Travelling to the United States, Canada or Mexico requires different official mandatory documents. Here's everything you need to prepare and the procedures to follow.
🌐 First, the links to the French Ministry's pages for each country with requirements and recommendations (for French citizens). These links are very important to bookmark to have all official information, contacts, updates...
Overview of mandatory documents for each country.
🇨🇦 CANADA
For a trip of less than 6 months, a visa is not required. You need a valid passport.
You must submit an advance request for an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Here is the official site to submit your eTA application (watch out for many fraudulent websites with high fees, use the official site).
The eTA application costs $7 CAD to be paid online.
Once on the site you need to fill out a form with your information (you will need your passport) and pay the $7 CAD. You will receive a response to your application within 72 hours. The eTA is valid for 5 years.
🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
If you have an electronic or biometric passport you do not need a visa to travel to the United States, however you must have an electronic travel authorization called ESTA (for a trip of maximum 90 days).
If you have another type of passport (which is not electronic or biometric), you must apply for a visa.
Here is the only official site to submit your mandatory ESTA application. It is recommended to submit your application at least 72 hours before departure.
The ESTA is valid for 2 years but must be renewed in case of a change in circumstances (name, surname, sex, nationality, passport...) or if your passport expiry date is less than 2 years away.
The ESTA application fee is $40 USD to be paid directly online.
Attention, a visa is mandatory if:
- You have travelled to Cuba since 12 January 2021.
- You have travelled to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen or Sudan since 1 March 2011.
- You hold Iranian, Iraqi, Sudanese or Syrian nationality.
🇲🇽 MEXICO
French, Belgian and Swiss nationals are not required to obtain a visa for a trip of less than 180 days.
Therefore you need a valid passport (it is recommended to have a passport expiry of at least 6 months after your travel date).
