The online ETIAS France application portal is not yet accessible, but when it goes live in 2025, Canadian citizens will use it to submit a mandatory application for admission before they’re permitted to enter France (or any other Schengen country).
Get Notified when ETIAS Goes Live
Start your ETIAS Application
Receive your ETIAS Decision
Travel to France
The European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, is a new visa waiver system that the European Union has been working on for quite some time. First announced in 2016, the ETIAS visa waiver for france system will go live in 2025. This new travel system will change the way people from Canada (and other visa-exempt countries) travel to countries in the Schengen area, including France. In and after 2025, an ETIAS France application will be required for any Canadian citizens who plan to travel to or through any of the 26 countries in the Schengen area, including (but not limited to) France, Spain, and Italy. If you plan to visit several countries within the Schengen area on your trip, remember that you only need to submit one ETIAS application, as it’s valid for 3 years (as long as your passport doesn’t expire within that timeframe – they’re linked, so if you renew your passport, you’ll need to renew your ETIAS authorization). The European Union will mandate this procedure at the beginning of 2025, but there will be a grace period as tourists and border agents get familiar with the new process. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend submitting an ETIAS application, even if you’re travelling during the grace period. You won’t need to apply through ETIAS if you’re travelling to a country within Europe that’s outside the Schengen area, such as Ireland or the United Kingdom. However, if you’ll be spending any time in the Schengen area, even if it’s just for a layover, you’ll need to submit an ETIAS France application. Be sure to check over your travel documents well ahead of your scheduled departure. ETIAS is not meant to deter travellers. On the contrary, tourists should welcome the change, as the new ETIAS authorization process will help ensure the safety of travellers and residents alike. The application will take around 10 minutes from beginning to end, and the only travel document you’ll need to refer to is your valid biometric passport. So why would the EU alter its visa-free policy now? Quite simply, the aim is to improve travel (and quality of life for residents) by reducing:
– Health-related risks
– Criminal activity
– Terrorism
– Illegal migration
ETIAS should streamline travel and improve the overall experience by reducing pre-screening wait times, making it a positive change for both tourists and border representatives. It won’t complicate things for people who wish to travel to multiple countries in the Schengen area because, as we touched on above, one ETIAS France Application covers all Schengen countries for up to three years. If you frequent a particular destination, you won’t need to worry about filling out an application for each individual trip, as your application won’t be nullified after your first visit. If something does go wrong (you engage in criminal activity, for example) – during or after your trip – your ETIAS France may be revoked without notice. Remember, ETIAS authorization isn’t necessarily authorization to enter France or the Schengen area. At the discretion of a border agent, you may still be turned away at the border. This isn’t any more likely to happen in the post-ETIAS era than it was before, though. If your travel history, behaviour, and belongings don’t raise suspicions, it’s very unlikely you’ll be refused entry.
Our website grants travellers a “first look” at the ETIAS France application process, including details about requirements, procedures, and timely notice of any changes concerning ETIAS policies. Continue browsing for information on required documents, probable reasons for rejection, and everything else you’ll need to know as a Canadian heading to France. Then, you can plan your travel confidently, knowing you’re well-versed in the most up-to-date ETIAS policies, procedures, and protocols. If you’re concerned that something you’ve read on our website doesn’t line up or seems outdated, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
We have a dedicated Customer Support team, and we welcome questions and feedback through our contact form, as well as by email at info@etiasvisafrance.ca If you’re not travelling right away, we recommend checking back as your travel date approaches to find out if anything’s changed. If you’d prefer, we invite you to sign up for notifications. We’ll let you know as soon as there’s something new you need to know about.
The revolutionary ETIAS visa waiver program will promote smooth and efficient pre-screening and transit for Canadian citizens, as well as travellers from the other 59 Schengen visa-exempt countries, including those from the United States and the United Kingdom.
Once you’ve submitted your ETIAS France application and received travel authorization, you’re entitled to use the authorization for travel into the Schengen area for up to 3 years from the initial date of approval, regardless of how often you travel or how many Schengen countries you visit. In the event that your passport is set to expire before your ETIAS for France approval does, remember to submit a new application. Your authorization is linked to your passport, and border agents won’t be able to retrieve it if you have a new, unlinked passport.
Allow yourself about 10 minutes, uninterrupted, to complete and submit the ETIAS France Application. If all is well, you’ll likely receive an approval within 24 hours. Don’t worry if it takes a bit longer, though, especially in the beginning when border agents are getting used to the new procedure (just like us travellers!). If something seems off or there’s something the reviewing agent would like you to clarify, they may request more information before processing your application. We recommend submitting your application at least 8 days in advance to allow plenty of time for the back-and-forth, if necessary. In some rare cases, a border agent may want to meet you in person before making a decision.
To submit your application, you’ll need a stable internet connection, your valid biometric passport, and a debit or credit card to pay the ETIAS application fee. The ETIAS form is fairly standard and will ask for:
Border agents may reject or repeal an ETIAS France application or approval for a range of reasons, including submission errors and questionable legal history. Your ETIAS application may be rejected if:
