How to travel to France from the US
Are you ready to be awed by the glittering lights of the Eiffel Tower at night, or get lost in the lavender fields of Provence? If so, it’s time you know how to from the US and you’ll be on your way to the land of baguettes and berets in no time.
Once you’re clear on the "how" get help figuring out the "what" of your trip with the help of a French local!
Table of Contents
- France travel requirements
- Do I need a visa to travel to France from the US?
- What documents do you need to travel to France from the US?
- Can you travel to France if you are unvaccinated?
- Do you need to test negative to travel to France from the US?
- Is France safe to travel to?
- What US airports have direct flights to France?
- What is the Schengen Area?
France travel requirements
Luckily for US citizens wanting to travel across the pond for a Bastille Day celebration or a day wandering the world's largest museum – the Louvre, France and the US have been good friends for more than two centuries now. And while you might wonder what a 1778 alliance has to do with your summer vacation, it’s a lot!
Travel requirements for US citizens going to France are very minimal – thanks to our mutual friendship. They include:
- A valid passport that does not expire less than three months after your departure from the Schengen Area.
- If you’re thinking about a trip and your passport has or is about to expire, don’t wait to get it renewed, the backlog can sometimes be very long!
- At least one blank page in your passport.
- Sufficient funds
- This information is almost never requested but it legally can be.
- Sufficient funds for Americans traveling to France are considered €120/day or €65/day if your accommodation has already been paid for.
- A return airline ticket (or another form of exit).
- Again, this is almost never requested but it is necessary to be able to prove departure from the country if asked to do so.
- COVID entry requirements do not currently apply.
Since the process of getting into the country is so straightforward, don’t overcomplicate the rest of your trip and make sure it’s all planned exactly to your liking with the help of a local!
Do I need a visa to travel to France from the US?
Nope! If you are a US citizen you can enter France for up to 90 days (it’s actually 90 out of 180 in the Schengen Area visa-free.
What documents do you need to travel to France from the US?
The only document you really need to travel to France from the US is your current passport.
In addition to that it’s also a good idea to have proof of funds, your return ticket, and proof of your pre-paid accommodation ready to go in case the authorities ask – but it’s fine to have these as digital documents, or just email confirmations on your phone if you can’t get them printed beforehand.
In addition to your passport, it’s a great idea to have a photocopy of it on hand just in case the worst happens. And, in case you do encounter any sort of trouble on the ground, it’s ideal to have the contact of a local hero who can help you figure out what to do in real time.
And finally, bring your US state ID if you have one. It’s a legal requirement to carry identification on you while in France, but you can leave your passport safely in your accommodation and just carry a legal US photo ID for presentation in case anyone ever asks for it.
Can you travel to France if you are unvaccinated?
Of course, we can’t talk about travel outside of the country in 2022 without talking about COVID-19. So, if you weren’t able to get vaccinated can you still travel to France? As of September 2022, the answer to that is yes.
There is no requirement to show proof of vaccination to enter France from the US. Read our complete article on France travel restrictions for up-to-date information on all Covid requirements for Americans traveling to France.
Do you need to test negative to travel to France from the US?
No, you don’t currently need to show any documentation related to COVID-19 to enter France.
But, of course, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re healthy and won’t spread any diseases to your host country. So if you are positive for COVID-19, consider postponing your trip so that you and everyone around you can have a safe and positive experience, and you can complete all the awesome secret experiences on your itinerary when you're feeling better.
Is France safe to travel to?
France is a very safe country by the current standards of the world. There have been occasional incidents, including some terrorist attacks in recent years, but these generally do not specifically target tourists.
However, you should definitely look out for pickpockets and scammers – especially in tourist-heavy areas or landmarks. This is why it’s so great to have a local to help you craft an itinerary to lesser-known, hidden gems across France.
And if you have any further questions or concerns, check out our complete post on whether it is safe to travel to France in 2022.
What US airports have direct flights to France?
Traveling to France from the US is super easy! Depending on where in the US you are leaving from you could be touching French soil in less than eight hours from wheels up.
And there are loads of airports you can leave from. An incomplete list includes:
- Atlanta
- Boston
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Minneapolis
- New York City / Newark
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Washington
There are eight airlines that make direct connections. The complete list is:
- Air France
- Delta
- KLM
- Virgin Atlantic
- ITA Airways
- TAROM
- American Airlines
- United
And many more which offer connections from the US to France with stopovers.
With so many options, make sure to do some shopping around to get the best deal so you can splurge more on planning your France itinerary!
What is the Schengen Area?
France is a part of the Schengen Area, which is an area of 26 countries in Europe that allows for visa-free travel. When we talk about the time you can spend in France on one trip it is actually the time you can spend in all of these countries in total.
So if you are headed out on a trip that includes Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany, you have a total of 90 days that you can spend in all of those countries combined, not 90 days in each.
It’s also really important to know that those 90 days do not reset as soon as you fly back home, you have to wait another 90 days. In other words, you can spend 90 out of 180 days in the Schengen Area. So 180 days after your first day you get a new day added back to your allowance.
Traveling to France from the US has never been easier. And with a detailed itinerary in your back pocket and a local friend on the ground to give you any support you might need, your trip is bound to be filled with glittering seas, rolling hillsides, and very, very few worries.
And for more on France travel: