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To help you plan your journey to the capital with confidence (by plane, train, car or coach), discover all our practical advice in our Getting to Paris guide.
France is part of the Schengen Area, a zone of free movement comprising 29 European countries. If you cross the border to enter French territory, identity checks are not carried out systematically at internal borders, but remain mandatory upon arrival from a third country.
For travellers who are not nationals of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) and who are exempt from visa requirements, the entry conditions for foreign nationals stipulate a maximum stay of 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. For longer stays or permanent residence, a long-stay visa must be obtained before departure.
(Note: French overseas departments and territories are not part of the Schengen Area and apply specific entry rules)
Depending on your nationality, the purpose of your visit (tourism, business, family visit) and your country of residence (such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia or other non-EU countries), the travel documents for foreign nationals required at the border may vary. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the traveller being refused entry to the territory.
On arrival at Paris-CDG or Paris-Orly airports, or at international railway stations, a border police officer may ask you to present the following documents:
If you need to apply for a tourist visa for France, complete your preliminary application online via the official France-Visas portal. There you will find information on tracking your visa application, the exact list of documents required and the procedure for booking a visa appointment at the authorised centres in your country of residence.
The European Union is rolling out new automated systems to enhance security and modernise the management of passenger flows at its external borders.
👉 Find all the implementation dates and details of the procedures on our dedicated page: EES and ETIAS: the complete guide to the Schengen Area in Paris
If you are arriving in Paris from a country outside the European Union, the goods carried in your personal luggage are subject to tolerance thresholds (allowances). If you exceed these limits, you must make a voluntary declaration to French customs.
| Product category | Quantity / Permitted allowance |
|---|---|
| Tobacco (your choice) | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250 g of tobacco |
| Spirits (> 22°) | 1 litre OR 2 litres of alcohol with an alcohol content of less than 22° |
| Wine and beer | 4 litres of still wine AND 16 litres of beer |
| Cash | Must be declared if €10,000 or more (or equivalent in foreign currency) |
| Personal purchases (total value) | Up to €430 (air/sea travellers aged 15 and over) / €300 (other modes of transport) |
To travel safely and avoid any hold-ups on arrival:
Since 12 October 2025, the EES (Entry Exit System) has replaced manual stamping by automatically recording entries and exits in the Schengen area.
From the last quarter of 2026, travellers from 59 visa-exempt countries will need to obtain ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) authorisation before arriving in Europe.
