FRANCE VISA EXEMPTION

Foreign nationals who do NOT need a Schengen visa to go to France

 Foreign nationals with a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen country may travel freely in the Schengen Area for up to 3 months as long as they hold a valid recognised passport and a valid residency status.

 Citizens of countries listed in the table below do NOT need a Schengen visa to go to France, as long as their stay does not exceed 3 months.

(1) Only for holders of a biometric passport.
(2) The European Economic Area (EEA) comprises 30 countries : 27 member states of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom), plus 3 member states of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).
(3) Taiwanese nationals are exempted from short-stay visas, provided that their passport bears their ID card number (usually printed on page 3 above the date of birth).

However, you may be asked, either at the border of entry or within the Schengen Area, to produce proofs of financial means of support, hotel bookings or your return ticket to your country of residence.

Additionally, all foreigners wishing to travel to France MUST be in possession of a valid travel insurance that covers medical and repatriation costs.

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France is the largest country in Western Europe. The country has a long history of cultural influence within Europe and across the world as a result of its former colonial power. France is bordered on the northwest and west by the English Channel and Atlantic respectively, on the southwest by the Pyrenees, on the south by the Mediterranean, and in the southeast and east by the Alps.  In the north and northeast are low-lying plains and hills.

Overview

PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE

The French people represent mixed ancestries with physical differences and regional dialects. The northern accents are close to standard French; those of the south have highly distinctive nasal vowel sounds.  The Occitan dialect of the south is derived from the Provencal language of the Middle Ages. It is reported that the most marked language differences are in outlying areas: Catalan, spoken in the eastern Pyrenees; Breton, a Celtic language of Brittany; the Germanic dialect of Alsace; and Flemish (similar to Dutch) spoken along the border with Belgium. The Basque language of the western Pyrenees (also spoken in northern Spain) is linguistically unique among European languages.

CULTURE AND RELIGION

The French culture has enriched the world from playwrights, artists, philosophers, writers, composers, film directors, sculptors and more.  The French are also known for its fashion and food.  French cuisine has come to dominate the tables of the world.

There is no state church in France. The majority of the people belong to the Roman Catholic Church.  There are large Protestant and Jewish minorities, and a large number of Muslims among the immigrant-based communities from Northern Africa.

TOURISM

For the last two decades, fabulous France has been the world’s favorite tourism destination, seeing no less than 81 million visitors on average every year. Foodies, shopaholics, history buffs, culture vultures, beach bunnies, winter sports lovers, families, and eco-tourists all flock to France for their vacation, knowing they won’t be disappointed with something for everyone. The country is one of Europe’s most geographically diverse, with its cities home to unrivalled cultural treasures and superb architecture. The countryside is dotted with ancient castles and chateaux, set in stunning natural beauty, and the French wines and cuisine are among the finest in the world.

EDUCATION

France has an excellent public education system, so much so that private education is less popular there.  Most private schools are Roman Catholic. Public education is free at all levels and compulsory between the ages of 6 and 16. After primary education up to age 11, lycees or grammar schools prepare students for the national baccalaureate examinations; others go on to secondary colleges providing general or technical education.

Higher education was reformed after the student unrest of 1968 and now consists of multidisciplinary universities, polytechnics and professional colleges such as medical schools.