Do I need a Schengen visa for France?

Those intending to remain in France for over 90 days without engaging in professional activities must apply for a long-stay visa, Do I Need a Schengen Visa For France, which permits travel throughout the Schengen area but requires online validation after arrival in France. To determine what kind of visa you require, first check if your nationality requires one, then use our visa wizard tool to determine your options—short-stay or long-stay visas!

In certain circumstances, you may first receive a temporary long-stay visa (VLS-TS), then later apply for the permanent one upon arriving in France.

Firstly, it’s essential to understand the concept of the Schengen Area. The Schengen Area comprises 26 European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders. This means that once you enter one Schengen country, you can travel freely within the entire Schengen Area without undergoing border checks.

Do You Need a Schengen Visa for France?

However, nationals of certain countries are exempt from this requirement for short stays.

Exemptions from the Schengen Visa Requirement

Citizens of EU and EEA countries do not need a visa to enter France or any other country. Additionally, nationals of several other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and many others, are visa-exempt for short stays (usually up to 90 days within a 180-day period) for purposes such as tourism, business, or visiting family and friends.