1- What are the French overseas territories concerned ?

The French overseas territories concerned by this page are :

 French Polynesia
 Wallis and Futuna
 New Caledonia
 French austral territories (TAAF)
 Mayotte
 Saint Pierre and Miquelon

2- Do you need a visa to go there ?

 YES, if you are a citizen of the following countries even if you hold a US Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card") :

Afghanistan	Albania	Algeria
Angola	Antigua and Barbuda	Armenia
Australia (except for New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis abs futuna)	Azezbaidjan	Bahamas
Bahrein	Bangladesh	Barbados
Belize	Benin	Bhutan
Bielorussia	Bosnia	Botswana
Brazil (except for French Polynesia)	Burkina Faso	Burma
Burundi	Cambodia	Cameroon
Cape Verde	Central Africa	Chad
China	Colombia	Comoros
Congo	D. R. Congo ( ex-Zaïre)	Cuba
Djibouti	Dominica	Dominican Republic
Ecuador	Egypt	Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea	Ethiopia	Fiji
Gabon	Gambia	Georgia
Ghana	Grenada	Guinea
Guinea Bissau	Guyana	Haïti
Hong Kong (excep S.A.R)	India	Indonesia
Iran	Iraq	Israel
Ivory Coast	Jamaica	Jordan
Kazakhstan	Kenya	Kirghizistan
Kiribati	Kuweit	Laos
Lebanon	Lesotho	Liberia
Libya	Macao (except S.A.R.)	Ghana
Grenada	Guinea
Guinea Bissau	Guyana	Haïti
Hong Kong (excep S.A.R)	India
Indonesia	Iran	Iraq
Israel	Ivory Coast	Jamaica
Jordan	Kazakhstan	Kenya
Kirghizistan	Kiribati	Kuweit
Laos	Lebanon	Lesotho
Liberia	Libya	Macao (except S.A.R.)
Macedonia *	Madagascar	Malawi
Maldives	Mali	Marshall Islands
Mauritania	Mauritius	Micronesia
Moldavia	Mongolia	Montenegro *
Morocco	Mozambique	Namibia
Nauru	Nepal	Niger
Nigeria	North Korea	Oman
Pakistan	Palau	Palestinia
Paqua	Peru	Philippines
Qatar	Refugees	Russia
Rwanda	Solomon	Samoa
Saudi Arabia	senegal	Serbia
Seychelles	Sierra Leone	Somalia
South Africa	Sri Lanka	St Kitts
St Lucia	St Thomas	St Vincent
Sudan	Suriname	Swaziland
Syria	Tadjikistan	Taiwan
Tanzania	Thailand	Togo
Tonga	Trinidad & Tobago	Tunisia
Turkey	Turkmenistan	Tuvalu
Uganda	Ukraine	United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan	Vanuatu	Venezuela
Vietnam	Yemen	Former Yugoslavia
Zambia	Zimbabwe

* Biometric passport holders from Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia are no longer required to obtain a visa for stays under 90 days.

For Diplomatic and official passport holders, please contact us.

 NO, if you are an American citizen or hold a passport issued by a country NOT listed above, you do not need any visa to enter a French Overseas Territories as a tourist for a short stay less than 90 days.

However, if the purpose of your trip is NOT tourism, then you may still be required to get a visa before your departure (please check with us).

IT IS MANDATORY TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON LINE TO GET A VISA. NO APPOINTMENT WILL BE GIVEN BY PHONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

3- Is a Schengen visa valid for the French overseas territories ?

No, you have to apply for a specific visa, allowing you to visit these territories. If you intend to visit both France and one of these territories, you have to apply for a visa "Schengen + this territory"

Examples :

 You are traveling directly from the USA to Tahiti without going through Europe : you have to apply for a visa "French Polynesia".

 You are traveling from the USA to New Caledonia flying through Europe : you have to apply for a visa "Schengen + New Caledonia".

4- Requirements for a short stay visa.

You have to apply with the French Consulate in Houston, only if you reside in one of the following states : Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

If you do not reside in one of those states, you have to apply with another French Consulate, depending on where you live in the United states. To know where to apply, click here.

You have to apply with all the required documents in original and one copy. The visa section does not make any copies. A processing time of 2 weeks is needed.

