France
Nationality · visas, permits and migration
- Moved to OECD countries, 2023
- 113,916
- Top destination, 2023
- Switzerland
- U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
- 50,933
- UK visas issued, 2025
- 10,209
- Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
- 0.1%
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Visa requirements for a short visit
Whether citizens of France need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.
| Destination | Short visit | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen area | Free movement (EU/EFTA citizens) | Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025) |
| United Kingdom | No visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required | Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List |
| Canada | No visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to fly | IRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1 |
| Hong Kong | No visa for visits of up to 90 days | Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025 |
Where people from France move
Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).
- Switzerland19,955
- Spain16,356
- Germany12,283
- Belgium11,830
- Canada10,075
- Japan5,948
- Netherlands5,891
- Portugal5,138
- United States4,650
- South Korea3,903
- Luxembourg3,145
- Italy2,615
- Denmark1,671
- Austria1,505
- Sweden1,341
Inflows to all OECD countries by year
Data table
| 2000 | 55,910 |
| 2001 | 56,701 |
| 2002 | 56,840 |
| 2003 | 53,841 |
| 2004 | 62,888 |
| 2005 | 68,042 |
| 2006 | 74,609 |
| 2007 | 81,859 |
| 2008 | 84,140 |
| 2009 | 76,805 |
| 2010 | 77,831 |
| 2011 | 76,882 |
| 2012 | 95,188 |
| 2013 | 103,182 |
| 2014 | 118,359 |
| 2015 | 113,739 |
| 2016 | 124,645 |
| 2017 | 116,352 |
| 2018 | 113,764 |
| 2019 | 118,659 |
| 2020 | 90,095 |
| 2021 | 110,390 |
| 2022 | 119,014 |
| 2023 | 113,916 |
- Share going to the top destination
- 17.5%
- Destinations recording arrivals
- 15
Living abroad
People born in France who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.
- United States253,094
- Spain217,960
- Belgium196,995
- Switzerland195,100
- United Kingdom174,571
- Germany155,932
- Canada131,039
- Portugal117,183
- Italy115,100
- Réunion89,556
- Türkiye52,315
- Martinique52,018
Living abroad by year
Data table
| 1990 | 1,413,608 |
| 1995 | 1,629,553 |
| 2000 | 1,721,390 |
| 2005 | 1,855,042 |
| 2010 | 2,042,164 |
| 2015 | 2,249,670 |
| 2020 | 2,400,208 |
| 2024 | 2,547,158 |
- Living abroad, 2024
- 2,547,158
- Change since 2000
- +48.0%
- Share living in the largest destination, 2024
- 9.9%
United States
Visas issued to citizens of France by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.
- J110,879
- B1/B29,430
- F17,222
- C1/D3,983
- E23,806
- L23,397
- L13,212
- H1B1,029
- O1918
- P1792
Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year
Data table
| 2017 | 34,914 |
| 2018 | 49,886 |
| 2019 | 48,014 |
| 2020 | 21,805 |
| 2021 | 20,923 |
| 2022 | 43,794 |
| 2023 | 51,334 |
| 2024 | 53,478 |
| 2025 | 50,933 |
- IR1198
- E1136
- CR181
- DV76
- IR276
- E253
- IR546
- E336
- Immigrant visas, FY2025
- 883
- Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
- 397
Green cards and U.S. citizenship
People born in France who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of France with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).
Green cards by fiscal year
Data table
| 2015 | 4,690 |
| 2016 | 5,160 |
| 2017 | 4,780 |
| 2018 | 4,280 |
| 2019 | 4,790 |
| 2020 | 4,050 |
| 2021 | 4,110 |
| 2022 | 4,350 |
| 2023 | 4,480 |
| 2024 | 3,660 |
- Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens1,810
- Employment-based preferences1,650
- Family-sponsored preferences80
- Diversity visa lottery70
- Refugees and asylees30
- Other classes20
- Intracompany transferees (L-1)17,110
- Spouses and children12,290
- Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)6,640
- Specialty occupations (H-1B)5,960
- Other temporary workers2,020
- Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)1,700
- Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)20
- Seasonal agricultural workers (H-2A)10
- Green cards, FY2024 (born in France)
- 3,660
- Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in France)
- 3,980
- I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
- 2,111,010
United Kingdom
Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of France (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in France (HESA).
