Visa policy of the French overseas departments and territories

Visa policy of the French overseas departments and territories
Visa-free access to:

  All territories, unlimited period

  All territories, up to 3 months

  All territories; most up to 3 months, one up to 15 days on organized trips

  All territories; some up to 3 months, some up to 15 days

  Most territories, up to 3 months

  Some territories, up to 3 months

  Some territories, up to 15 days on organized trips

French Polynesia entry stamp

Guadeloupe entry stamp

Martinique entry stamp

New Caledonia entry stamp

Saint Barthélemy entry stamp

Saint Pierre and Miquelon entry stamp

Whereas France is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area, the overseas departments and territories of France are not part of the Schengen area and apply their own visa restrictions. Those policies are generally similar to those adopted according to the Schengen acquis.^[1]

Visa exemptions

Nationals of the following countries can enter and reside for an unlimited period without a visa in the French overseas departments and territories:^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]}

Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland travelling directly between Europe (usually France) and a French overseas department/collectivity can use their national identity card instead of their passport as a travel document. In practice, the only French overseas departments/collectivities which can be reached directly by plane from Europe are French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion.^{[8][9][10][11][12][13]}

For short stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period, visa-free entry is granted to nationals of the following countries and territories:^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]}

1. With biometric passport.
2. For French Guiana, Brazilian citizens 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; local residents of Oiapoque who are holders of a special card authorising cross-border travel (in which case they can visit Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock only visa-free for up to 72 hours); or members of the emergency services.
3. Except for Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin.
4. For French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, visa-free entry of up to 15 days for each short stay, as long as the visa-free short stays do not total more than 120 days over a 12-month period.
5. Except with passport issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate.
6. With passport bearing identity card number.

In addition, this exemption applies to:

• British nationals who are not British citizens¹

1. For Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, only British Nationals (Overseas) and British subjects with right of abode in the United Kingdom.

• Holders of a valid long-term visa or residence permit issued by France or another Schengen country

Also, holders of a multiple-entry visa issued by a French consular authority valid for 6 months to 5 years are exempt from obtaining a short-stay visa for another French territory, only if they are nationals of the following countries: Bahrain, Belarus, China, India, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates.

Additional exemptions for specific territories

For French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique:^[2]

•  Ecuador
•  Peru

For Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin:^[3]

1. Only for Saint Martin.
Note: As British nationals, British Overseas Territories citizens are also granted visa-free entry to all other French territories.

For Réunion:^[2]

1. Visa-free entry of up to 15 days for each short stay, for trips organized by an approved travel agency.

For Mayotte:^[4]

•  Mozambique

For the overseas territories in Oceania (New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia):^[5][6][7]

1. Visa-free entry of up to 15 days for each short stay, for trips organized by an approved travel agency.
2. Only for French Polynesia.
3. Only for New Caledonia.

Summary of short-stay visa exemptions

Country or territory	France (Schengen)	French Guiana	Guadeloupe and Martinique	Réunion	Mayotte	Saint Pierre and Miquelon	Wallis and Futuna	French Polynesia	New Caledonia	Saint Martin	Saint Barthélemy
EU/EFTA	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Schengen 'Annex II'[Note 1]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brazil	Yes	organized trips or in transit	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bermuda	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Montserrat	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
British Virgin Islands	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Turks and Caicos Islands	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Anguilla	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
other British nationals	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Colombia	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
East Timor	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Grenada	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Palau	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Samoa	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Tonga	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Trinidad and Tobago	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
United Arab Emirates	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Vanuatu	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Peru	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Kiribati	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Marshall Islands	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Micronesia	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Solomon Islands	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Tuvalu	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Bolivia	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ecuador	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Mozambique	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
South Africa	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
China	No	No	No	organized trips	No	No	No	organized trips	No	No	No
India	No	No	No	organized trips	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Nauru	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Fiji	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Papua New Guinea	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No

Obtaining a visa

Foreign nationals who require a visa for a French overseas department or territory 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 metropolitan France, the local prefecture)^[14] for a fee of €9 to €60 (depending on the destination and length of stay).^[15]

Note that a Schengen short stay visa ('C visa') is not valid for the French overseas departments and territories, and vice versa.

See also

• Visa policies in the European Union

References

External links

• Visa policy in the French West Indies (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy)
• Visa policy of Réunion
• Visa policy of French Guiana
• Visa policy of French Polynesia
• Visa policy of New Caledonia
• Visa policy of Mayotte

Visa policies and requirements in the European Union
Schengen Area Common Travel Area Special territories
1 Policy / Requirements Policy / Requirements Policy / Requirements
Overseas	Visa policy of the British Overseas Territories • Visa policy of the French overseas departments and territories • Visa policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean
Candidates	Albania • Macedonia • Montenegro • Serbia • Turkey
1 - Includes EFTA states.