 Original passport or travel document (+ ONE COPY of the identity pages). Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years ago, be valid for at least three months after your return to the US and have at least 2 blank visas pages left.

 2 short stay application forms completely and clearly filled out. Please print in black. Indicate also your phone numbers and e-mail.

 2 recent passport size photographs. DO NOT GLUE to the form.

 A proof of resident status in the USA and its copy.( green card, valid US visa and copy of valid I-20 or valid I-AP66, visas…) if you are not a US citizen. Applications for a short stay visa from holders of B1/B2 visas in the United States are subject to a heavier and longer procedure, and the personal appearance is required.

 the visa issued by the country of final destination, if needed.

 Reservation with detailed itinerary. The roundtrip airline tickets will be required only when the visa is issued.

 A letter from your insurance company stating that you will be covered for at least $ 37.000 during your stay in Europ for any medical and rapatriation expenses.

 Proof of employment (for example, letter from the company stating continuing employment after the period of leave, and last payslip).

 Depending on the purpose of the trip , one of the documents listed below :

For tourism : Hotel reservation, proof of registration with an organized tour, attestation of accommodation , etc., for the duration of your stay.
For business : official business invitation letter from a company in France .
For a private visit (family or friends) : Attestation of accommodation . Your host in the territories can obtain this document at the City Hall, by showing a proof of identity and 2 proofs of lodging (rental contract, and phone bill or power bill…)

 Proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of your stay : 3 last bank statements (+ 1 copy), travelers checks if visiting the United States, 100 dollars per day are suggested. For business: letter from the employer indicating the name and address of the companies in France, and guaranteeing the travel expenses;

 For a minor, if traveling alone, a notarized parental authorization signed by both parents or guardian. If the minor travels with 1 parent, an authorization signed by the 2nd parent is required .

Processing fees: by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) cash or money-order only. Personal checks or American Express are not accepted.

Personal appearance is required. IT IS MANDATORY TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON LINE TO GET A VISA. NO APPOINTMENT WILL BE GIVEN BY PHONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

REMARKS: The Consular Administration has full authority to appreciate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. Note that the visa does not in itself grant you the right to enter a French territory. It is necessary that you carry the original documents used to obtain the visa with you at all times. Border authorities may request that you show them upon entry to France.

5- Requirements for a long stay visa.

Read general information before applying.

The applicant must apply for the visa and should obtain it in his/her country of residence before arriving in one of these territories.

You have to apply with the French Consulate in Houston, only if you reside in one of the following states: Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma.

If you do not reside in one of those states, you have to apply with another French Consulate, depending on where you live in the United states. To know where to apply, click here.

The procedure may take about 2 months.

You apply for this visa if you intend to settle in one of these territories (for example as a retiree). If granted, this visa will allow you to go to a French prefecture and ask for a « carte de séjour » (residency card).

IT IS MANDATORY TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON LINE TO GET A VISA. NO APPOINTMENT WILL BE GIVEN BY PHONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

REQUIREMENTS :

 Original passport or travel document (+ ONE COPY of the identity pages). Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years ago, be valid for at least six months and have at least 2 blank visas pages left.

 2 long stay application forms signed and clearly filled out. Please print in black.Write you telephone numbers and email address.

Click on the document below for english translation:

 2 recent passport size photograph. DO NOT GLUE to the form.

 A proof of resident status in the US ( e.g. , visa, I-94, IAP66, I-20, resident card ).

 Financial guarantee such as : - Letter from your bank stating that you have sufficient means of support to live in France; - Justification of retirement pensions; - A notarized declaration of your sponsor stating that he/she will be responsible for all your expenses and a proof of his/her assets.

 A note, dated and signed by the applicant, stating that he/she does not intend to have in France and the overseas territories any paid professional activity which requires a work permit.

 Proof of medical insurance with coverage valid in France. Letter from the insurance compagny only.

 A non criminal record certificate obtained from the police’s office of your city of residence.

 Deed of your house/appartment in one of the French overseas territories.

 Processing fees: by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) cash or money-order only. Personal checks or American Express are not accepted.

REMARKS : The Consular Administration has full authority to appreciate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. The latter is hereby informed that submitting the aforementioned documents does not ensure automatic issuance of the visa.