- Work5,056
- Study4,195
- Family366
- Other329
- Visitor263
Visas issued by year
Data table
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 94 |
| 2021 | 9,277 |
| 2022 | 10,475 |
| 2023 | 9,879 |
| 2024 | 10,171 |
| 2025 | 10,209 |
- Students at UK universities, 2024/25
- 7,780
Canada
Permits and invitations for citizens of France, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP work | IMP work | Study | Permanent residents | Express Entry invitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,995 | 20,910 | 13,765 | 11,975 | 1,810 |
| 2024 | 4,075 | 25,050 | 14,005 | 9,940 | 1,400 |
| 2023 | 3,675 | 32,840 | 15,805 | 10,075 | 1,185 |
| 2022 | 2,155 | 28,325 | 17,105 | 14,150 | 735 |
| 2021 | 1,805 | 25,590 | 20,665 | 12,690 | 1,055 |
| 2020 | 1,080 | 21,670 | 8,430 | 4,600 | 1,155 |
| 2019 | 1,165 | 31,905 | 14,855 | 4,960 | 1,210 |
| 2018 | 940 | 26,970 | 13,710 | 6,175 | 1,145 |
| 2017 | 915 | 25,540 | 13,595 | 6,620 | 995 |
| 2016 | 1,260 | 19,900 | 12,185 | 6,390 | 645 |
| 2015 | 1,305 | 18,555 | 12,130 | 5,840 | 460 |
Australia
Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of France, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).
Primary visas granted by financial year
Data table
| 2005–06 | 835 |
| 2006–07 | 904 |
| 2007–08 | 1,272 |
| 2008–09 | 1,101 |
| 2009–10 | 958 |
| 2010–11 | 1,163 |
| 2011–12 | 1,395 |
| 2012–13 | 1,372 |
| 2013–14 | 1,145 |
| 2014–15 | 1,361 |
| 2015–16 | 1,209 |
| 2016–17 | 1,385 |
| 2017–18 | 977 |
| 2018–19 | 1,157 |
| 2019–20 | 718 |
| 2020–21 | 631 |
| 2021–22 | 605 |
| 2022–23 | 763 |
| 2023–24 | 816 |
| 2024–25 | 1,162 |
| 2025–26 | 980 |
- Core Skills583
- Specialist Skills273
- Labour Agreement82
- Short-term30
- Medium-term12
- Granted, 2025–26
- 980
- Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
- 1.4%
Japan
Citizens of France living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.
Foreign residents in Japan
Data table
| 2012 | 8,455 |
| 2013 | 8,877 |
| 2014 | 9,641 |
| 2015 | 10,672 |
| 2016 | 11,640 |
| 2017 | 12,503 |
| 2018 | 13,355 |
| 2019 | 14,106 |
| 2022 | 14,339 |
| 2023 | 15,153 |
| 2024 | 16,215 |
| 2025 | 17,088 |
- Permanent Resident4,035
- Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services3,419
- Spouse or Child of Japanese National2,678
- Student2,349
- Designated Activities1,466
- Dependent1,116
- Highly Skilled Professional400
- Professor261
- Business Manager230
- Long-Term Resident196
- Residents, December 2025
- 17,088
- In work-related statuses
- 4,908
- Share in work-related statuses
- 28.7%
- Students
- 2,349
Schengen visas in France
Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in France, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.
| Schengen state | Applications | Issued | Not issued | Refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 21,964 | 8,756 | 27 | 0.1% |
| Spain | 60 | 54 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Italy | 26 | 22 | 2 | 7.7% |
| Bulgaria | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Croatia | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Portugal | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Switzerland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Poland | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Luxembourg | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Sweden | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
| Germany | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Slovakia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Greece | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Latvia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Netherlands | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
Applications by year
Data table
| 2009 | 2,003 |
| 2010 | 482 |
| 2011 | 465 |
| 2012 | 357 |
| 2013 | 729 |
| 2014 | 352 |
| 2015 | 337 |
| 2016 | 219 |
| 2017 | 258 |
| 2018 | 391 |
| 2019 | 472 |
| 2020 | 120 |
| 2021 | 111 |
| 2022 | 279 |
| 2023 | 164 |
| 2024 | 22,087 |
- Refusal rate, 2024
- 0.1%
- Refusal rate, 2019
- 2.1%
National statistics in Europe
Citizens of France in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.
