paris tourist visa from usa

Entry Requirements for American Travelers to France

Passports and visas.

All U.S. and Canadian citizens, including infants, need a valid passport to enter France. Visas are not required for American and Canadian visitors staying in France for up to 90 days. For more information, contact your nearest French Consulate. See a list of local French consulates in the U.S. (External link)

It is mandatory in France to carry some form of identification at all times. If you lose your passport, the nearest U.S. Consulate will issue Americans a limited-validity replacement if travel is imminent, or a full-validity passport if further travel is not within two weeks. When in France, please carry a photocopy of your passport separately from your passport. The copy will facilitate issuance of a replacement ($75 fee for adults, $85 for children). The American Embassy in Paris is at 2, avenue Gabriel, tel. 01 43 12 22 22. The Passport Section is nearby at 4, avenue Gabriel (open 9a.m.-noon, Monday- Friday). There are other Consular Offices in Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Rennes, Strasbourg and Toulouse that provide assistance to American citizens.

Entering France : Travelers from countries outside the European Union (EU) must declare certain articles when entering France. Duty and import taxes are levied on items not for personal use that individually or collectively exceed 175€ in value. Certain categories of items for personal use (tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, perfumes, coffee and tea, etc.) may be brought in untaxed up to certain authorized amounts. The following are forbidden or subject to strict control: drugs, radioactive materials, firearms, endangered species, plants, ivory and food, meat and dairy products. Carry prescriptions to authenticate any controlled substances. “Monetary instruments” equal to more than 10,000€ (whether brought into or taken out of France) must be declared. When in doubt, consult the French Embassy (External link) , a French Consulate or the French Customs and Excise Service's “ Info Douanes Service (External link) ” in Paris at tel. 08 20 02 44 44 (8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday)

Re-entering the U.S. : Returning U.S. citizens who have been away for 48 hours or more are allowed to bring back, once every 30 days, $800 worth of merchandise duty-free. You're charged a flat rate of duty on the next $1,000 worth of purchases, and any dollar amount beyond that is subject to duty at whatever rates apply. On mailed gifts, the duty-free limit is $200. Have your receipts or purchases handy to expedite the declaration process. Note: If you owe duty, you are required to pay upon your arrival in the United States, using cash, personal check, government or traveler's check, or money order; some locations also accept Visa or MasterCard.

BRINGING YOUR PETS TO FRANCE

Travelers may bring dogs, cats and ferrets into France. Each family is limited to five animals, which must have valid rabies vaccination certificates and be identifiable by a microchip or tattoo. For more information, including details about travel with pet rodents, reptiles, birds or other species, visit www.ambafrance-us.org or contact the French Embassy.

• FACEBOOK - France in the US on Facebook (External link)
• TWITTER - Follow the Embassy on Twitter (External link)

Practical info

Getting Married in France

Customs and Visas

Driving in France

Security measures in France

Regulation about smoking, drinking alcohol and using drugs

Civil Unions in France?

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Visas for U.S. citizens traveling abroad

If you are a U.S. citizen planning to travel abroad, you may need a visa to enter a foreign country. Learn how to find your destination's visa requirements.

While not all countries require visas for American travelers, many do. Look up your destination using the U.S. State Department's Learn About Your Destination search tool . On the country’s information page, you will find entry, exit, and visa requirements. You will also find travel advisories and a link to the country’s embassy.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

Have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: request blocked

U.S. Travelers Won’t Need a Visa to Visit Brazil Just Yet — What to Know

The new visa requirements were most recently set to go into effect on April 10 of this year.

Brazil has postponed its travel visa requirements for American visitors until 2025 just as it was set to go into effect. 

The new visa requirements for tourists from the United States, which has been postponed several times and was most recently set to go into effect on April 10 of this year, will now go into effect on April 10, 2025, according to the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Brazil . A visa will also be required for tourists from Australia and Canada, Visit Rio shared with Travel + Leisure.  

"We applaud the government's decision… to delay the visa," Joao H. Rodrigues, the U.S. representative for Visit Rio, said in a statement shared with T+L. "In the first two months of 2024, the arrival of Americans in Brazil was 11% higher than in the same period of the previous year. Without the visa requirement, we expect to maintain the growth in the arrival of foreign tourists from these international markets visiting Brazil and [especially] Rio de Janeiro."

When it does take effect, American travelers will need to obtain an electronic visa to enter the country. The e-visa will cost $80.90 per person and will be valid for 10 years, according to the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Brazil.

The decision to bring back these visa requirements comes about five years after the country eliminated visa rules for U.S. travelers exploring for up to 90 days.

