Before You Leave
A trip to another country is always an adventure, full of surprises.
A little advance planning will improve the chances that all the
surprises are pleasant ones.
To make your trip to France go smoothly,
certain things should be done before departure.
Some tasks, such as obtaining passports or visas,
may take considerable time, so begin preparations well
before your travel date.
Passports and Visas
In order to enter and travel in France you must carry
acceptable identification.
For nationals of the European Union (EU) a national identity card is
sufficient. Travelers from all other countries must carry a valid
national passport and one other form of identification.
Visas are not required for visitors staying less than 90 days who are
U.S. citizens, EU nationals, or from Canada or New Zealand.
To obtain the requirements for your locality,
call your local French embassy or consulate,
leaving sufficient time for processing and issuing documents.
Minors traveling alone are required to carry a written authorization
to exit their country, signed by their parents.
As a precaution you should make two copies of your
traveling documents. Leave one copy at home and take one with you,
storing it separately from the originals. Then, if an original document
is lost or stolen, obtaining a replacement will be easier.
Theft and Safety Precautions
Write the numbers of all credit cards, driving permits, insurance cards,
etc., on a separate paper to use in case of loss or theft. Also record
the customer service telephone number for each credit card. Store this
information separately from the cards. This small effort can turn the
tragedy of a lost wallet or purse into the simple matter of a few
telephone calls.
Write down and carry on your person your hotel telephone number and
address as an identification aid in case of accident or injury.
Health Care Issues
Visitors to France do not need to obtain any inoculations.
Citizens of the
EU
should request an International Social Security Form E111
from their local processing center.
This will allow reimbursement for any medical and
pharmaceutical expenses incurred while in France.
Nationals of other countries are advised to contact their health insurance
provider to verify that they are covered for illness or accident
during their visit.
If you will soon be due (or are overdue) for a regular checkup at
your doctor or dentist, do it before you leave. If you
wear eyeglasses or contacts, bring an extra pair of glasses and
your prescription. Persons taking prescription medications should
make sure they have an adequate supply for the trip, and/or bring their
prescription, making sure it includes the medication trade name,
manufacturer's name, generic name, and dosage.
Prepare a simple medical kit of over-the-counter medications
(aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antihistamine, antiseptic,
diarrhea medication), bandaids, thermometer, sunscreen, insect
repellent, and chapstick.
Travelers with Special Needs
Special services and facilities are available for travelers who
require them, including children traveling alone, persons in
wheelchairs or with other mobility restrictions, persons who
are sight- or hearing-impaired, or others needing special assistance.
For more information, please refer to
Travelers with Special Needs.
Taking French Goods Home
EU
nationals traveling within the
EU
have no limitation
on purchases of goods for personal use, except for new vehicles and
purchases by mail. There is, however, a recommended limit for cigarettes
and alcohol: 800 cigarettes, 10 liters of spirits, 90 liters of wine.
Citizens of countries outside the
EU
may be subject to duties when bringing goods back to their home country.
Check your local customs regulations before leaving.
The U.S. Customs Service has
online information
for U.S. citizens returning from abroad.
France has a national sales tax, or Value Added Tax
(VAT),
which ranges from 5.5% to 19.6%. Travelers from
non-EU
countries may obtain a refund of this tax for single-store
purchases in excess of 175€.
Some goods are forbidden or strictly regulated, including
narcotics, illegal drugs, forgeries, weapons, live plants, ivory, etc.
Cash or cash equivalents of 7,600€ or more must be declared
to customs at entry and exit.
For answers to questions telephone the Paris office of the customs
service at 01.53.24.68.24,
or visit the website of the
French Customs Service (in French only).
Bringing Your Pet
You may bring your pet to France if it is at least 3 months old and
has a current rabies vaccination, an identification tattoo,
and a collar giving the name and address of the owner.
You must carry a proof of vaccination.
Be sure to ask your local veterinary authorities about requirements
for taking your pet back home.
Electrical Appliances
The electrical service in France differs from that in the U.S., so
you will need either dual-voltage personal-care appliances (shavers, hair
dryers, curlers, etc.) or one or more voltage converters, plus
plug adapters. For more information see
Electricity.
Using Credit Cards
If your coming trip will be the first time you have tried to use
your credit card outside the United States,
we recommend that you call your credit card
company several weeks before you leave to verify two things.
First, make sure that transactions are enabled for all destination
countries. Some credit card companies set up new accounts with
international transactions disabled to help reduce credit card fraud.
Unless you call them and ask to have this feature enabled, you may
find that your card is not accepted outside your home country.
Second, if you plan to use your credit card to obtain foreign currency
from automatic teller machines (ATMs), you will need to have a Personal
Identification Number (PIN) to confirm your identity. If you do not
have a PIN, call your credit card company and request one. Some
European ATM machines will not accept PINs longer than four digits,
so ask for a four-digit PIN. Credit card companies need time to process
your request, and will normally send PINs by first-class mail only,
so be sure to call several weeks before leaving.
Commit your PIN to memory if you can. If you must write it
down, do not write it on your credit card. Record it in
a separate place. Don't label it "PIN", and don't write the credit card
name on the same note.
Before You Leave