| Country | Year | All | Work | Study | Family | Protection | Other or unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 2025 | 1,876 | 655 | 498 | 156 | 0 | 567 |
| Sweden | 2025 | 1,311 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 1,290 |
| Country | Year | Immigration | Emigration | Net migration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finland | 2025 | 274 | 252 | 22 |
| Austria | 2025 | 1,503 | 1,324 | 179 |
Foreign embassies and consulates in France
Countries with an embassy or consulate in France, as recorded in Wikidata.
| Country | Embassies | Consulates-general | Consulates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 1 | — | — |
| Algeria | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Andorra | 1 | — | — |
| Angola | 1 | — | — |
| Argentina | 1 | — | — |
| Armenia | 1 | 2 | — |
| Australia | 1 | 1 | — |
| Austria | 1 | 1 | — |
| Azerbaijan | 1 | — | — |
| Bahrain | 1 | — | — |
| Bangladesh | 1 | — | — |
| Belarus | 1 | — | — |
| Belgium | 1 | — | — |
| Benin | 1 | — | — |
| Bolivia | 1 | — | — |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | — | — |
| Botswana | 1 | — | — |
| Brazil | 1 | 2 | — |
| Brunei | 1 | — | — |
| Bulgaria | 1 | 1 | — |
| Burkina Faso | 1 | — | — |
| Burundi | 1 | — | — |
| Cambodia | 1 | — | — |
| Cameroon | 1 | — | — |
| Canada | 1 | — | — |
| Cape Verde | 1 | — | — |
| Central African Republic | 1 | — | — |
| Chad | 1 | — | — |
| Chile | 1 | — | — |
| China | 1 | 4 | — |
| Colombia | 1 | 1 | — |
| Comoros | 1 | — | — |
| Costa Rica | 1 | — | — |
| Croatia | 1 | — | — |
| Cuba | 1 | — | — |
| Cyprus | 1 | — | — |
| Czechia | 1 | — | 1 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 1 | — | — |
| DD | 1 | — | — |
| DR Congo | 1 | — | — |
| Djibouti | 1 | — | — |
| Dominican Republic | 1 | 3 | — |
| Ecuador | 1 | — | — |
| Egypt | 1 | 1 | — |
| El Salvador | 1 | — | — |
| Equatorial Guinea | 1 | — | — |
| Eritrea | 1 | — | — |
| Estonia | 1 | — | — |
| Ethiopia | 1 | — | — |
| Finland | 1 | — | — |
| Gabon | 1 | — | — |
| Gambia | 1 | — | — |
| Georgia | 1 | — | — |
| Germany | 1 | 4 | — |
| Ghana | 1 | — | — |
| Greece | 1 | 1 | — |
| Guatemala | 1 | — | — |
| Guinea | 1 | — | — |
| Guinea-Bissau | 1 | — | — |
| Haiti | 1 | 3 | — |
| Honduras | 1 | — | — |
| Hungary | 1 | — | — |
| Iceland | 1 | — | — |
| India | 1 | 1 | — |
| Indonesia | 1 | 2 | — |
| Iran | 1 | — | — |
| Iraq | 1 | — | — |
| Ireland | 1 | — | — |
| Israel | 1 | 1 | — |
| Italy | 1 | 5 | — |
| Japan | 1 | 2 | — |
| Jordan | 1 | — | — |
| Kazakhstan | 1 | — | — |
| Kenya | 1 | — | — |
| Kosovo | 1 | — | — |
| Kuwait | 1 | — | — |
| Kyrgyzstan | 1 | — | — |
| Laos | 1 | — | — |
| Latvia | 1 | — | — |
| Lebanon | 1 | 1 | — |
| Liberia | 1 | — | — |
| Libya | 1 | 1 | — |
| Lithuania | 1 | — | — |
| Luxembourg | 1 | 1 | — |
| Madagascar | 1 | 2 | — |
| Malaysia | 1 | — | — |
| Mali | 1 | 2 | — |
| Malta | 1 | — | — |
| Mauritania | 1 | — | — |
| Mauritius | 1 | — | — |
| Mexico | 1 | 1 | — |
| Moldova | 1 | — | — |
| Monaco | 1 | — | — |
| Mongolia | 1 | — | — |
| Montenegro | 1 | — | — |
