France (Schengen) French Guiana Guadeloupe and Martinique Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Mayotte Réunion New Caledonia and French Polynesia Wallis and Futuna
 
France Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
EU (except France) and EFTA Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Schengen 'Annex II'[n] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Brazil Yes organized trips or transit Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Venezuela Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Georgia Yes No No No No No No No No
Kosovo Yes No No No No No No No No
Bolivia No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Nauru No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ecuador No Yes Yes No No No No No No
Mozambique No No No No No Yes Yes No No
South Africa No No No No No No Yes No No
Fiji No No No No No No No Yes Yes
Papua New Guinea No No No No No No No Yes Yes
China No No No No No No organized trips organized trips No
India No No No No No No organized trips No No

Proposed changes

[edit]

In June 2025, the presidents of France and Brazil announced an agreement to exempt nationals of Brazil from the visa requirement to French Guiana. The agreement would include a provision for repatriation of convicted criminals.[15]

Obtaining a visa

[edit]

Foreign nationals who need a visa for a part of Overseas France can obtain one by lodging an application at a French embassy or consulate in their country of residence (or, in the case of foreign nationals already in a part of France, the local prefecture)[8] for a fee of up to €99 (depending on the destination, length of stay, age and nationality).[16]

Visa fees[16]
Length of stay Destination Regular fee Reduced fee No fee
Up to 90 days France (Schengen) €90 €45 for children ages 6 to 12; €35 for nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus children under age 6, spouse of a French national, family members of other EU/EFTA nationals
French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Réunion €60 €35 for children ages 6 to 12
Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia €9 spouse of a French national, family members of other EU/EFTA nationals
More than 90 days any €99 €50 for students; €15 for children adopted by a French national spouse of a French national

Schengen short-stay visas are not valid for Overseas France (except for nationals of certain countries as listed above), and vice versa. A visa with the designation "départements français d'Amérique" (DFA) allows visiting all parts of Overseas France in the Americas (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon).[1][2] A visa with the designation "valable pour France sauf CTOM" allows visiting all parts of Overseas France in the Americas as well as Réunion.[1][2]

Visitor statistics

[edit]
Visitor statistics of French Polynesia[17]
Country/territory 2016 2015 2014 2013
United States 67,908 63,913 62,278 53,656
France 39,086 35,765 34,887 32,946
Japan 12,174 11,447 12,527 13,175
Australia 9,757 9,167 9,315 9,167
Italy 7,888 7,993 7,887 8,103
New Zealand 7,221 7,315 7,136 6,477
Canada 6,326 8,402 9,279 7,206
China 5,987 5,555 3,268 1,876
New Caledonia 4,206 4,185 4,111 3,826
United Kingdom 3,980 4,711 4,834 3,255
Germany 3,951 3,538 4,028 3,477
Total 192,495 183,831 180,602 164,393
Visitor statistics of New Caledonia[18]
Country/territory 2016 2015 2014 2013
Metropolitan France 36,725 37,245 36,545 39,183
Australia 22,809 20,926 18,065 15,722
Japan 21,151 20,056 19,087 15,674
New Zealand 9,143 8,529 6,780 6,334
Wallis and Futuna 6,128 6,329 6,128 6,763
Vanuatu 3,648 3,520 3,616 3,950
French Polynesia 3,453 3,552 3,371 3,946
Italy 1,045 1,104 832 718
Total 115,676 113,951 107,187 107,753

