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🇭🇰Hong Kong (SAR China)

🇫🇷FranceHK-FR

Hong Kong (SAR China) to France visa requirements

Q: Is the 90-day limit per country or for all of Schengen?

It applies to the entire Schengen Area combined. Days spent in any Schengen country count toward the same 90-day allowance in a rolling 180-day window.

Q: Do I need ETIAS to visit France now?

No. As of 21 June 2026 ETIAS is not yet operational. It is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026 and will cost EUR 20 for most adults once live. Any website selling ETIAS before launch is fraudulent.

Q: What is the EES and does it affect me?

Yes. The Entry/Exit System digitally records your passport data, entry and exit, and biometrics at the Schengen external border. It is fully operational since 10 April 2026. It is free and not a visa, but expect it at arrival.

Q: What passport validity do I need?

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area and have been issued within the last 10 years.

Q: What documents should I carry at the border?

Carry a return/onward ticket, proof of accommodation, evidence of sufficient funds, travel medical insurance, and proof of trip purpose. Border officers may ask to see them even though you are visa-exempt.

No visa needed. HKSAR ordinary passport holders can enter France and the Schengen Area visa-free for short visits for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. ETIAS is not required as of 21 June 2026. Hong Kong SAR ordinary passport holders are exempt from the Schengen short-stay visa and may visit France and the wider Schengen Area for tourism, business or family visits for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. The HKSAR Immigration Department confirms the Schengen visa-free stay, and EU Regulation 2018/1806 lists Hong Kong SAR passport holders in the visa-exempt category. The 90-day allowance is shared across all Schengen countries, not reset country by country. As of 21 June 2026, ETIAS is not yet required; the EU expects it to start in the last quarter of 2026, when the standard fee will be EUR 20 for travellers aged 18 to 70. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational from 10 April 2026, so non-EU/non-Schengen short-stay travellers, including visa-exempt HKSAR passport holders, should expect digital entry/exit and biometric registration at the external Schengen border. EES is not a visa and has no traveller fee. Carry proof of onward/return travel, accommodation, sufficient funds and travel medical insurance, as French border police may request them. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure from Schengen and have been issued within the last 10 years.

VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-21

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 →Hong Kong (PR)Living in Hong Kong (SAR China) as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-21

Visa type

Visa-free (Schengen short stay)

Maximum stay

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period

per entry

Entries

Multiple entries within the 90/180 allowance

from issue date

Visa fee

EUR 0 now; ETIAS EUR 20 once operational

consular fee only

Processing time

No visa application; EES border registration on arrival

standard track

Validity

90/180 rule across Schengen; passport valid 3+ months beyond departure

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Confirm your passport is valid

Ensure your HKSAR passport was issued within the last 10 years and is valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen Area.

· 3 months validity· Issued within 10 years

/02

Check your Schengen day count

Add up days already spent in any Schengen country in the past 180 days. Your France trip plus prior Schengen stays must not exceed 90 days in any rolling 180-day window.

· 90/180 rule· Counts all Schengen states

/03

Prepare supporting documents

Carry proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host invitation), a return or onward ticket, evidence of sufficient funds, and travel medical insurance covering medical and repatriation costs.

· Return ticket· Proof of funds· Insurance

/04

Verify ETIAS status before departure

As of 21 June 2026 ETIAS is not yet required. It is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026 with a EUR 20 fee for most adults. Check the official EU ETIAS site close to travel and ignore any site selling ETIAS before launch.

· Not required now· Q4 2026 launch

/05

Enter France and complete EES checks

At the French/Schengen external border, present your passport and documents. Since 10 April 2026 the EES digitally records short-stay entries and exits and registers biometric data such as a facial image and fingerprints.

· EES biometrics· No fee

/06

Track your stay and exit on time

Leave the Schengen Area before exceeding 90 days. Overstaying can lead to fines, deportation and future entry bans.

· Avoid overstay· Exit on time

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

13 items

Personalized checklist

Hong Kong (SAR China) -> France · Visa-free (Schengen short stay)

0 / 13 complete

Visa typeTravel date

Deadline reminderAdd a date before export

RequiredHKSAR ordinary passport valid 3+ months beyond departure

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

required

RequiredPassport issued within the last 10 years

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

required

RequiredReturn or onward flight ticket

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

required

RequiredProof of accommodation (hotel booking or host invitation)

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

required

RequiredEvidence of sufficient funds for the stay

Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances

required

RequiredTravel medical insurance covering medical and repatriation costs

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

required

RequiredSchengen 90/180 day count confirmed within limit

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

required

RequiredEES biometric registration at the Schengen external border

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

required

RequiredETIAS authorization (only once launched, expected Q4 2026)

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

conditional

RecommendedProof of trip purpose (itinerary, booking confirmations)

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

recommended

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 sourcesHKSAR Immigration Department - Visa-free access for HKSAR Passport EUR-Lex - Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 visa-exempt list European Commission - Schengen Visa Policy

Application link included: HKSAR Immigration Department - Visa-free access for HKSAR Passport

Open link

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Schengen short-stay visa feeEUR 0Not applicable - HKSAR passport holders are visa-exempt

ETIAS authorization feeEUR 0 now; EUR 20 once liveNot yet payable as of 21 June 2026; expected to start in Q4 2026 and free for under-18s and over-70s

EES border registrationEUR 0Biometric entry/exit system; no fee charged to travelers

Total estimateEUR 0 — EUR 20 (once ETIAS starts)incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa-free entry

Immediate at border

No application or processing needed; present passport and supporting documents at the Schengen external border.

ETIAS online authorization

Not required yet

Only after ETIAS starts in Q4 2026; most applications are expected to be decided quickly, but extra checks can take longer.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

Tourism and sightseeing

Visiting Paris, Provence, the French Riviera and other destinations as a short-stay tourist.

High

/02

Family or friend visits

Visiting relatives or friends residing in France for a short period.

Medium

/03

Business meetings and conferences

Attending short business meetings, trade fairs or conferences without paid employment.

Medium

/04

Transit to other Schengen countries

Entering via France before continuing travel within the Schengen Area.

Low

/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

2026-06-21

Reviewed by Claude Code

Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.

2026-06-21

Codex checked HK-FR route

Codex checked France-Visas search results plus HKSAR Immigration Department, EUR-Lex, European Commission, Service-Public.fr, and France Diplomatie official sources; added checked-date, refreshed ETIAS as not yet required with a Q4 2026 start and EUR 20 fee, updated EES to fully operational since 10 April 2026, and synced English/Chinese entry-document guidance.

2026-05-30

Hong Kong to France route verified

Confirmed via the French Consulate in Hong Kong and HKSAR Immigration Department that HKSAR ordinary passport holders remain visa-free for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period under the Schengen rule. ETIAS is still not operational (scheduled for end of 2026); EES biometric checks began rolling out in October 2025.

/09 — The questions