Visa Requirements
Do South African citizens need a visa for France?
Official Requirement
Visa required
for South Africa citizens travelling to France
Travellers whose nationality is not exempt from the Schengen short-stay visa requirement must apply for a Schengen visa through a French consular post before travel. A Schengen visa permits stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Checked 12 September 2026
We are not a government authority. Requirements change without notice. Always verify with the official consulate link before travel.
Paris
The short answer
South African citizens need a visa arranged in advance to enter France for stays of up to 90 days. A visa has to be obtained before travelling to France. Processing takes the decision on a visa application usually takes 15 days. This may be extended to up to 45 days in special cases where examination of the application warrants it. Passport validity: travel document in good condition, issued less than 10 years ago, containing at least two blank pages, and valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area. Bring travel document, original and copy, two recent identity photographs in ICAO format, supporting documents adapted to your personal situation and the reason for the trip, originals and copies, translations into French may be requested for documents written in another language and biometric identifiers: one photograph and ten fingerprints, given in person unless collected for a biometric Schengen visa less than 59 months earlier. This was last checked on 12 September 2026.
At a glance
Key facts for South African citizens visiting France
- Requirement
- Visa required
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days
- Passport validity
- Travel document in good condition, issued less than 10 years ago, containing at least two blank pages, and valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area.
- Processing time
- The decision on a visa application usually takes 15 days. This may be extended to up to 45 days in special cases where examination of the application warrants it.
- Documents
- Travel document, original and copy
- Two recent identity photographs in ICAO format
- Supporting documents adapted to your personal situation and the reason for the trip, originals and copies
- Translations into French may be requested for documents written in another language
- Biometric identifiers: one photograph and ten fingerprints, given in person unless collected for a biometric Schengen visa less than 59 months earlier
- Conditions
- A short-stay visa is issued for tourism, business trips, family visits, short training programmes, internships, conferences, and corporate meetings. It does not permit a stay exceeding 90 days in any period of 180 consecutive days, and it may be valid for one or more entries. It is also required to transit through an airport in France outside the international zone. It does not cover the non-European French territories, which require a separate national visa.
Step by step
How South African citizens enter France
Check whether a visa is required for your trip and identify the supporting documents and applicable fees
Set up the application online, with a valid travel document and two ICAO-format photographs ready
Book an appointment with the visa centre or consulate that handles applications where you live
Attend the appointment with the complete file, pay the fee, and give your biometrics
Track the application, then collect your passport from the centre where you filed it
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Practical Info
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Questions
What South African citizens ask about entering France
Yes. South African citizens need a visa arranged before travelling to France. This was last checked on 12 September 2026.
Up to 90 days on this entry route. A longer trip needs a different permission, which this page does not cover. A border officer decides the length granted on the day.
Through the official application page linked on this page. Yoogo does not process applications and takes no fee for them.
A passport valid for the trip, proof of onward or return travel, and proof of where you are staying. Officers can ask for evidence that you can support yourself for the visit. Entry is always the officer's decision, whatever the paperwork says.
France uses EUR. Check the rate before you exchange anything at the airport, where the spread is usually widest.
Changes to this route
No changes recorded since the first check on 12 September 2026.
Full change history for this route →