ETIAS France for British
ETIAS APPLICATIONBritish passport holders will soon need an ETIAS visa waiver to visit France. Find out how to apply for the new European travel authorisation from 2026.
Requirements to enter France from the UK
UK citizens do not need a visa to visit France, or elsewhere in the Schengen area, for short-term stays.
Tourists and business travellers can enter France using just a British passport. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the expected date of departure. UK passport shouldn't be older than 10 years.
British citizens will soon need an ETIAS visa waiver to go to France, or anywhere else in the Schengen Area.
Visitors need to register their details online before departure, facilitating safer visa-free travel. ETIAS is similar to other visa waiver systems such as the ESTA, used to enter the U.S.
When will ETIAS be necessary to travel from the UK to France?
ETIAS for France will be launched in 2026. It will become a mandatory entry requirement following a short implementation period.
Once ETIAS applications are open, British citizens should apply for travel authorisation online before visiting France, or another Schengen state, on holiday or business.
The approved ETIAS authorisation is valid for 3 years, or until the passport expires (whichever is sooner). It will be valid for multiple trips to France from the UK, for up to 90 days per 180-day period.
How to apply for ETIAS for France
British nationals will apply for ETIAS Authorisation France online. They must have:
- Valid UK passport
- Email address
- Credit or debit card
Applicants should complete the electronic application form with basic personal information and travel details. They will also need to provide passport data and answer safety and security questions.
To finalise the request, British applicants can pay the ETIAS processing fee by credit or debit card.
Applicants who meet the ETIAS requirements are notified by email on approval of the visa waiver.
Travel to France after Brexit
Now that Britain has left the European Union, rules for visiting France and other EU countries have changed.
Although British passport holders can still enter France without a visa, the length of stay is now limited to 90 days in any 180-day period.
As third-country nationals, UK passport holders will also need to apply for ETIAS for France when it becomes available.
Here are some other ways in which travelling from the UK to France has changed since Brexit:
- UK passports must be valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area and not issued more than 10 years ago
- EU exclusive border gates can no longer be used by British citizens when entering France
- British passengers could be asked to provide proof of funds or onward travel
- UK passport holders need a visa to stay longer than 3 months or work in France
There are also changes to receiving medical care and using a mobile phone in the EU.
British nationals should check all the latest information and guidance before travelling from the UK to France.
Information about France
France is one of the most visited countries in Europe and the world—90 million holidaymakers visited France in 2019.
Paris, the French capital, is a favourite destination among international travellers. Other important French cities include Bordeaux, Lyon, and Marseille.
The French Riviera, or Côte d’Azur, is a stretch of the Mediterranean coastline in France. Popular places for summer beach holidays include Nice, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez.
- Capital CityParis
- LanguageFrench
- CurrencyEuro
- Plug TypesTypes C and E
- Emerency Phone Number112
Recommended insurance to travel to France
European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) can still be used in the EU until their expiry dates.
The EHIC entitles British visitors to state-provided medical treatment if they have an accident or fall ill in France or another EU country.
As a result of Brexit, when an EHIC card expires, it will be replaced by the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
Neither the EHIC nor the GHIC is a substitute for travel insurance. UK citizens visiting France should take out insurance that covers medical expenses before going abroad.
British consular services in France
The United Kingdom has 3 representations in France. These offer consular services to British citizens living in France or visiting the country.
British Embassy in Paris
Paris
35 rue de Faubourg St Honoré 75383 Paris Cedex 08 France
British Consulate General in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
353 Boulevard du President Wilson 33073 Bordeaux Cedex France
British Consulate in Marseille
Marseille
Les Docks de Marseille-La Joliette Atrium 10.3, 1st floor 13002 Marseille France
French consular services in the UK
British citizens can get information about residence and work visas at one of many French representative offices in the UK.
The visas section of the Consulate General of France in London is at:
- 6a Cromwell Place
- London
- SW7 2EW
- England
France also has representations in the following 19 locations across the UK:
French Consulate in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
c/o Key Moves - Wilsone & Duffus 14 Chapel Street Aberdeen AB10 1SP United Kingdom
French Consulate in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast, Northern Ireland United Kingdom
French Consulate in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham United Kingdom
French Consulate in Brighton
Brighton
Newhaven Port & Properties Port Administration Offices, East Quay Newhaven BN9 0BN United Kingdom
French Consulate in Bristol
Bristol
Francis Hotel Queen Square Bath BA1 2HH United Kingdom
French Consulate in Cardiff
Cardiff
6 Reardon Smith Court Fairwater Cardiff CF5 3JD United Kingdom
French Consulate in Chester
Chester
Université of Chester, Binks Building, 2nd floor Parkgate Road Chester CH1 4BJ United Kingdom
French Consulate in Dover
Dover
c/o George Hammond PLC Limekiln Street Dover South Services Dover CT17 9EF United Kingdom
French Consulate General in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
West Parliament Square Edinburgh EH1 1RF United Kingdom
French Consulate in Guernsey
Guernsey
Conservatoire de la Maison Victor Hugo Hauteville House - 38 Hauteville Saint Peter Port Guernsey, GY1 1DG United Kingdom
French Consulate in Isle of Man
Isle of Man
29, Rhenwyllan Close Port St Mary Isle of Man IM9 5NJ United Kingdom
French Consulate in Jersey
Jersey
71 Halkett Place St Helier - Jersey JE2 4WG United Kingdom
French Consulate in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool United Kingdom
French Consulate in Manchester
Manchester
c/o Alliance Française 125 Portland Street-Ground Floor Manchester M1 4QD United Kingdom
French Consulate in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
26 Forth Place Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE1 4EU United Kingdom
French Consulate in Nottingham
Nottingham
53 Wilmot Street Heanor DE75 7EF United Kingdom
French Consulate in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth Devon United Kingdom
French Consulate in Stornoway
Stornoway
c/o N. L. Macdonald Ltd. 64-70 Bayhead Street Stornoway HS1 2DZ United Kingdom
Major airports in France
France is easily accessible from the UK, with flights available all year round. The largest airports in France are located close to the capital city, Paris. There are also several international airports along the Mediterranean coast.
ETIAS will be valid at all international airports in France. The visa waiver will be verified before crossing the border.
The most important airports in France include:
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Paris
CDG
Paris Orly Airport
Paris
ORY
Nice Airport
Nice
NCE
Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport
Lyon
LYS
Marseille Airport
Marseille
MRS
Toulouse Blagnac Airport
Toulouse
TLS
Bordeaux Airport
Bordeaux
BOD