Visa policies of the French overseas departments and territories

Visa policy of the French overseas departments and territories
Visa-free access to:

  All territories, unlimited period

  All territories, up to 3 months

  All territories; most up to 3 months, one up to 15 days on organized trips

  All territories; some up to 3 months, some up to 15 days

  Most territories, up to 3 months

  Some territories, up to 3 months

  Some territories, up to 15 days on organized trips

French Polynesia entry stamp

Guadeloupe entry stamp

Martinique entry stamp

New Caledonia entry stamp

Saint Barthélemy entry stamp

Saint Pierre and Miquelon entry stamp

Whereas France is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area, the overseas departments and territories of France are not part of the Schengen area and apply their own visa policies. These policies are generally similar to those adopted according to the Schengen acquis, with some additional exemptions or restrictions.

Visa exemptions

Nationals of the following countries can enter and reside for an unlimited period without a visa in the French overseas departments and territories. They may use their national identity card instead of their passport as a travel document.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

For stays of up to 3 months in a 6-month period, visa-free entry is granted to nationals of the following countries and territories (except as otherwise noted):^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

1. With biometric passport.
2. For French Guiana, Brazilian citizens may enter without a visa only in the following cases: up to 15 days for trips organized by an approved travel agency; up to 3 days when in transit to France (including all territories) or Brazil; local residents of Oiapoque who are holders of a special card authorising cross-border travel (in which case they can visit Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock only visa-free for up to 72 hours); or members of the emergency services.
3. Except for Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin.
4. For French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, visa-free entry of up to 15 days for each stay, as long as the visa-free short stays do not total more than 120 days over a 12-month period.
5. Except with passport issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate.
6. With passport bearing identity card number.

In addition, this exemption applies to:

• British nationals who are not British citizens¹

1. For Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, only British Nationals (Overseas) and British subjects with right of abode in the United Kingdom.

• Holders of a valid long-term visa or residence permit issued by France or another Schengen country

Also, holders of a multiple-entry visa issued by a French consular authority valid for 6 months to 5 years are exempt from obtaining a short-stay visa for another French territory, only if they are nationals of the following countries: Bahrain, Belarus, China, India, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates.

Summary of short-stay visa exemptions

Country or territory	France (Schengen)	French Guiana	Guadeloupe and Martinique	Réunion	Mayotte	Saint Pierre and Miquelon	Wallis and Futuna	French Polynesia	New Caledonia	Saint Martin	Saint Barthélemy
EU/EFTA	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Schengen 'Annex II'[Note 1]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brazil	Yes	organized trips or in transit	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bermuda	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Montserrat	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Turks and Caicos Islands	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
British Virgin Islands	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Anguilla	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
other British nationals	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Colombia	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
East Timor	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Grenada	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Palau	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Samoa	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Tonga	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Trinidad and Tobago	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
United Arab Emirates	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Vanuatu	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Georgia	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Peru	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Kiribati	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Marshall Islands	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Micronesia	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Solomon Islands	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Tuvalu	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Ukraine	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Bolivia	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ecuador	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Fiji	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Mozambique	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Nauru	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Papua New Guinea	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
South Africa	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
China	No	No	No	organized trips	No	No	No	organized trips	organized trips	No	No
India	No	No	No	organized trips	No	No	No	No	No	No	No

1. ↑ Except Brazil, Colombia, East Timor, Georgia, Grenada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Greandines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, and British nationals who are not EU citizens or British Nationals (Overseas).

Obtaining a visa

Foreign nationals who require a visa for a French overseas department or territory can obtain one by lodging an application at a French embassy or consulate in their country of residence (or, in the case of foreign nationals already in metropolitan France, the local prefecture)^[7] for a fee of up to €99 (depending on the destination, length of stay, and age of applicant).^[8]

Note that a Schengen short stay visa ('C visa') is not valid for the French overseas departments and territories, and vice versa.

Visitor statistics

Statistics of French Polynesia[9]
Country/Territory	2016	2015	2014	2013
United States	67,908	63,913	62,278	53,656
France	39,086	35,765	34,887	32,946
Japan	12,174	11,447	12,527	13,175
Australia	9,757	9,167	9,315	9,167
Italia	7,888	7,993	7,887	8,103
New Zealand	7,221	7,315	7,136	6,477
Canada	6,326	8,402	9,279	7,206
China	5,987	5,555	3,268	1,876
New Caledonia	4,206	4,185	4,111	3,826
United Kingdom	3,980	4,711	4,834	3,255
Germany	3,951	3,538	4,028	3,477
Total	192,495	183,831	180,602	164,393

Statistics of New Caledonia[10]
Country/Territory	2016	2015	2014	2013
Metropolitan France	36,725	37,245	36,545	39,183
Australia	22,809	20,926	18,065	15,722
Japan	21,151	20,056	19,087	15,674
New Zealand	9,143	8,529	6,780	6,334
Wallis and Futuna	6,128	6,329	6,128	6,763
Vanuatu	3,648	3,520	3,616	3,950
French Polynesia	3,453	3,552	3,371	3,946
Italia	1,045	1,104	832	718
Total	115,676	113,951	107,187	107,753

See also

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for French Guiana.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for French Polynesia.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lesser Antilles.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Mayotte.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for New Caledonia.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Reunion.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Wallis and Futuna.

• Visa policy of the Schengen Area

References