1- There are 4 French overseas « départements ».

Guadeloupe (and its dependencies : Saint Martin, Saint Barthélémy), French Guyana, Martinique, Réunion.

The procedure may take up to 20 days. So you have to apply early enough.

2- Do I need a visa to go there ?

a) For a short stay, up to 90 days, the citizens of the following countries can travel without a visa ; they only need a passport valid 3 months after their return in the US :

Andorre, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, South Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, United states, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong-Kong (titulaires du passeport de la Région administrative spéciale seulement), Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Macao (titulaires du passeport de la Région administrative spéciale seulement), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, St-Marin, the Holly See, Singapour, Switzerland, European Union (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovénia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom,), Uruguay , Venezuela.

Citizens from other countries must have a visa to travel to the French overseas « départements »

Special situations:
 Citizens from Australia, Brunei, Canada, South Corea, The United States, Japan, Malysia, Mexico, Singapour and Venezuela must have a visa if they intend to work there.

 American citizens also need a visa to go to the French overseas « départements », if :

 they want to study ;  they hold a diplomatic, official or service passport and go there on an official mission ;  they are crew members ;  they are journalists on duty.

3- Requirements for a short stay visa.

You have to apply with the French Consulate in Washington Dc, only if you reside in one of the following states :

Deleware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia.

If you do not reside in one of those states, you have to apply with another French Consulate, depending on where you live in the United states. To know where to apply, click here.

 

You have to apply with all the required documents in original and one copy. The visa section does not make any copies.   Note that the personal appearance is the basic rule, however you may send your application by certified mail. Please allow 2 to 3 weeks processing time for all visa applications submitted by mail.

 

 Passport valid for a period of three months beyond the applicant’s last day of stay in the Schengen states (+ 1 copy of the identification page). Please make sure your passport has a blank page to affix the visa.

 1 or 2 short stay application forms completely and clearly filled out. Please print in black. Indicate also your phone numbers and e-mail. Verify the number of forms by clicking here.

 2 photographs (more informations about the photograph) . All photos must be recent, identical, passport size - 1,4" x 1,7" (3,5cm x 4,5cm) and showing face front the forehead hairline and ears on a white background, the face must take up 70-80% of the photograph.

 A proof of resident status in the USA and its copy.( green card, valid US visa and copy of valid I-20 or valid I-AP66, visas…) if you are not a US citizen. Applications for a short stay visa from holders of B1/B2 visas in the United States are subject to a heavier and longer procedure, and the personal appearance is required.

 the visa issued by the country of final destination, if needed.

 Reservation with detailed itinerary. The roundtrip airline tickets will be required only when the visa is issued (+ 1 copy).

 A letter from your insurance company stating that you will be covered for at least $ 40.000 during your stay overseas for any medical and rapartriation expenses (+ 1 copy)(more informations).

 Proof of employment (for example, letter from the company stating continuing employment after the period of leave, and last payslip).

 Depending on the purpose of the trip , one of the documents listed below :

• For tourism : Hotel reservation, proof of registration with an organized tour, attestation of accommodation , etc.(+ 1 copy) for the duration of your stay within the Schengen space.

• For business : official business invitation letter from a company in France (+ 1 copy).

• For private visit (family or friends) : Attestation of accommodation (+ 1 copy). Your host in France can obtain this document from the City Hall, by showing a proof of identity and 2 proofs of lodging (rental contract, and phone bill or power bill…).

 Proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of your stay : 3 last bank statements (+ 1 copy), travellers checks if visiting the United States, 100 dollars per day are suggested. For business: letter from the employer indicating the name and address of the companies in France, and guaranteeing the travel expenses (+1 copy)

 For a minor, if travelling alone, a notarized parental authorization)parental authorization signed by both parents or guardian. If the minor travels with 1 parent, an authorization signed by the 2nd parent is required (+ 1 copy).

 Processing fees : payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) (especially for files sent by mail) or money-order made out to "Consulate general of France" or certified checks. Cash is accepted only if you apply in person. No personal checks.

 

IMPORTANT : You can apply by security mail under your own responsibility. Please allow 2 to 3 weeks processing time for all visa applications submitted by mail. If you do so, you have to send us the original passport, along with all the above mentionned (original + copy) documents. You also have to send a self-addressed pre-paid envelope (Express mail…), in order to get your passport back.

 

REMARKS: The Consular Administration has full authority to appreciate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. Note that the visa does not in itself grant you the right to enter a French territory. It is necessary that you carry the original documents used to obtain the visa with you at all times. Border authorities may request that you show them upon entry to France.

4- Requirements for a long stay visa (more than 90 days).

A visa is always required, except if your are a citizen from European Union or Economic European Space countries, from Lichtenstein, Monaco and the Holly See).

Read General information before applying.

The applicant must apply for the visa and should obtain it in his/her country of residence before arriving in French overseas Département.

You have to apply with the French Consulate in Washington Dc, only if you reside in one of the following states :

Deleware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia.

If you do not reside in one of those states, you have to apply with another French Consulate, depending on where you live in the United states. To know where to apply, click here.

The procedure takes about 2 months.

You apply for this visa if you intend to settle in a French overseas Département(for example as a retiree). If granted, this visa will allow you to go to a French prefecture and ask for a « carte de séjour » (residency card).

 

REQUIREMENTS :

 

You have to apply with all the required documents in original and four copies. The visa section does not make any copies.   PERSONNAL APPEARANCE IS MENDATORY : you cannot apply by mail.

 

 Passport valid for a period of six months from the date of visa application (+ 4 copies of the identification page).

 Four long stay application formssigned and clearly filled out. Please print in black.

 4 photographs (more informations about the photograph) . All photos must be recent, identical, passport size - 1,4" x 1,7" (3,5cm x 4,5cm) and showing face front the forehead hairline and ears on a white background, the face must take up 70-80% of the photograph.

 A proof of resident status in the US ( e.g. , visa, I-94, IAP66, I-20, resident card ).

 Financial guarantee such as :

• Letter from your bank stating that you have sufficient means of support to live in France;
• Justification of retirement pensions;
• A notarized declaration of your sponsor stating that he/she will be responsible for all your expenses and a proof of his/her assets.

 A note, dated and signed by the applicant, stating that he/she does not intend to have in France any paid professional activity which requires a work permit.

 Proof of medical insurance with coverage valid in France. Letter from the insurance compagny only.

 A non criminal record certificate to be obtained from the police’s office of your city of residence.

 Deed of your house/appartment in one of the French overseas “Département”.

 Processing fees : payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard) (especially for files sent by mail) or money-order made out to "Consulate general of France", certified checks or Cash. No personal checks.

 

The Consular Administration has full authority to appreciate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. The latter is hereby informed that submitting the aforementioned documents does not ensure automatic issuance of the visa.