When the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS Visa Waiver for France) goes live in 2025, it’ll change how Canadians (and citizens of the other 59 visa-exempt countries) travel to countries in the Schengen area, including France.
Get Notified when ETIAS Goes Live
Start your ETIAS Application
Receive your ETIAS Decision
Travel to France
The ETIAS Visa Waiver for France system is a fully online, secure portal where the European Union can collect information from tourists who wish to visit France or any other Schengen country. The applicant will provide basic information, such as name, date of birth, and email address, and they’ll answer some straightforward security questions that touch on topics like travel history and criminal background. Each application is individually assessed
against the European Union’s security databases and is then reviewed by a border agent. If an applicant’s submission is typical and nothing stands out, authorization will be granted, and the applicant will be notified by email within 24 hours. If something seems suspicious or unusual, the reviewing agent may request more information and may ask the applicant to attend an in-person interview.
ETIAS France works in a similar manner to the US Electronic System for Travel Authorizations (ESTA). It will be available to all non-EU citizens who do not need a visa to enter EU Schengen area. ETIAS is available to citizens of Canada. This means that they can apply for ETIAS approval before entering the Schengen area. ETIAS was established to improve security for the Schengen region and all who visit it. The region’s safety is becoming more important as terrorist threats have increased in recent years. ETIAS Visa Waiver for France will help to ease safety concerns by monitoring visitors and strengthening security at borders.
In 2025 and beyond, anyone travelling from one of the 60 visa-exempt countries, including Canada and the United States, will need to apply for pre-authorization through ETIAS before they can travel to any country in the Schengen zone, including France. Children are not exempt. If you’ll be travelling with a child, the minor’s parent or legal guardian will need to submit an application on behalf of the child before he or she is permitted entry into France. Once a traveller receives ETIAS authorization, the authorization remains valid for 3 years, regardless of the number of trips they take or how many different Schengen countries they visit. ETIAS Visa Waiver for France approval is linked to a traveller’s biometric passport, though, so each time your passport expires, you will need to submit a new ETIAS France application, even if your current authorization is technically still valid. You cannot link a previous ETIAS authorization to a new passport, but the application process is quite simple, so that small detail doesn’t cause too much inconvenience. It’s essential to note that the new ETIAS authorization system will only be necessary for travel within the Schengen area, specifically. Other countries within the European Union, such as Ireland, will have unique travel procedures and standards. If you plan to travel to a non-Schengen country, your ETIAS status will be deemed irrelevant for that particular trip, and you should check your destination’s website for their rules and regulations. If you wish to visit Ireland, for example, Ireland allows Canadian tourists to stay for up to 90 days without a visa. If you’re heading to France, you still won’t need a visa, but you will need ETIAS approval, as France falls within the Schengen zone. For your convenience, there’s a full list of countries requiring ETIAS authorization on your homepage.
Travellers from Canada, along with those from 59 other countries throughout the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia) are exempt from visa requirements when they travel to European countries within the Schengen zone. Right now, travellers from these visa-exempt countries need nothing but a valid biometric passport to gain entry to a Schengen country. That’s not expected to change. However, from 2025 onward, visa-exempt travellers will need to consider one more step as they prepare for their trips: submitting an ETIAS application for travel pre-authorization. An ETIAS Visa Waiver for France is not a visa application, and it doesn’t replace the current traditional visa application process. ETIAS is much simpler than applying for a visa, and only tourists staying 90 days or less, who don’t intend to work or study, are eligible to enter a Schengen country with only ETIAS approval.
ETIAS Visa Waiver for France should not be used as a means to gain French residency. If you intend to stay in the Schengen zone for more than 90 consecutive days, you will need to apply for a residency visa. If you intend to work or attend a scholarly institution in France, you’ll need to apply for an employment or study visa. If you decide to overstay your 90 days, work, or study without a visa, your ETIAS authorization may be revoked, you’ll be deported, and you may face legal action.
Children are not exempt from ETIAS requirements. Border agents will require proof of ETIAS Visa Waiver for France authorization for all visa-exempt travellers, regardless of age. If you’re travelling with a minor, the child’s parent or legal guardian will need to fill out and submit an ETIAS application on the child’s behalf. You will not be admitted to France or any other Schengen country if a child you’re travelling with has not been authorized to enter. Minors are not permitted to submit an application on their own, as errors and misrepresentations can lead to lengthy delays and even rejection.
Travellers from Canada and any of the other 59 visa-exempt countries will need to submit an ETIAS for France application and receive travel authorization before travelling to France or any country in the Schengen zone. Other affected travellers include Americans and Brits. If you’re travelling with a group, you should know that people from all of the following 60 countries will require ETIAS Visa Waiver for France before they can travel to France:
Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Georgia
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong
Israel
Japan
Kiribati
Macao
Northern Macedonia
Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Montenegro
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent
St. Vincent
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Taiwan
Timor Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Uruguay
Ukraine
UAE
Vanuatu
Venezuela
United Kingdom
United States
As long as you’re submitting an application for yourself, you shouldn’t run into any issues with the ETIAS Visa Waiver for France, and it shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to complete. You’ll need to provide the following basic details:
For security purposes, you’ll also need to disclose some more detailed personal information, including:
If something doesn’t add up or the reviewing border agent would like to clarify some of the information you’ve provided on your application, they may request additional information or, in rare cases, a sit-down interview. If everything is typical, though, your application will be processed swiftly, and you’ll receive your authorization by email within 24 hours.
If the reviewing border agent requests more information to process your ETIAS application, don’t stress – that doesn’t necessarily mean they think you’re a criminal. In most cases, they’ve just noted something that doesn’t seem to add up or isn’t quite typical. In rare cases, the border agent may require a sit-down interview before approving your application. If everything is standard, though, you’ll receive your ETIAS travel authorization by email within 24 hours of submitting your application.
Note that ETIAS approval and approval to enter the country aren’t necessarily one and the same. Should they notice anything suspicious or unjust, French border agents have the authority to reject travellers at the border, regardless of ETIAS status. Rejections are relatively rare, though. It’s more likely they’ll just request additional documents, like hotel reservations and proof of finances, before authorizing entry.
Keep in mind that COVID-19 restrictions are something else entirely and will not be addressed on your ETIAS application. The COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving, and you should check your destination’s website for warnings and restrictions related to the pandemic before you finalize your travel plans.
Most travellers will only need ETIAS Visa Waiver for France and a valid biometric passport to travel to France. Passports issued in Canada meet the requirements of a valid biometric passport. To be considered valid, the passport must have:
If you hold a Canadian passport, you won’t have any issues. If you’re travelling with someone who doesn’t hold a valid Canadian passport and their passport doesn’t meet the criteria outlined above, they may need to present additional travel documents.
Your ETIAS authorization is linked to your biometric passport. While ETIAS authorization is typically valid for 3 years, it can’t be transferred to a new passport. If you renew your passport before your ETIAS authorization expires, you’ll need to submit a new ETIAS application, but as we’ve discussed, that’s a quick, easy process.
