France

Government advisories

• ☐ United States: level 2/4 — Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
• ☐ United Kingdom: level 1/4
• ☐ Canada: level 2/4 — Exercise a high degree of caution

Health notices

• ☐ Global Measles (level 1)

Entry requirements

☐ The visa policy of the Schengen Area is a component within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of the European Union. It applies to the Schengen Area and Cyprus, but not to EU member state Ireland. The visa policy allows nationals of certain countries to enter the Schengen Area via air, land or sea without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Nationals of certain other countries are required to have a visa to enter and, in some cases, transit through the Schenge

Practical

• ☐ Plug type C/E, 230V — bring an adapter if yours differs
• ☐ Drives on the right
• ☐ Emergency (police): 112 or 17
• ☐ Emergency (ambulance): 112 or 15
• ☐ Emergency (fire): 112 or 18
• ☐ SIM: France uses the GSM standard of cellular phones (900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands) used in most of the world outside of the U.S. Many companies (e.g., Orange, SFR, Free, Bouygues Télécom, Virgin Mobile) offer wireless service. The country is almost totally covered but you may have difficulties using your mobile phone in rural or mountainous areas. However, for emergency numbers, the three companies are
• ☐ Money: Just as with other non-English European languages, the comma and decimal separator have reverse functions in French from that in English, so 2,99 means 2 euro and 99 cents. By convention, the euro symbol is either placed at the end of the entire price (2,99€) or between the whole number and the decimal portions of the price in lieu of the decimal comma (2€99).
• ☐ Tipping: Tips are not expected in France since service charges are included in the bill. However, French people usually leave the small change left after paying the bill or one to five euros if they were satisfied with the service quality.

Laws that could get a tourist arrested

• ☐ ID Requirement — Foreigners should carry an official identity document. Failure to produce a valid ticket on public transportation without identification will result in being taken to a police station for checks.

Before you go

General trip-prep, not specific to France — the same short list applies anywhere.

• ☐ Register with your embassy's traveler program if one exists
• ☐ Check your passport's validity and blank-page requirements on your destination's official entry-rules page
• ☐ Photograph/screenshot your passport, visa, and travel insurance documents
• ☐ Download offline maps for your destination
• ☐ Confirm your bank/card issuer knows you're traveling
• ☐ Check whether your phone plan needs a travel add-on or a local SIM