Travel visa

Citizen of a third State  to the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you wish to enter French territory for a short period?

You should apply for a short-stay visa.

The short-stay visa authorizes foreign nationals to enter French territory and stay there for a period of less than 3 months.

It can be single entry for a short stay or multiple entry for several successive short stays, in the latter case it is a travel visa (“visa de circulation”).

Definition

Non european nationals exempted from short-stay visas are exempted from travel visas. Check our dedicated sheet “Fact sheet: Short stay visa”.

Exemptions

A travel visa is a multiple-entry type C short-stay visa allowing an unlimited number of entries into the Schengen Area. The visa sticker bears the word Circulation (‘Travel’).

Length of stay

As for ordinary short-stay visas, the maximum length of stay is 90 days per half-year. A travel day calculator is available on the European Commission website.

Holders of this type of visa have a total of 180 days to complete either:

• A single uninterrupted 90-day stay in France or within the territory of other Schengen countries.
• Or several stays totaling up to 90 days per half-year.

Visa validity period

Travel visas are valid for between six months and five years, as stated on the visa sticker.

Obtaining a travel visa

The application procedure is the same as for an ordinary short-stay visa (documents, requirements, extension, etc.). Have a look at our dedicated fact sheet on short stay visas.

Cost of visa is also the same. Fees can be found on France-visas.