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🇬🇧UNITED KINGDOM
🇫🇷FRANCE (SCHENGEN)GB-FR

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

Visa-free up to 90 days in any 180. EES live since 10 Apr 2026; ETIAS arrives Q4 2026. Since Brexit, British passport holders are treated as third-country nationals when visiting France and the rest of the Schengen Area. They can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa for tourism, business, or family visits. The biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, replacing passport stamps with face and fingerprint records. ETIAS — a roughly €7 online authorization — launches in Q4 2026. For stays beyond 90 days, paid work, study, or settling in France, apply for a long-stay (D) visa via France-Visas before travel.
VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-27
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
United Kingdom (ILR)Living in United Kingdom as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-27
Visa type
Visa-free (Schengen short stay, post-Brexit)
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
per entry
Entries
Multiple within 90/180 limit
from issue date
Visa fee
Free now; €7 ETIAS from Q4 2026
consular fee only
Processing time
On arrival
standard track
Validity
Per Schengen rules; ETIAS valid 3 years
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Check passport validity
Your UK passport must be valid at least 3 months past the planned Schengen departure and issued within the last 10 years. The 'extra months' on UK passports issued before September 2018 are no longer counted by EU border force.
· 3 months past stay· issued <10y
/02
Track the 90/180 window
Days count across all 29 Schengen states on a rolling 180-day basis — not per country. UK travelers got caught out post-Brexit; use the official Schengen calculator.
· rolling 180-day window
/03
EES enrolment on arrival
Since 10 April 2026, first-time arrivals scan face and fingerprints at CDG, ORY, MRS, NCE, Eurostar/Eurotunnel terminals, and ferry ports. Subsequent entries reuse the biometric record.
· EES biometrics
/04
ETIAS application (from Q4 2026)
Apply online before travel once mandatory. Fee around €7 for ages 18-70 and authorization is valid 3 years; approval is typically minutes — allow 96 hours.
· ETIAS €7
/05
If >90 days: apply for a long-stay visa
Long-stay (VLS-TS) visas for work, study, family, or visitor purposes are lodged at TLScontact (France's UK partner) before travel.
· VLS-TS
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
UK passport
Valid 3+ months past departure, issued within last 10 years
Confirmed return or onward ticket
Required at boarding and border
Accommodation evidence
Hotel bookings or attestation d'accueil (host invitation)
Funds evidence
About €120/day, €65/day with hotel, €32/day with host invitation
Travel insurance
GHIC/EHIC covers state-provided care; private insurance recommended
EES biometric enrolment
First arrival after 10 April 2026
ETIAS authorization (from Q4 2026)
Once mandatory
Schengen day calculator screenshot
Useful at the border
Pet passport / health certificate
Dogs, cats, ferrets — UK no longer EU; use Animal Health Certificate
Driving documents
UK licence accepted; no IDP needed for short visits
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Visa-free entryFreeSchengen short stay up to 90/180 days
ETIAS (from Q4 2026)€7Valid 3 years; free for under 18 / over 70
EES biometric enrolmentFreeAutomated kiosks at major airports and Eurostar / Eurotunnel terminals
France long-stay visa (VLS-TS)€99Plus £30 TLScontact service fee
Overstay finesVariesPlus possible Schengen-wide ban; resolve before re-entering
Total estimateFree — €140+incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa-free arrival
Minutes
Standard biometric border check at CDG, ORY, NCE, Eurostar/Eurotunnel terminals.
ETIAS application
Minutes to 96 hours
Online via the official ETIAS portal once mandatory (Q4 2026 onwards).
France long-stay visa
2-3 weeks
Through France-Visas portal and TLScontact appointment. Plan 4+ weeks for peak season.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
90/180 overstay
Brits forget the 90/180 limit is Schengen-wide — second-home owners in France routinely overstay. Fines, bans, and refusals on future entries follow.
High
/02
Passport too old or expiring
Passport issued more than 10 years before entry — common for older UK passports with bonus months — leads to boarding denial.
High
/03
Wrong visa for purpose
Visa-free covers tourism, business meetings, and family visits — not paid work, paid internships, retirement, or long-term study.
Medium
/04
Pet documents missing
Post-Brexit, dogs, cats, and ferrets need an Animal Health Certificate issued within 10 days of travel — no more EU Pet Passport.
Low
/05
Insufficient funds proof (long-stay)
French consulates routinely refuse long-stay applications without €120/day evidence and €30,000+ medical insurance.
Medium
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-27
United Kingdom to France route verified
Confirmed post-Brexit 90/180 visa-free entry, EES fully live since 10 April 2026, ETIAS scheduled for Q4 2026 launch.
2026-04-10 · major
EES becomes fully operational
The Schengen Entry/Exit System replaced passport stamping with biometric records of all short-stay entries and exits — particularly impactful for UK travelers post-Brexit.
2021-01-01
UK left the EU/EEA
British passport holders became third-country nationals for Schengen purposes, subject to the 90/180 cap and full external-border checks.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

How many days can I spend in France?—
Up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area — not just France. Days in Spain or Germany count against your French total.
What if I have a French second home?+
When does ETIAS start?+
What changed with EES on 10 April 2026?+
Can I drive in France with a UK licence?+
Do I still need to declare cash?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the United Kingdom passport

🇬🇧⇄
Compare the United Kingdom passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇬🇧◐
United Kingdom visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇬🇧▤
United Kingdom passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
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