Unless otherwise specified next to the country name, people holding a valid passport from one of the following countries (click here to view the list) do not require a visa to visit Metropolitan France including Monaco or any of the French Overseas Departments for a maximum stay of 90 DAYS.

To visit the French Overseas Territories or French Territorial Collectivities the maximum stay allowed without a visa is 30 DAYS .

An asterisk (*) after the country name indicates nationalities that require a short stay visa if the purpose of the trip is to occupy a paid or unpaid position (a job, an internship, volunteer work, etc.) in France. The short stay visa will allow them to request a temporary work permit once in France.

The rest of the nationalities do not need the short stay visa but they must possess the temporary work permit before starting the job in France. Working without an approved work permit is illegal.

Before departure, please contact the visa section by e-mail explaining your situation: visas@consulfrance-vancouver.org

For more information about working in France, click here.

For information on the Schengen agreements, click here.

When entering France, any foreigner (whether they require a visa or not) should be able to present to the immigration office (and to the police if they require it) in addition to a valid passport the following documents:

1. - Proof of the reason for the trip:

• tourism: a hotel reservation (www.franceguide.com), a youth hostel card or proof of an organized tour.

•  business: a letter from your employer and a letter of invitation from the French company or institution you plan to contact in France.

• If you continue to be paid by your employer in Canada and you do not exceed the maximum allowed stay, you do not need a short stay visa. However, you might need a work permit depending on the kind of job you are going to perform.

• private visits: original proof of accommodation document from the person you are visiting in France. This document is available only in Metropolitan France and the overseas departments. For the overseas territories replace it with a faxed letter from your host stating names, addresses and dates.

For detailed information regarding the transportation of material and equipment, please visit the website of the French embassy in Washington D.C. www.ambafrance-us.org Their customs attaché has jurisdiction for all of North America. E-mail: ascus@ambafrance-us.org

2. Proof of financial resources:

• cash, traveler's checks, valid international credit card.

3. Proof of repatriation :

• round-trip ticket - entry visa to the country where you live temporarily or permanently or to your final country of destination.

• Excess emergency medical insurance (covers the part not included in your provincial health plan) or proof of full international emergency medical insurance (if provided by your employer, read the policy with the limits and conditions).

.

A
Andorra
Argentina
Australia* (Also, no visa required for a stay up to 90 days in French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna)
Austria

B
Belgium
Bermudas* (Short stay visa mandatory for French Overseas Departments, Territories, and Collectivities except for "British dependent territories citizen" passport holders)
Bolivia
Brasilia* (Short stay visa mandatory for French Overseas Departments, Territories, and Collectivities)
Brunei*
Bulgaria * (Also, no visa required for a stay of up to 90 days in French Overseas Territories and Collectivities).

C
Canada* (Short stay visa mandatory for those going on a paid or unpaid internship or on an university vacation job)
Chile
China (special administration region) and Macao SAR passport holders: no short stay visa required for a maximum stay of 90 days anywhere in France except New Caledonia. Visa mandatory for all other Chinese passport holders (Taiwan, BNO, PRC)
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic

D
Denmark

E
Ecuador* (Short stay visa mandatory for regular passport's holders only)
El Salvador
Estonia

F
Finland

G
Germany
Greece
Guatemala

H
Honduras
Hungary

I
Ireland
Iceland
Israel* (Short stay visa mandatory for French Overseas Departments, Territories and Collectivities)
Italy

J
Japan*

L
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg

M
Malaysia
Malta
Mexico*
Monaco

N
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway

P
Panama
Paraguay
Poland
Portugal

R
Czech Republic
Romania (Exemption applies to Metropolitan France ONLY. Visa mandatory for French Overseas Departments, Territories and Collectivities)

S
Saint-Marin
Saint-Siège
Singapore*
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Korea*
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

U
United-Kingdom ( No visa required for holders of passport bearing on the cover page the mention "European Community" or "European Union" only)
United States of America* ( Short stay visa mandatory for Americans who wish to study in France; holders of diplomatic or official passports; journalists in a mission; boat or plane crew members as well as anybody doing a paid job - including researchers and artists.)
Uruguay

V
Venezuela* (Short stay visa mandatory for French Overseas Territories and Collectivities)