Do Colombian citizens need a visa for France?
No. Colombian citizens can visit France without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You will need ETIAS once it starts; it is not in operation yet.
Visa-free, but the EU's visa suspension mechanism reports monitor high numbers of asylum applications from Colombian nationals. No suspension has been decided.
ETIAS is not in operation yet and no applications are being taken. When it starts, visa-exempt travellers will need an online travel authorisation before travelling. The announced fee is €20 (free under 18 and over 70). No launch date has been officially set; the EU says it will announce it several months in advance. Beware of websites already charging for ETIAS. Read our ETIAS guide.
Your passport
- Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.
- Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years ago.
What border guards can ask for
- Proof of the purpose of your trip and of where you will stay (hotel booking, or an 'attestation d'accueil' if you stay with a private host).
- A return or onward ticket, or proof that you have enough money to buy one.
- Proof of enough money for your stay (cash, bank cards, etc.).
- Travel medical insurance covering medical, hospital and repatriation costs, minimum €30,000.
You must be able to show €65 per day with a hotel booking, €120 per day without proof of accommodation, or €32.50 per day if you stay with a host who obtained an 'attestation d'accueil'.
The 90/180 rule
Without a visa (or with a short-stay Schengen visa) you can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the whole Schengen area, not just France. Days spent in other Schengen countries count too.
At the border: the EES
Since 10 April 2026 the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational and replaces passport stamping. On your first entry, border guards record your name, passport data, fingerprints and a facial photo, plus the date and place of each entry and exit. Children under 12 do not give fingerprints. Your record is checked at later crossings and your 90/180-day count is calculated automatically.
Staying with friends or family
If you stay with a friend or relative, your host requests an 'attestation d'accueil' (welcome certificate) from their town hall (mairie). It costs €30 in tax stamps and must be validated before your visa application, or before you travel if you do not need a visa.
Travel insurance
Visa applicants must have travel medical insurance of at least €30,000 valid in the whole Schengen area. French official pages also list medical insurance (minimum €30,000) among the documents border guards can ask visa-free travellers for, so we strongly recommend it for everyone.
FAQ
Do Colombian citizens need a visa for France?
No. Colombian citizens can visit France without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You will need ETIAS once it starts; it is not in operation yet.
How long must my passport be valid?
At least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area, and issued less than 10 years ago.
Do I need ETIAS now?
No. ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are being taken. Any site charging for ETIAS today is charging for nothing.
How much money must I show?
You must be able to show €65 per day with a hotel booking, €120 per day without proof of accommodation, or €32.50 per day if you stay with a host who obtained an 'attestation d'accueil'.
Checked on 17 October 2026 against: eur-lex.europa.eu, home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, service-public.gouv.fr, france-visas.gouv.fr, service-public.gouv.fr, france-visas.gouv.fr. Rules can change: official sites prevail.