Visa illustration

Visa request

Published on by Ghislain VACHEROT - updated on

All foreign people wanting to come to France must be able to submit statutory documentary evidence related to their stay at the border. Some foreign nationals must obtain a valid visa.

Conditions for entry into the French territory

As a rule, you are required to have a visa but some nationalities are exempt from getting a short-stay visa to enter the Schengen Area:

  • European* people can enter and stay up to 3 months in France without particular formality. Nationals of EEA Member States** or Switzerland are not subject to the entry and stay visa requirement, whatever the duration of their stay.

*EU: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

**EEA: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Travelers must apply for the visa from the relevant French Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.
If your stay in France is not exceeding 3 months, you need to apply for a "short-stay (Type C)" visa (This visa shall be common to all States Schengen).

Please visit the Service-Public website for more information about visas.

Invitation letter

In order to help you obtain your visa, Milipol Paris can send you an invitation letter to take with you to the French Consulate or Embassy in your country.

Please note that the Consulate or Embassy is the final decision maker regarding the delivery of your visa and your contact for any additional questions.

To get an invitation letter:

  • For exhibitors: Go to your Exhibitor Area - Badges.
  • For Visitors: Go to your personal area once your registration request has been validated by the organizer.