Visa policy of the French overseas departments and territories

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:

Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland travelling directly between Europe (usually France) and a French overseas department/collectivity, or between departments/collectivities can use their national identity card instead of their passport as a travel document. In practice, only French overseas departments, and not collectivities, can be reached directly by plane from Europe.

For short stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period, visa-free entry is granted to nationals of the following countries and territories:

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 short 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:

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.

Additional exemptions for specific territories

For French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique:

For Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin:

1. Only for Saint Martin.
Note: As British nationals, British Overseas Territories citizens are also granted visa-free entry to all other French territories.

For Réunion:

1. Visa-free entry of up to 15 days for each short stay, for trips organized by an approved travel agency.

For Mayotte:

For the overseas territories in Oceania (New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia):

1. Visa-free entry of up to 15 days for each short stay, for trips organized by an approved travel agency.
2. Only for French Polynesia.
3. Only for New Caledonia.

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) for a fee of €9 to €60 (depending on the destination and length of stay).

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