See also

[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for French Guiana.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Guadeloupe.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Martinique.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Saint Martin.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Saint Barthélemy.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Mayotte.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Réunion.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for New Caledonia.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Wallis and Futuna.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for French Polynesia.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Single territorial collectivity with the competences of a department and a region.
  2. ^ a b For New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and French Polynesia, up to 3 months in a 6-month period.[4][5][6]
  3. ^ A passport may be necessary if not traveling directly from a European country or another French territory.
  4. ^ For French Guiana, nationals of Brazil may enter without a visa only in the following cases: up to 15 days for trips organized by an approved travel agency; up to 3 days when in transit to France (including all territories) or Brazil; residents of Oiapoque holding a special card authorizing visits to only Saint-Georges for up to 72 hours; or members of emergency services.
  5. ^ a b For French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, visa-free up to 15 days per stay, as long as the stays do not total more than 120 days in a 12-month period.
  6. ^ Except with passport issued by the Coordination Directorate for Kosovo and Metohija.
  7. ^ With passport bearing identity card number.
  8. ^ With biometric passport.
  9. ^ Including all classes of British nationality.
  10. ^ Except for Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin.
  11. ^ a b c Visa-free entry of up to 15 days for each stay, for trips organized by an approved travel agency.
  12. ^ Only for New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
  13. ^ a b For stays of up to 3 months in a 6-month period.
  14. ^ Except Brazil, Georgia, Kosovo and Venezuela.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Arrêté du 26 juillet 2011 relatif aux documents et visas exigés pour l'entrée des étrangers sur le territoire de la Guadeloupe, la Guyane, la Martinique, La Réunion et de la collectivité de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon" [Order of 26 July 2011 regarding the documents and visas required for the entry of foreigners in the territory of Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion and the collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon] (in French). Légifrance.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Arrêté du 18 avril 2012 relatif aux documents et visas exigés pour l'entrée des étrangers sur le territoire des collectivités de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin" [Order of 18 April 2012 regarding the documents and visas required for the entry of foreigners in the territory of the collectivities of Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin] (in French). Légifrance.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Arrêté du 4 février 2015 relatif aux documents et visas exigés pour l'entrée des étrangers sur le territoire de Mayotte" [Order of 4 February 2015 regarding the documents and visas required for the entry of foreigners in the territory of Mayotte] (in French). Légifrance.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Arrêté du 22 juillet 2011 relatif aux documents et visas exigés pour l'entrée des étrangers sur le territoire de la Nouvelle-Calédonie" [Order of 22 July 2011 regarding the documents and visas required for the entry of foreigners in the territory of New Caledonia] (in French). Légifrance.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Arrêté du 26 juillet 2011 relatif aux documents et visas exigés pour l'entrée des étrangers sur le territoire des îles Wallis et Futuna" [Order of 26 July 2011 regarding the documents and visas required for the entry of foreigners in the territory of Wallis and Futuna] (in French). Légifrance.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Arrêté du 29 décembre 2011 relatif aux documents et visas exigés pour l'entrée des étrangers sur le territoire de la Polynésie française" [Order of 29 December 2011 regarding the documents and visas required for the entry of foreigners in the territory of French Polynesia] (in French). Légifrance.
  7. ^ "Long-stay visa". Government of France.
  8. ^ a b "Un étranger a-t-il besoin d'un visa pour un voyage en outre-mer ?" [Does a foreigner need a visa for travel to Overseas France?] (in French). Government of France.
  9. ^ "Guide de la règlementation de l'accès au travail des salariés étrangers à Saint-Barthélemy" [Guide of the regulation of access to work of foreign employees in Saint Barthélemy] (in French). Government of Saint Barthélemy. p. 5.
  10. ^ "Guide de la règlementation de l'accès au travail des travailleurs indépendants étrangers à Saint-Barthélemy" [Guide of the regulation of access to work of foreign independent workers in Saint Barthélemy] (in French). Government of Saint Barthélemy. p. 5.
  11. ^ "Travailleurs étrangers" [Foreign workers] (in French). Government of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
  12. ^ "Vous êtes ressortissant d'un pays de l'Union européenne" [You are a national of a country in the European Union] (in French). Services of the state in New Caledonia.
  13. ^ "Entrée et séjour des étrangers" [Entry and stay of foreigners] (in French). Services of the state and territory in Wallis and Futuna.
  14. ^ "Vous êtes ressortissant d'un pays de l'Union européenne" [You are a national of a country in the European Union] (in French). Services of the state in French Polynesia.
  15. ^ "Commission mixte transfrontalière : les brésiliens devront patienter encore plusieurs mois pour en finir avec les visas à l'entrée en Guyane" [Joint cross-border commission: Brazilians must still wait several months to end the visas for entry in French Guiana] (in French). France Info. 12 June 2025.
  16. ^ a b Visa fees, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France.
  17. ^ "Données détaillées". www.ispf.pf.
  18. ^ "Touristes selon le lieu de résidence". isee.nc.
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