United Kingdom
France
France visa for British citizens
Entry requirement
France admits British citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at ambafrance-uk.org
For longer stays: study, work and residence
France: visa decisions in the United Kingdom
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 130,181 | 123,880 | 7,372 | 5.6% | 15.1% |
| 2024 | 132,469 | 124,516 | 7,946 | 6.0% | 5.8% |
| 2025 | 129,940 | 118,552 | 10,994 | 8.5% | 19.6% |
In 2025, France’s embassy and consulates in the United Kingdom (London) received 129,940 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 118,552. The refusal rate was 8.5%. The refusal rate rose by 2.5 points from 6.0% in 2024. The number of applications was almost unchanged (132,469 in 2024).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 10.5% of the applications lodged in the United Kingdom that year, from 1.0% at the consulates of the Netherlands to 32.0% at those of Iceland. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%. France was the 2nd most applied-for Schengen state in the United Kingdom.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in the United Kingdom, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
French citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
FranceUnited Kingdom Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United Kingdom visa for citizens of France
Travel advice for France
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
For a trip from the United Kingdom to France, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates France at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 20 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to France (updated 22 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for France (updated 28 October 2026).
Good to know
How long British citizens can stay in France
British citizens may stay in France for up to 90 days. Days in France count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
France and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of British citizens in France count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
France’s neighbours for British citizens
Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain admit British citizens visa-free.
French citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
French citizens do not need a visa for the United Kingdom, but they need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before departure; it covers stays of up to 180 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for France?
France admits British citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
How long can British citizens stay in France?
British citizens can stay in France for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do French citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?
French citizens do not need a visa for the United Kingdom, but they need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before departure; it covers stays of up to 180 days.
Can British citizens enter France visa-free?
Yes, British citizens can enter France without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.