Do I need a visa to visit France?

If you are a U.S., Canadian, Australian, Brazilian, or Mexican citizen you will not need a Schengen Visa for France, as these countries are among those with visa-free arrangements with the European Union (EU). However, it is worth noting that from 2021, citizens will need to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver before they travel, which can be obtained online and will cost €7 ($7.82). Many other countries also have this arrangement.

Citizens of countries without a visa waiver deal, including China, India, Russia and all African nations, even those who are permanent residents of the U.S. or Canada, or are green card holders, will require a France Schengen Visa to travel to France. This covers travel in all countries within the Schengen Area of Europe (countries which have abolished border controls between each other).

Where do I apply for my Schengen visa France from the U.S.?

1. Information about preparing, submitting and then tracking your application is available on France-visas.gouv.fr (France’s official visa application website). The site also has an online portal, where you will be guided through the process of creating an account and completing an online application.

2. Once you have completed your online application, you will need to submit it to your nearest VFS Global visa center, details of which can be found on the France-visas website. There are nine of these centers in the United States - in Washington, D.C. , Boston, New York, Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. From there, it will be passed on to the French Consulate in Washington, D.C., where all decisions about visa applications from the U.S. are made.

3. Using the France-Visas website, you can track each step of your application, including important information like when to collect your passport and how to get ready for your trip to France. On the day of your appointment at the VFS Global visa center, you must present a final paper version of your application, as completed on the France-visas website.

You are advised that during busy periods, appointments might not be immediately available, so it is strongly recommended you to try to secure one at least 15 days before your date of departure if traveling on a short-stay visa, or 1 month for a long-stay visa. However, applications cannot be submitted more than 90 days before your departure date.

For more information on visa for France USA applications and other consular services head to the French Consulate in Washington website.

I’m applying for a Schengen Visa to France from the U.K. - where do I do this?

For more information about visa to France from the U.K., please visit this page.

If applying for a Schengen Visa to France from India, U.A.E. or Philippines, please visit this page.

In my home country, where do I apply for a Schengen visa for France?

Paperwork for visa to France can be a real struggle. But don’t worry! In this video you will find answers to all of your questions about how to get a Schengen Visa for France.