Calais, France » City Info » Visa Requirements

Do I need a visa to go to Calais, France?

If you are not eligible for visa-free entry into France, you need a visa to enter the country. Many countries enjoy visa-free entry for periods of up to 90 days.

Schengen visa is required for travelers to go to France. The Schengen Area consists of 23 EU member states and four non-EU countries. Visitors entering France are bound by the Schengen Agreement, of which France is a part.

Citizens from Schengen-member countries do not require a visa to enter France, but they must carry a national ID while entering and traveling in France. Three months (90 days) is the allowable stay for tourists.

The Schengen Area consists of 23 EU member states and four non-EU countries:

Additionally, there are many countries whose citizens are exempt from the visa requirement for travel to the Schengen Area. Please visit the official site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Citizens who are not visa-exempt must make a 'declaration of entry' (déclaration d'entrée) at a police station or to border inspection personnel if they arrive in France from another Schengen area's country unless they carry a long-term visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen member state.

If you want to stay in France for more than 90 days, you need a long-stay visa. It is not possible to switch from a 'visitor' entry status to a 'long-stay. To get a long-stay visa, you must apply at the consulate responsible for your place of residence.

Certain categories of long-stay visa, such as student (étudiant), visitor (visiteur), family (vie privée et familiale), intern (stagiaire), researcher/scientist (scientifique-chercheur), salaried worker (salarié), and short-term worker (travailleur temporaire), do not require holders to obtain a separate residence permit (carte de séjour) for the first year of stay.

In 2018, the EU approved regulations to establish a system for electronic authorisation of visa-exempt visitors, named ETIAS.

For more information, visit this webpage of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Please note: The information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Please contact your nearest embassy for accurate, up-to-date information.

For more regarding travel to the Schengen Area please visit Europa.eu