France Entry Requirements from the UK in 2025

If you're planning to head south for a trip to France, there are a few things that you need to know, especially post-Brexit.

Traveling to France isn't as easy as it once was for Britons. Depending on your plans, you may even need a visa.

In this article, we're going to take a look at how UK citizens and residents can travel to France from the UK, including some helpful advice from the British Government.

British citizens do not need a visa for short trips to France

If you're a British citizen holding a British passport, you do not need a visa for short trips to France, so long as you're not planning to work there. What qualifies as a "short trip"? 90 days or fewer.

That said, if you are planning to work in France, you will need to apply for the appropriate visa.

Britons are allowed to travel to France without a visa, for up to 90 days, as long as the purpose of their trip falls into one of these categories:

• Tourism.
• Visiting friends or family.
• To attend a business meeting, cultural, or sports events.
• For short-term studies or training.

If you want to spend a summer in France and work at a coffee shop, for example, you would need to apply for a visa.

UK residents may need a visa to travel to France

The UK has thousands of legal residents who are not British citizens. If this is the case for you, you may need a visa in order to travel to France.

Simply living in the UK doesn't give you the same visa allowances as British citizens. Whether or not you can travel to France visa-free is dependent on your nationality, not your residence.

Make sure you check with the French Embassy to see if you need a visa for your trip. Citizens of India, China, and Pakistan who live in the UK, for example, need a visa to visit France, regardless of the reason or the duration of their intended trip.

British citizens must get a visa to stay in France for longer than 90 days

If you're a British citizen and want to stay in France for more than 90 days, you will need to get a long stay visa.

While short trips are visa-free for Britons, longer stays are not.

The application process is fairly simple, but it does take time. You will need to apply weeks/months in advance and collect several different documents proving your ability to support yourself and your reason for staying in France. You'll also need to book an in-person appointment at a visa application center/consulate to submit your application.

The process can take time, and whether or not your visa is approved isn't guaranteed.

In 2026, British citizens must apply for ETIAS before traveling to France

Starting in 2026, British citizens will need to apply for ETIAS before traveling to France. ETIAS is similar to the UK's newly introduced ETA.

The application process is entirely online and should only take 15 to 20 minutes. Once it has gone into effect, you will need to answer a few personal questions, share details about your trip to France, and pay a small fee (7 euros per person).

Most travelers will be approved in just a couple of minutes, but it can take longer in some cases.

Britons must get their passport stamped at entry and exit

A reminder from the British government, Britons traveling to France must get their passport stamped on arrival and exit.

Britons may be asked for additional documentation at border control

You will need to show your passport at the border, of course, but the British government also warns you could be asked for additional documentation, including:

• Proof of an onward or return ticket.
• Proof of your accommodations in France.
• Show proof that you can sustain yourself while in France (financially).
• Show proof of your travel insurance (if applicable).

France has passport validity requirements

Before traveling to France, you need to make sure that your passport:

• Was issued within the last 10 years.
• Must have an expiry date at least 3 months after you leave France (or the Schengen area in general).

Routine vaccinations should be up to date

According to official advice from the British Government, travelers heading to France should have up-to-date routine vaccinations, including Tetanus.

France doesn't have any vaccination requirements for entry, including Covid-19.

Britons do not need an International Driving Permit to drive in France

If you are bringing your car to France, or renting one, you do not need an International Driving Permit, so long as you currently hold a valid driver's licence.

Britons should get travel insurance before heading to France

Sometimes it is mandatory. If you're traveling to France on a visa, you may be required to take out a suitable travel insurance policy.

If you're traveling without a visa, the British Government still recommends that you take out travel insurance for France.