Do France passport holders need a visa to visit United Kingdom?

French passport holders need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) — not a visa — for short tourist visits. It costs £20, allows stays of up to 6 months, and is valid for 2 years. As of 30 May 2026, holders of an ordinary French (FR) passport do NOT need a visa for tourism or short visits to the United Kingdom, but they DO need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. The ETA requirement was extended to European nationals (including France) for travel on or after 2 April 2025, and full, no-discretion enforcement began on 25 February 2026 — so an ETA is now mandatory at boarding. The ETA costs £20, is normally approved within minutes (apply at least 3 working days ahead), permits multiple visits of up to 6 months each, and remains valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. It is linked electronically to the specific passport, so a new passport requires a new ETA. An ETA covers tourism, visiting family/friends, business meetings and short courses, but not paid work or stays over 6 months, which require a visa. The UK is NOT in the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply to UK entry.