French Southern Territories Visa Policy

French Southern and Antarctic Lands is an overseas territory of France.

French Southern and Antarctic Lands is not part of the EU (via France) or Schengen Area, but facilitated regulations are applied to these countries’ citizens. EU and Schengen countries’ nationals can travel to French Southern and Antarctic Lands for an unlimited time period with their National Identity Card instead of the passport.

All the nationals who are holding valid Long-stay (“D” type”) visa or Residence Permit issued by France or other Schengen countries can enter French Southern and Antarctic Lands without obtaining a new visa and stay there for up to 90 days within 6 months period.

Nationals of the following countries can also travel to French Southern and Antarctic Lands without obtaining a new visa if they are holding a valid multiple-entry visa (Schengen included) with a validity of more than 6 months, issued by France:

• Bahrain
• Belarus
• China
• India
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Russia
• South Africa
• Ukraine

Short-stay (“C type”) Schengen visa issued by France or other Schengen countries is not valid for entering French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

If you are a visa-required national, you have to obtain a separate visa to French Southern and Antarctic Lands from France diplomatic missions (embassies/consulates). A special wording for clarifying the validity territory must be indicated on the visa. On the other hand, you cannot travel to France nor other Schengen countries with a visa valid for French Southern and Antarctic Lands only either.

If you are required to obtain a visa to travel to France, you will be also required to obtain a visa beforehand for entering French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

You can apply for the following types of French Southern and Antarctic Lands visas at France embassies/consulates:

• French Southern and Antarctic Lands Short-term visa (valid for up to 90 days)
• French Southern and Antarctic Lands Long-term visa (valid for more than 90 days)

You can apply for a French Southern and Antarctic Lands Short-stay visa for realizing your temporary travel to French Southern and Antarctic Lands. Reasons to apply for this type of visa can be tourism, visiting family or friends, business trips, short-term work, and many other non-permanent nuances. French Southern and Antarctic Lands Short-term visa’s validity period can be a maximum of 90 days. Short-term visas can be both single-entry and multiple-entry.

Required Documents for French Southern and Antarctic Lands Short-term Visa

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your departure from French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Photo

• NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
• A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
• A uniform and white background.
• Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
• 3.5x4.5 size

4. ID Card Copy

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your departure from French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your departure from French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

6. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas

7. Travel Itinerary 

• Flight reservations (return ticket)
• Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)

• The letter must include:
  • Name, postal address, and telephone number of sponsor/company
  • Details regarding the applicant’s working position, starting date of the employment, and salary
  • The timeframe of work leave (expected date to resume duties) and purpose of travel
• Valid trade license copy and company ownership documents (if a person is an owner of the company).
• Letter from University (if student)
• Copy of sponsor’s valid passport and residence visa (if any) to be attached to letter from sponsor (if an applicant is a dependent)

9. Proof of Financial Means

• Personal bank statements of at least the last 3 months before application, personal property, assets, etc.

10. Medical Insurance

• It should cover all the duration you intend to stay in French Southern and Antarctic Lands and must have a minimum of 30,000 € coverage.

11. Supporting Documents that Show Your Reason for a Trip

     For tourism:

• Confirmation of the accommodation (hotel confirmation, apartment rental contract, etc.)

     For business/congress/sports travel:

• Original invitation letter by the company/organization
• Confirmation of the accommodation (hotel confirmation, apartment rental contract, etc.)

      For private visit:

• Original invitation letter by inviting person
• The original document that confirms the ownership of estate (home) of your inviting person, if you are going to stay there
• Copies of passport, ID card/residence permit of your inviting person

      For employment (short-term):

• Original invitation letter by a company in French Southern and Antarctic Lands
• Confirmation of the accommodation (apartment rental contract, hotel confirmation, etc.)

12. For Minors:

• Copy and English translation of either birth certificate/proof of adoption/custody decree if parents are divorced/death certificate of parent
• Letter of consent from parent/s or legal guardian/s, if traveling unaccompanied

*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.

Processing Time for French Southern and Antarctic Lands Short-term Visa

The average processing time for a French Southern and Antarctic Lands Short-term Visa is 3-15 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.

French Southern and Antarctic Lands Short-term Visa Fee

French Southern and Antarctic Lands Short-term Visa fee is 60 EUR (it can slightly vary depending on your country and nationality) per applicant. Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

Where to Apply for a French Southern and Antarctic Lands Short-term Visa?

You will apply for a French Southern and Antarctic Lands Short-term visa in France visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.

French Southern and Antarctic Lands Long-term visa will be valid for up to 1 year with multiple entries. You can apply for this visa, if your travel purpose is long-term employment, family French Southern and Antarctic Lands, research, study, etc.

Required Documents for French Southern and Antarctic Lands Long-term Visa

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your departure from French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Photo

• NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
• A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
• A uniform and white background.
• Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
• 3.5x4.5 size

4. ID Card Copy

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your travel to French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your travel to French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

6. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas

7. Travel Itinerary 

• Flight reservation
• Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)

• The letter must include:
  • Name, postal address, and telephone number of sponsor/company
  • Details regarding the applicant’s working position, starting date of the employment, and salary
  • The timeframe of work leave (expected date to resume duties) and purpose of travel
• Valid trade license copy and company ownership documents (if a person is an owner of the company).
• Letter from University (if student)
• Copy of sponsor’s valid passport and residence visa (if any) to be attached to letter from sponsor (if an applicant is a dependent)

9. Proof of Financial Means

• Personal bank statements of at least the last 3 months before application, personal property, assets, etc.

10. Medical Insurance

• It should cover all the duration you intend to stay in French Southern and Antarctic Lands and must have a minimum of 30,000 € coverage.

11. Supporting Documents that Show Your Reason for a Trip

      For private visit:

• Original invitation letter by inviting person
• Original document that confirms the ownership of estate (home) of your inviting person, if you are going to stay there
• Copies of passport, ID card/residence permit of your inviting person

      For studying (long-term):

• Original invitation letter by the educational establishment in French Southern and Antarctic Lands
• Acceptance letter to education establishment in French Southern and Antarctic Lands
• Confirmation of the accommodation (apartment rental contract, dormitory contract, etc.)

      For employment (long-term):

• Original invitation letter by a company in French Southern and Antarctic Lands
• Confirmation of the accommodation (hotel confirmation, apartment rental contract, etc.)

      For family reunion:

• Original invitation letter by your family member
• Original document that confirms the ownership of estate (home) of your inviting person, if you are going to stay there
• Copies of passport, ID card/residence permit of your family member in French Southern and Antarctic Lands
• Documents proving your ties with your family member in French Southern and Antarctic Lands (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)

12. For Minors:

• Copy and English translation of either birth certificate/proof of adoption/custody decree if parents are divorced/death certificate of parent
• Letter of consent from parent/s or legal guardian/s, if traveling unaccompanied

*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.

Processing Time for French Southern and Antarctic Lands Long-term Visa

The average processing time for a French Southern and Antarctic Lands Long-term Visa is 10-30 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.

French Southern and Antarctic Lands Long-term Visa Fee

French Southern and Antarctic Lands Long-term Visa fee is 99 EUR (it can vary depending on your country and nationality). Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

Where to Apply for a French Southern and Antarctic Lands Long-term Visa?

You will apply for a French Southern and Antarctic Lands Long-term visa in France visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.