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.

Contents

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

Visa exemptions for Overseas France:
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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 Visa policy of the French overseas departments and territories.png
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 French Guyana Exit Passport Stamp.jpg
French Guiana exit stamp
Guadeloupe entry stamp Enreisestempel Guadeloupe.png
Guadeloupe entry stamp
Martinique entry stamp Einreisestempel Martinique.png
Martinique entry stamp
Saint Barthelemy entry stamp Saint Barthelemy entry passport stamp.jpg
Saint Barthélemy entry stamp
Saint Pierre and Miquelon entry stamp Saint-pierre-passport-stamp.jpg
Saint Pierre and Miquelon entry stamp
New Caledonia entry stamp New Caledonia - Entry.jpg
New Caledonia entry stamp
French Polynesia entry stamp French Polynesia entry stamp 2007 Tahiti-Faa'a.jpg
French Polynesia entry stamp

Unlimited period

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

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]

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]

Additional exemptions for specific territories

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]

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

For Saint Pierre and Miquelon: [1]

  • Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 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

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
 
Flag of France.svg France YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Flag of Europe.svg EU (except France) and EFTA YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Schengen 'Annex II' [n] YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Yesorganized trips or transitYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela YesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYes
Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia YesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Flag of Kosovo.svg Kosovo YesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia NoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru NoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador NoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
Flag of Mozambique.svg Mozambique NoNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNo
Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa NoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNo
Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji NoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYes
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea NoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYes
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China NoNoNoNoNoNoorganized tripsorganized tripsNo
Flag of India.svg India NoNoNoNoNoNoorganized tripsNoNo

Proposed changes

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

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 stayDestinationRegular feeReduced feeNo 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 €9spouse of a French national, family members of other EU/EFTA nationals
More than 90 daysany€99€50 for students; €15 for children adopted by a French nationalspouse 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

Visitor statistics of French Polynesia [17]
Country/territory2016201520142013
Flag of the United States.svg United States 67,90863,91362,27853,656
Flag of France.svg France 39,08635,76534,88732,946
Flag of Japan.svg Japan 12,17411,44712,52713,175
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 9,7579,1679,3159,167
Flag of Italy.svg Italy 7,8887,9937,8878,103
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 7,2217,3157,1366,477
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 6,3268,4029,2797,206
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China 5,9875,5553,2681,876
Flags of New Caledonia.svg New Caledonia 4,2064,1854,1113,826
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 3,9804,7114,8343,255
Flag of Germany.svg Germany 3,9513,5384,0283,477
Total192,495183,831180,602164,393
Visitor statistics of New Caledonia [18]
Country/territory2016201520142013
Flag of France.svg Metropolitan France 36,72537,24536,54539,183
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 22,80920,92618,06515,722
Flag of Japan.svg Japan 21,15120,05619,08715,674
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 9,1438,5296,7806,334
Flag of France.svg Wallis and Futuna 6,1286,3296,1286,763
Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu 3,6483,5203,6163,950
Flag of French Polynesia.svg French Polynesia 3,4533,5523,3713,946
Flag of Italy.svg Italy 1,0451,104832718
Total115,676113,951107,187107,753

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Single territorial collectivity with the competences of a department and a region.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 For stays of up to 3 months in a 6-month period.
  14. Except Brazil, Georgia, Kosovo and Venezuela.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 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.