While Brazil is bringing back visa rules for American travelers next year, several countries are dropping them or making it easier for U.S. tourists to visit. Turkey, for example, dropped visa requirements earlier this year for travelers visiting from both America and Canada. And China made it easier for Americans to visit by eliminating the requirement for U.S. travelers to submit proof of a round-trip air ticket, proof of a hotel reservation, proof of their itinerary, or an invitation letter to apply for a tourist visa.

There are also several other countries where American travelers are not required to obtain a visa before going, including many European, Caribbean, Central American, and South American countries.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure .

Middle East latest: Six children killed in Israeli airstrike in Rafah, hospital says; Iraq military base explosion was 'attack'

Six children are reportedly among those killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gazan city of Rafah overnight. Meanwhile, one member of an Iran-backed group was killed after a large explosion at a military base in Iraq, which has been described as an "attack".

Saturday 20 April 2024 17:18, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Airstrike on Iraqi base from 'unknown source'
• Iraqi security force claims explosion was result of attack
• Iranian minister compares 'drones' in attack to 'children's toys'
• Six children among nine killed in Israeli airstrike, hospital says
• What we know so far about Israel's apparent attack on Iran
• Iran has 'no plan for immediate retaliation'
• Analysis: Iran isn't biggest threat to the coalition right now
• Live reporting by Bhvishya Patel and (earlier)  Narbeh Minassian

The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives is set to vote on, and expected to pass, a $95bn package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan today.

Before the voting, the House began a sombre but serious debate with an unusual sense of purpose as Republican committee chairs and top Democrats on the panels united to urge swift passage that would ensure the US supports its allies and remains a leader on the world stage.

"The eyes of the world are upon us, and history will judge what we do here and now," said Michael McCaul, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee.

The weekend scene presented a striking display of congressional action after months of stalemate fuelled by Republicans, who hold the majority but are deeply split over foreign aid, particularly for Ukraine.

Speaker Mike Johnson is relying on Democratic support to ensure the military and humanitarian package is approved, and help flows to the US allies.

There will be a series of votes on three aid bills, for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific, as well as a fourth that contains several other foreign policy proposals, including a clampdown on the social media platform TikTok.

If the votes are successful, the package will go to the Senate, where passage in the coming days is nearly assured. 

President Joe Biden has promised to sign it immediately.

Passage through the House would clear away the biggest hurdle to Mr Biden's funding request, first made in October as Ukraine's military supplies began to run low. 

By military analyst Sean Bell

The dust appears to be settling on the latest round of tit for tat exchanges in the Iran-Israel conflict with the risk of a regional escalation abating. 

However, with both sides apparently reluctant to discuss what actually happened in the early hours of Friday morning, what impact did the Israeli military action have, and was it decisive?

Iran takes every opportunity to showcase its broad array of military equipment - whether it be tanks, missiles or fighter jets.  

One of Iran's strategic priorities is to protect its nuclear programme which most military analysts believe is only a matter of weeks away from being able to develop a nuclear weapon.  

Iran's military bases and specifically its nuclear development sites are protected by a complex array of layered military capability, with the outer layer including surface-to-air missile systems capable of striking targets out to 200km.  

At face value these defensive capabilities appear very robust, and form the basis or Iranian military deterrence capability.

However, long-range missiles are not the only component of a credible military capability. 

The first priority is to detect a target, and that requires a long-range radar.  

The F-35 joint strike fighter - a central pillar of Israel's air power capability - is not invisible to radar, but does present a much smaller profile than a conventional aircraft.  That means that the F-35 can get much closer to the Iranian radar before being detected which reduces the time available for the missile operators to enable a targeting solution.

Once the Iranian air defence missile has been locked onto the F-35, the Iranian radar continuously tracks the fighter to enable the missile to be launched en-route to its target.  

However, at this point the F-35 uses its electronic warfare capability to confuse the radar.  

Building on decades of hi-tech radar techniques developed during the Cold War and since, modern electronic warfare techniques can deceive enemy radars to create a false target - some way away from the F-35.  

As the Iranian anti-aircraft missile is racing towards this "shadow", the Iranian radar is providing continuous guidance and updates to the missile system.  This makes the radar vulnerable to Israeli anti-radiation missiles, which can target the radar in a passive detection mode.

The West has developed a raft of hi-tech electronic capabilities to "roll back" enemy air defence systems to enable fighter jets or missiles to target high-value targets.  

Although Israel will not have had access to the very latest iteration of this decisive military capability, they will have been able to punch large holes in Iran's comprehensive but aging air defence systems.

