Do Australians need a visa for France?
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Australians can visit France and the rest of the Schengen Area visa-free for 90 days in any 180. The days are counted across all Schengen countries combined, not per country, and since April 2026 every entry and exit is recorded biometrically rather than stamped.
Entry requirements for France at a glance
Passport validity
Issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you leave the Schengen Area
Length of stay
90 days in any 180-day period, shared across the whole Schengen Area
Onward ticket
Border officers can ask for a return or onward ticket and proof of accommodation.
Blank passport pages
2
ETIAS (expected)
ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation, similar to a US ESTA: EUR 20, valid three years, and not required for travellers under 18 or over 70. It has been delayed repeatedly and is not in force. Until it launches, Australians need nothing in advance.
Apply on the official siteWhat it costs
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fee | None | All visitors |
| ETIAS (once it launches) | EUR 20 | Travellers aged 18 to 70 |
How to get sorted, step by step
- Check your passport was issued within the last 10 years and is valid 3 months beyond the day you leave the Schengen Area - the 10-year rule catches people out on renewed passports.
- Add up your Schengen days across every country in the zone, not just this one.
- Allow extra time at your first Schengen border for Entry/Exit System registration - fingerprints and a facial image are taken once, then reused.
- Check whether ETIAS has launched before you travel.
What catches Australians out
The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. It replaces passport stamps with a digital record and takes your fingerprints and facial image at your first crossing, so allow extra time on arrival.
The 90/180 rule is counted across the whole Schengen Area - a week in France uses up your days for Spain.
Pickpocketing on the Paris Metro, around the Eiffel Tower and at Gare du Nord is organised and persistent rather than opportunistic.
France requires foreign drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their Australian licence.
Low-emission zones (ZFE) in Paris, Lyon and other cities require a Crit'Air sticker on the windscreen - hire cars usually have one, but confirm it.
Health cover for Australians in France
Australia has no reciprocal health care agreement with France. You pay for treatment up front, and an air ambulance home is the cost that turns a bad week into a bad decade.
Vaccinations: No vaccinations required. Routine Australian immunisations recommended.
Medications: Carry prescription medicines in their original labelled packaging with a copy of the script. Some codeine-based painkillers sold over the counter in Australia are prescription-only in Europe.
Compare travel insurance for FranceMore France essentials
Further reading: Do Australians need a visa? A country-by-country guide
How these comparisons are made
Entry rules on these pages come from the destination's own immigration authority first, Smartraveller second, and the destination's embassy in Australia third - each page links the exact sources it used. An automated job re-reads those government pages every day and moves the review date only when a person or the checker has confirmed the page still says what we say it says. Read the full editorial policy.
France entry requirements FAQs
Do Australians need a visa for France?
No. Australian passport holders can enter France visa-free for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. That allowance is shared across the entire Schengen Area, so days spent in Italy, Spain or Germany count against the same 90.
What is the Entry/Exit System and does it affect me?
Yes. The EU Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. Instead of stamping your passport, the border takes your fingerprints and a facial image at your first Schengen crossing and records every entry and exit digitally. You only enrol once every three years, but budget extra time at the airport the first time.
Planning France?
We will send you the France guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.