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.
Visa exemptions
Overseas France consists of: Overseas departments and regions: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion Overseas collectivities: French Polynesia, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna New Caledonia, a collectivity with special status French Southern and Antarctic Lands, an overseas territory with no permanent population Clipperton Island, an uninhabited atoll directly administered by the French government
Visa exemptions exist for the overseas departments and regions, overseas collectivities, and New Caledonia. Visits to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and to Clipperton Island require specific authorizations.
Unlimited period Nationals of the following countries can enter and reside for an unlimited period without a visa in all French overseas departments and regions, overseas collectivities, and New Caledonia, except as otherwise noted:
member states European Free Trade Association member states
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. 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, but those who are not nationals of France need a permit to work in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and French Polynesia.
Short stays For stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period in all overseas departments and regions, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and up to 3 months in a 6-month period in New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and French Polynesia, visa-free entry is granted to nationals of the following countries and territories, except as otherwise noted:
This exemption also applies to: Holders of a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by France or another Schengen Area country Nationals of the following countries holding a multiple-entry visa issued by France with validity between 6 months and 5 years:
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The following categories of travelers may also transit without a visa: Passengers transiting only the international transit area of an airport, except the same categories required to have an airport transit visa for the European part of France Airline and ship crew members Cruise ship passengers holding a visa for any French territory or a residence permit for Andorra, Canada, Japan, Monaco, San Marino or the United States, for a stay of up to 24 hours Cruise ship passengers not leaving the ship
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:
Travelers coming directly from Sint Maarten may enter Saint Martin through their open border.
For Saint Pierre and Miquelon: 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:
For Réunion:
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.
For New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and French Polynesia:
Summary of visa exemptions
Country Metropolitan France (Schengen) French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy Saint Pierre and Miquelon Mayotte Réunion New Caledonia and French Polynesia Wallis and Futuna (except France) and EFTA Schengen 'Annex II'
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) for a fee of up to €99 (depending on the destination, length of stay, age and nationality).Visa fees, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France.
+Visa fees Length of stay Destination Regular fee Reduced fee No 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, French Southern and Antarctic Lands €9 spouse of a French national, family members of other EU/EFTA nationals More than 90 days any €99 €50 for students; €15 for children adopted by a French national spouse 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). A visa with the designation "valable pour France sauf CTOM" allows visiting all parts of Overseas France in the Americas as well as Réunion.
Visitor statistics
Visitor statistics of French Polynesia Country/territory 2016 2015 2014 2013 67,908 63,913 62,278 53,656 39,086 35,765 34,887 32,946 12,174 11,447 12,527 13,175 9,757 9,167 9,315 9,167 7,888 7,993 7,887 8,103 7,221 7,315 7,136 6,477 6,326 8,402 9,279 7,206 5,987 5,555 3,268 1,876 4,206 4,185 4,111 3,826 3,980 4,711 4,834 3,255 3,951 3,538 4,028 3,477 Total 192,495 183,831 180,602 164,393
Visitor statistics of New Caledonia Country/territory 2016 2015 2014 2013 Metropolitan France 36,725 37,245 36,545 39,183 22,809 20,926 18,065 15,722 21,151 20,056 19,087 15,674 9,143 8,529 6,780 6,334 6,128 6,329 6,128 6,763 3,648 3,520 3,616 3,950 3,453 3,552 3,371 3,946 1,045 1,104 832 718 Total 115,676 113,951 107,187 107,753
See also
Visa policy of the Schengen Area Visa policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean
Notes
References