In short, Israel would have demonstrated that despite Iran's layered military capability, all Iran's key military targets are vulnerable and within Israel's reach.

Israel has no need to advertise that message to the international community - the target audience was Iran's political leaders who were delivered a clear demonstration of Israel's military dominance.  

It was little surprise therefore that Iran has sought to downplay Israel's most recent strikes, as behind the bluster of public statements Iran had been reminded of the potential repercussions should it ever consider repeating its unprecedented attack on Israel.

Satellite images following Iran's drone attack on Israel last week show repairs on a damaged Israeli desert air base.

The overall damage done to Nevatim air base in southern Israel was minor despite Iran launching hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

Israeli air defences and fighter jets, backed by the US, the UK and neighbouring Jordan, shot down the vast majority of the incoming fire.

The satellite images were analysed by The Associated Press.

Mourners in Poland have gathered for the funeral of Damian Sobol, one of the seven aid workers for the World Central Kitchen killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza earlier this month.

Dariusz Dudek, an adviser for Polish President Andrzej Duda, attended to pay his respects for the aid worker described as "pure joy" by the WCK.

"We're saying farewell to a wonderful young man, courageous and generous activist, who followed the idea of solidarity," he said, reading a letter written by the president.

"A man who couldn't ignore the fate of those who suffer, those in need… I'd like to honour the sacrifice he made to help civilians affected by the war in Gaza."

Mr Sobol, 35, had previously worked in Greece following wildfires and in Turkey after the earthquakes there.

On "day one" of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the WCK says he volunteered to help refugees arriving in his native country.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh for talks in Istanbul today. 

During the meeting, the pair discussed efforts to reach a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, state broadcaster TRT says.

The meeting took place at the Dolmabahce Palace.

The Palestinian health ministry reported earlier on an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank (see post at 12.10pm).

The raid, which began on Friday, took place in the Nur Shams area of Tulkarm

Now, the IDF has said its forces killed 10 militants in the camp and the surrounding areas since it began its raid.

In a statement, it said the Israel army and the country's border police arrested eight Palestinian suspects from the area.

Nine of its officers and soldiers have been injured during the ongoing raid, it said.

According to the Palestinian health ministry, only four Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in camp since Friday.

The two day raid appears to be one of the largest that has taken place at Tulkarem's refugee camp since the Israel-Hamas war began.

The Palestinian Authority will reconsider bilateral relations with the US after Washington vetoed a motion to make Palestine a full UN member, President Mahmoud Abbas has told WAFA news agency.

The move by the US yesterday essentially denied Palestine's recognition as a state in the eyes of the UN. 

A spokesman for the US state department had described the motion as "premature".

"Specifically, there are unresolved questions as to whether the applicant can meet criteria to be considered as a state," he added. 

Earlier today, China's foreign minister Wang Yi said efforts to admit a Palestinian state into the UN were a move to "rectify a prolonged injustice", according to state media Xinhua.

Over in the US, one of California's most prestigious universities has announced it will have no outside speakers after cancelling a traditional student's farewell speech over security concerns.

The University of Southern California is due to hold its annual commencement ceremony - which honours outgoing students - next month.

Controversy has surrounded the event since the university moved to cancel a valedictory speech from a Muslim student, Asna Tabassum, earlier this week.

USC head Andrew Guzman said that decision was made to protect campus security, but Ms Tabassum says the university is "caving to fear and rewarding hatred", which she says is directed by "anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices".

The valedictorian - the student chosen to give the speech - is typically the highest-achieving student from those set to graduate from the university.

The Council on American Islamic Relations advocacy group and anti-war group Jewish Voice for Peace supported Ms Tabassum.

On Thursday, about 500 demonstrators marched at the USC campus in her support.

USC's ceremony, scheduled for 10 May, will honour a class of 19,000 graduates and is expected to draw 65,000 people to the downtown Los Angeles campus.

Tensions have risen at universities across the US since the war in Gaza began.

Two days ago, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at Columbia University in New York after its president authorised police to clear an encampment set up by students demonstrating against Israel's actions in Gaza.

Those protests continued for a third successive day yesterday.

The attack on Iran was believed to have targeted the area of the city of Isfahan and are thought to have been from Israel.

New satellite images show two potential sites of the attack - Isfahan Airport and Shahid Vatanpour army air base.

The images do not appear to show any obvious damage.

The Middle East appears to have stepped back from the brink after fears of escalation between Iran and Israel.

But analysts believe the rules in the region have now changed.

While the two countries have fought each other in the shadows for years, some believe something fundamental has shifted the dynamic.

Sky's international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn reports...

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free