| Morocco | 1 | 16 | — |
| Mozambique | 1 | — | — |
| Myanmar | 1 | — | — |
| Namibia | 1 | — | — |
| Nepal | 1 | — | — |
| Netherlands | 1 | — | — |
| New Zealand | 1 | 1 | — |
| Nicaragua | 1 | — | — |
| Niger | 1 | — | — |
| Nigeria | 1 | — | — |
| North Macedonia | 1 | — | — |
| Norway | 1 | — | — |
| Oman | 1 | — | — |
| Pakistan | 1 | — | — |
| Palestine | 1 | — | — |
| Panama | 1 | 1 | — |
| Paraguay | 1 | — | — |
| Peru | 1 | 1 | — |
| Philippines | 1 | — | — |
| Poland | 1 | 1 | — |
| Portugal | 1 | 5 | — |
| Qatar | 1 | — | — |
| Republic of the Congo | 1 | — | — |
| Romania | 1 | 3 | — |
| Russia | 1 | 2 | — |
| Rwanda | 1 | — | — |
| Saint Lucia | — | 1 | — |
| San Marino | 1 | — | — |
| Saudi Arabia | 1 | — | — |
| Senegal | 1 | 4 | — |
| Serbia | 1 | — | — |
| Seychelles | 1 | — | — |
| Singapore | 1 | — | — |
| Slovakia | 1 | — | — |
| Slovenia | 1 | — | 1 |
| Somalia | 1 | — | — |
| South Africa | 1 | — | — |
| South Korea | 1 | — | — |
| South Sudan | 1 | — | — |
| Spain | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| Sri Lanka | 1 | — | — |
| Sudan | 1 | — | — |
| Suriname | 1 | — | — |
| Sweden | 1 | — | — |
| Switzerland | 1 | — | — |
| Syria | 1 | — | — |
| Tajikistan | 1 | — | — |
| Tanzania | 1 | — | — |
| Thailand | 1 | — | — |
| Togo | 1 | — | — |
| Tunisia | 1 | 4 | — |
| Turkmenistan | 1 | — | — |
| Türkiye | 1 | 6 | — |
| Uganda | 1 | — | — |
| Ukraine | 1 | — | — |
| United Arab Emirates | 1 | 1 | — |
| United Kingdom | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| United States | — | 2 | 3 |
| Uruguay | 1 | — | — |
| Uzbekistan | 1 | — | — |
| Vanuatu | — | 1 | — |
| Venezuela | 1 | 1 | — |
| Vietnam | 1 | — | — |
| YU | 1 | — | — |
| Yemen | 1 | — | — |
| Zambia | 1 | — | — |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | — | — |
- Countries
- 162
- Missions
- 281
Remittances
Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by France, in current US dollars (World Bank).
Remittances received by year, US$ million
Data table
| 2000 | 8,870 |
| 2001 | 9,194 |
| 2002 | 10,599 |
| 2003 | 12,232 |
| 2004 | 13,343 |
| 2005 | 14,205 |
| 2006 | 15,535 |
| 2007 | 17,586 |
| 2008 | 20,086 |
| 2009 | 19,665 |
| 2010 | 19,898 |
| 2011 | 22,942 |
| 2012 | 22,666 |
| 2013 | 26,940 |
| 2014 | 27,976 |
| 2015 | 25,448 |
| 2016 | 25,593 |
| 2017 | 26,805 |
| 2018 | 28,388 |
| 2019 | 28,764 |
| 2020 | 29,984 |
| 2021 | 32,647 |
| 2022 | 32,714 |
| 2023 | 37,704 |
| 2024 | 40,718 |
| 2025 | 44,536 |
- Remittances received, 2025
- US$44,536 million
- Share of GDP, 2025
- 1.3%
All corridors from France
Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.
- France → Switzerland
- France → Spain
- France → Germany
- France → Belgium
- France → United States
- France → Canada
- France → Japan
- France → Netherlands
- France → Portugal
- France → South Korea
- France → Luxembourg
- France → Italy
- France → Denmark
- France → Austria
- France → Sweden
- France → New Zealand
- France → Australia
- France → Israel
- France → Türkiye
- France → United Kingdom
Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more