France Entry Requirements for US Citizens

Entry requirements for US citizens

Visa Free (Schengen) — ETIAS required from 2025 applies to US passport holders visiting France. Your passport valid for at least 3 months beyond intended departure from schengen area. The maximum permitted stay is 90 days within any 180-day period across all Schengen countries combined.

Safety overview

France has a safety score of 82 out of 100 in the DheeVoy safety database. This is a moderate safety rating — standard travel precautions apply.

Safest areas in France

• Le Marais Paris
• Saint-Germain-des-Pres Paris
• Lyon Vieux-Lyon
• Nice Promenade des Anglais
• Bordeaux Saint-Pierre

Tourist scams to avoid in France

• Petition scam at Eiffel Tower and Sacre-Coeur — people with clipboards then demand money
• Friendship bracelet scam — vendors tie bracelets on wrists then demand payment
• Fake police officers in plain clothes requesting wallet inspections for counterfeit notes
• Gold ring scam — someone pretends to find a gold ring and offers it to you then demands money

Best months to visit France

The best months to visit are April, May, June, September, October.

Before you travel

Always verify entry requirements with the official US government travel advisory and the France embassy or consulate before booking. Visa rules and electronic travel authorisation requirements (such as ETIAS, ESTA, K-ETA and UK ETA) change frequently. US passport holders can visit France and the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days. From 2025, US travellers must obtain ETIAS authorisation before entry — apply at etias.ec.europa.eu for EUR 7, valid 3 years. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records biometrics at first Schengen crossing. Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned Schengen departure date. The 90-day limit applies across all Schengen countries combined — not 90 days in France alone.