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U.S. regular-passport holders can visit mainland France as tourists without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180 across Schengen. Carry accommodation, funds, return-travel evidence and the required insurance certificate. Your passport must meet the validity and issue-date rules. Expect EES border registration; ETIAS applications are not open.

Key facts

For United States passport holders, tourism or short business trips.

You may need a visa if…

• This answer covers adult regular-passport tourism in mainland France. French overseas territories are outside Schengen and have separate entry rules.
• The 90-day limit is shared across the Schengen Area, including previous visits. Crossing an internal border does not reset it.
• Carry accommodation evidence for the whole stay. If staying with a private host, arrange the town-hall-validated attestation d'accueil unless an official exemption applies.
• France-Visas lists EUR 65 per day with a hotel booking, EUR 120 per day without one, and EUR 32.50 per day with a town-hall-validated private-host accommodation certificate. For part-booked hotel stays, the EUR 65/EUR 120 rates apply to the respective periods.
• Carry an insurance certificate covering medical and hospital costs throughout your stay, medical repatriation and expenses in the event of death. France-Visas applies this to visa-exempt visitors too; its FAQ specifies at least EUR 30,000 cover valid across Schengen.
• Supporting-document exemptions include specified French residence-document holders, spouses of French citizens and official categories. Check France-Visas if one applies; this is the ordinary tourist route.
• Visa exemption does not guarantee admission; Border Police may ask for the purpose, accommodation, funds, insurance and return-travel evidence.
• Carry your passport when crossing borders; temporary internal checks may apply. Avoid demonstrations and areas of significant police activity.
• The 12-page U.S. emergency passport is not valid for entry into France. Transit may be allowed at French authorities' discretion and is not guaranteed.
• France-Visas explicitly permits American passport holders up to 90 days in 180. State's detailed entry guidance also says up to 90 days; its summary says 'less than 90 days'. Plan within the applicable limit.
• The U.S. State Department says EUR 10,000 or more must be declared on entry and exit.

Before you travel

• ✓Count prior Schengen days and remain within 90 in any 180.
• ✓Issued less than 10 years before entry and valid at least 3 months after your planned departure from Schengen. The U.S. State Department requires 1 blank page; 6 months of validity is recommended, not the minimum.
• ✓Carry accommodation evidence for the whole stay. If staying with a private host, arrange the town-hall-validated attestation d'accueil unless an official exemption applies.
• ✓France-Visas lists EUR 65 per day with a hotel booking, EUR 120 per day without one, and EUR 32.50 per day with a town-hall-validated private-host accommodation certificate. For part-booked hotel stays, the EUR 65/EUR 120 rates apply to the respective periods.
• ✓Carry a return ticket or evidence of funds to buy one for the planned return date (France-Visas). U.S. State Department guidance for travel through Europe says to carry a return plane ticket.
• ✓Carry an insurance certificate covering medical and hospital costs throughout your stay, medical repatriation and expenses in the event of death. France-Visas applies this to visa-exempt visitors too; its FAQ specifies at least EUR 30,000 cover valid across Schengen.
• ✓Expect EES border registration; do not apply or pay for ETIAS while applications remain closed.
• ✓Check your own government's current safety advice and avoid demonstrations.
• ✓Use a regular passport with at least 1 blank page; the 12-page U.S. emergency passport is not accepted for entry.
• ✓Declare EUR 10,000 or more on entry and exit, as stated in U.S. travel advice.

Common questions