France Visa for Canadians

Are you a Canadian planning to visit Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Notre Dame? Or perhaps you’re heading to the sunny South to relax in the French Riviera. 

Regardless of where in the country you are travelling to, you will need to research whether you need travel authorisation before you start booking accommodation and tickets to attractions. 

If you want to visit the cheese capital for longer, perhaps even to work here, then you will need to have a visa in place before you embark on your adventure.

On this page, we will tell you everything you need to know about visa requirements for entering the largest country in the EU, authorisation for those Canadians travelling to France on a working holiday and more.  

Many Canadians travel here each year and this country is one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations. Get the most out of your voyage to the land of baguettes and croissants by reading up on this essential information to help plan your trip!

What is your passport nationality? Select your nationality

Where are you travelling to? Select your destination

Get Visa Info

Do Canadians Need a Visa for France?

As France is in the Schengen zone, you currently do not need a visa to visit here as a Canadian tourist. 

Thanks to travel agreements, Canadians can explore here and the other 25 Schengen member countries without requiring travel authorisation. You just require a valid passport. 

It is important to note that this exemption only applies to stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. 

Visits are cumulative across the Schengen zone. For example, if you have already spent 60 days in fellow Schengen country Spain, you cannot stay in France for more than 30 days within a 180-day period. 

If you would like to stay for longer in the Schengen Area, you must apply for appropriate travel authorisation.

Important: From late 2022, Canadians will be obliged to apply online for an electronic travel authorisation to visit France and other Schengen countries. The good news is, you will be able to apply for this paperwork quickly with Byevisa. You can find out more about the ETIAS for France here.

France Visa Requirements for Canadian Citizens

Canadians don’t currently require a visa to visit this nation as a tourist for periods of up to 90 days (in a 180-day period). However, there are some essential requirements that travellers must meet.

• Passport requirements

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you expect to leave the Schengen area (i.e France or another country if you are planning an extended Euro trip before or after seeing Paris). 

It is worth checking with your airline about the rules on passport validity as sometimes they can be stricter than the country’s entry rules. 

In these cases, Canadian citizens do require a visa:

• If you are coming to France for a long stay that exceeds 90 days.
• If you want to undertake work here, you need a work permit.

Working Holiday Visa for France from Canada

There are strong ties between Canada and France, and the Youth Mobility Agreement between the 2 countries is a testament to this. 

The scheme provides an opportunity for Canadians aged 18-35 years to travel to France for up to 36 months to enhance their understanding of the French language and culture. This immersion into French society can be done through tourism, study, internships or employment.

As well as falling into this age bracket, in order to qualify you must also meet the following criteria:

• Hold a Canadian passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the last day of your stay.
• You must go in person to a French consular office or a visa application centre (VFS in Canada) to have your digital fingerprints taken when applying for any type of visa under the Mobility Agreement.

Working Visa for France from Canada – How to Apply

France has the fifth-largest economy in the world and working here can be an excellent opportunity to gain new experience and discover a new work environment.

If you’re a Canadian planning to work in France for less than 90 days, your employer must organise a temporary work permit (called a convention d’accueil) for you at the time of travel. You do not need a work visa. 

If you want to come to the country for more than 90 days to undertake employment, then you will need to apply for a long stay work visa.  

You can apply for this paperwork via the official French government website. The visa wizard will tell you which type you need depending on the type of employment you are looking to undertake and the length of stay, the documents you require and the fee incurred.

You will need to follow the steps below:

1. Create a France-Visas account on the government site which you will need for each step of the process.
2. Fill in your application form online via this portal.
3. Submit your application in person to your local visa centre. (Details of these centres below).

French Consulates in Canada

You can book your appointment to submit your visa application from Canada online. It must be submitted in person in 1 of 4 centres:

VFS Global Centre in Toronto

2 Bloor Street West
Unit 762
M4W 3R1
Toronto
Ontario

Application Centre in Montréal

1010 rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Unit 820
Entrance on Metcafe street
Montréal
H3A 2R7

Application Centre in Vancouver

580 Hornby Street
Unit 440
BC V6C 3B6
Vancouver

Application Centre in Ottawa

2211 Riverside Drive
Unit 403
ON K1H7X5
Ottawa

French Visa Processing Time Canada

When applying for a work visa, it is important to schedule an appointment at an application centre to have your application reviewed in sufficient time ahead of your departure date. 

As a rule of thumb, allow 3 months to 2 weeks before your departure date for a long-stay visa (longer than 90 days) and 6 months to 2 weeks to your departure date for a short stay one.

What Is the French Visa Processing Fee?

If you are applying for a work visa, you will have to pay a fee to process your application. The price of this varies depending on the type of authorisation.

The French consulate does not charge a fee to process Working Holiday Visa (WHV) applications. However, VFS Global the third-party partner charges a processing fee of approximately 38 Canadian dollars for the WHV. The fee must be paid when you book your application drop-off appointment online.

French Consulates in Canada

In case you need to visit the French consulate or embassy, here are the details for the French Embassy in Toronto:

2 Bloor St East,
Suite 2200 (22nd floor)
Toronto
Ontario
M4W 1A8 

Contact Number: +1 416-847-1900
Fax: +1 416-847-1901

French Embassy in Ottawa

The Embassy of France in Ottawa is located at this address:

42 Sussex Dr,
Ottawa,
ON K1M 2C9

Contact Number: +1 613-789-1795 

You can find details about other French embassies around the world here.

More Details About the Visa to France from Canada

We hope you now have all the information you need to prepare for your journey to the City of Lights or wherever else you’re heading in this beautiful country.

However, if there are more things you need clarification on, keep reading for answers to more commonly asked questions.

What Are the France Visa Requirements for Canadian Permanent Residents?

If you are a permanent resident of Canada but don’t hold a Canadian passport, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa to visit this country depending on your nationality.

What Is the Canada to France Flight Time?

The flight time is just under 7 and a half hours if you are travelling from Toronto to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.

How Many Canadians Are There in France?

There are approximately 60,000 Canadians living in France and there are close ties between the 2 countries.

Jobs for Canadians in France

Many professionals are keen to discover the French way of life. Some of the most in-demand jobs are in industries like construction, food, and professional services.

Further Questions Regarding Travelling to France

We hope you now have all the facts you need to determine if you need travel authorisation depending on the purpose of your visit. 

If there are things you’d still like to know about travelling to the land of ‘Liberty, Equality, Fraternity’, take a look at our dedicated page about visiting France.