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🇬🇧United Kingdom
🇫🇷FranceGB-FR

United Kingdom to France visa requirements

Visa-free up to 90 days in any 180. EES is fully operational; ETIAS is expected in Q4 2026 with a €20 fee. Since Brexit, British Citizen 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, family visits, business meetings, cultural or sports events, and short-term studies or training. The biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational since 10 April 2026 after a progressive start on 12 October 2025, replacing passport stamps with digital entry/exit records and biometrics for most short-stay non-EU travellers. ETIAS is not yet operational; official EU and UK guidance expects it in the last quarter/autumn of 2026, with a €20 fee for most applicants aged 18 to 70. No ETIAS application is possible before launch, and paid ETIAS websites are fraudulent. For stays beyond 90 days, work, long study, residence, or settling in France, apply for the appropriate French long-stay visa via France-Visas before travel.
VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-20
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.
Policy alertWatch this route for rule changesSave this passport and destination for email summaries and optional browser notifications.Subscribe →United Kingdom (ILR)Living in United Kingdom as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-20
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; €20 ETIAS expected 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 only once the official ETIAS system opens. The expected fee is €20 for most travellers aged 18-70, with no fee for under-18s, over-70s, and certain EU free-movement family members. No action is needed before launch.
· ETIAS €20
/05
If >90 days: apply for a long-stay visa
Long-stay visas for work, study, family, visitor, or residence purposes are lodged through France-Visas and TLScontact in the UK before travel.
· long-stay visa
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

13 items
Personalized checklist
United Kingdom -> France · Visa-free (Schengen short stay, post-Brexit)
0 / 13 complete
Deadline reminderAdd a date before export
RequiredUK passport
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
Valid 3+ months past departure, issued within last 10 years
RequiredConfirmed return or onward ticket
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Required at boarding and border
RequiredAccommodation evidence
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Hotel bookings or attestation d'accueil (host invitation)
RequiredFunds evidence
Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances
About €120/day, €65/day with hotel, €32/day with host invitation
RecommendedTravel insurance
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
GHIC/EHIC covers state-provided care; private insurance recommended
RequiredEES biometric enrolment
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
First arrival after 10 April 2026
RequiredETIAS authorization
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Not available yet; expected from Q4 2026 once the official EU system opens
RequiredSchengen day calculator screenshot
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Useful at the border
RequiredPet passport / health certificate
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
Dogs, cats, ferrets — UK no longer EU; use Animal Health Certificate
RequiredDriving documents
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
UK licence accepted; no IDP needed for short visits
ConditionalOfficial application form or online application
Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed
Visa-free routes usually do not require a visa form; submit any arrival card or authorization if required.
RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary
Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it
Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.
RecommendedTravel medical insurance
Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates
Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.
Official sourcesGOV.UK — France entry requirements for British Citizen passports, accessed 2026-06-20France-Visas — short-stay Schengen visa and 90/180 rule, accessed 2026-06-20France-Visas — United Kingdom visa applications, TLScontact and processing, accessed 2026-06-20
Application link included: France-Visas — short-stay Schengen visa and 90/180 rule, accessed 2026-06-20
Open link
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Visa-free entryFreeSchengen short stay up to 90/180 days
ETIAS (expected from Q4 2026)€20No fee for under 18 / over 70 and certain EU free-movement family members
EES biometric enrolmentFreeAutomated kiosks at major airports and Eurostar / Eurotunnel terminals
France long-stay visaVaries; common fee €99TLScontact service fees in the UK are collected separately and are listed by France-Visas as about €40-55
Overstay finesVariesPlus possible Schengen-wide ban; resolve before re-entering
Total estimateFree — €140+ for many long-stay applicationsincl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa-free arrival
Minutes
Standard biometric border check at CDG, ORY, NCE, Eurostar/Eurotunnel terminals.
ETIAS application
Not yet open
Expected in the last quarter of 2026. Use only the official EU Travel Europe site once applications open.
France long-stay visa
2-15 working days after consulate transfer; allow at least 20 working days
France-Visas UK advises allowing at least 20 working days; once transferred to the French Consulate in London, applications are generally processed within 2 to 15 working days.
/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
2026-06-20
Codex rechecked UK to France Schengen facts
Re-verified against GOV.UK, France-Visas, France Diplomatie, and EU sources; added checked-date, corrected ETIAS fee to €20, clarified ETIAS is not yet open, and refreshed EES/TLScontact wording.
2026-06-19
Reviewed by Claude Code
Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.
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

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