Monaco Visa Policy

The Principality of Monaco is not a member of the Schengen Area. Access to the Principality is via France. Consequently, any third-country national intending to travel to Monaco must obtain information from the Embassies or Consulates of France whether they are required to hold a visa to Schengen Area and, if necessary, carry out the necessary procedures to obtain this Schengen visa.

Monaco is not a part of the Schengen Agreement or European Union, but according to its Customs Union with France, Monaco’s territory is known as a part of the Schengen area.

The person concerned will have to apply for a double-entry or multiple-entry Schengen visa to be able to exit and enter the Schengen Area without any problem.

If Monaco embassy/consulate doesn’t exist in your country, you can apply for this visa in the French embassy/consulate/visa application center in most cases. Check and verify this information with the French embassy/consulate/visa application center before applying for a visa.

Monaco Short-term Visa

Monaco has no specific short-term visa policy; its visa policy is identical with France Short-term (Schengen) visa process. You can apply for France Schengen Visa in order to realize your short-term trip to Monaco.

Reasons to apply for this type of visa can be tourism, visiting family or friends, business trips, short-term education, exchange programs, short-term work, and many other non-permanent nuances. You can check all the required documents for each type of visa application, visa fees, processing time, where to apply for a visa below, detailed information about the short-term (Schengen) visa on the France Schengen Visa policy page.

Monaco Long-term Visa

Monaco has no specific long-term visa policy either; its visa policy is identical with France Long-term (National) visa process. You can apply for France Long-term (National) Visa in order to realize your long-term trip to Monaco.

A long-stay visa can be issued for the following reasons:

Stay for an extended period for tourist or personal reasons
Carry out a professional activity
Pursue education
Join family members

In any of the above situations, you will be required to attach supporting documents specific to your case to your application package and follow the respective procedures.

You can get detailed information about the long-term visa on France Long-term (National) Visa policy page.

Monaco Residence Permits

After you arrive in Monaco, you can apply for a Monaco Residence Permit in some cases.

The residency allows the applicant to live as long as desired in Monaco. You can also apply for citizenship after ten years of permanent residency status.

The first Monaco residency card will be issued for a period of 12 months, after this period, the card must be renewed. The card is referred to as a Monaco Carte de Resident, Temporaire, and is renewed for the first 3 years each year. The holder will then be issued with a three-year card known as the Monaco Carte de Resident, Ordinaire, in the fourth year of continuous Monaco residency. Such cards are valid for a period of three years and must be renewed upon expiry. In year 10, the holder of a residence in Monaco may apply for a Carte Privilege, which is granted at the discretion of the authorities of Monaco. This is not automatically granted, and the applicant will continue to receive a three-year Monaco Resident Card if it has not been granted.

EMBASSY INFORMATION AND LOCATION

Embassy of

Located in

FAQ

Can I travel within the Schengen countries with a single-entry visa?

Yes. Once you have entered the Schengen territory, a single-entry visa allows the holder to circulate within the Schengen territory multiple times. However, if the holder of this visa leaves the Schengen territory, he/she cannot re-enter again without a new valid visa.

I am from a country whose citizens do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area. Can I experience any problems at the border, while entering France/Monaco?

You must meet certain requirements to enter France/Monaco, even if you are not required a visa:

The purpose of your trip must be plausible and comprehensible.
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay.
You must be able to finance your own living and travel costs.
You must hold a confirmed return flight, to prove that you are prepared to leave before the visa expires.
You must have travel health insurance for the whole duration of your stay.
You must not pose a threat to security or public order.

How long am I allowed to stay in Monaco with 1, 3, 5 years valid multiple-entry Schengen visa?

This visa gives permission to its holder to enter the Schengen Area (all 26 member States) as many times as they wish, within a period of 1, 3, 5 years. However, even in this case, the visa holder is limited to remaining in the Schengen Area no longer than 90 days within a 180-day period.

How long is my Schengen visa valid for?

Schengen visas are valid for a maximum of 90 days (within 180 days) from your arrival date. The Schengen visa is not valid before the arrival date you provide on your visa application.
An airport transit visa is valid for the period it takes you to transfer between flights in a France airport.
National visas are usually issued for over three months but can be valid up to 12 months, depending on your reason for requesting a visa.

What happens if my France/Monaco visa application is rejected?

If your visa application is rejected, you will be notified by your mission that your application has been unsuccessful. You will be informed of the grounds on which it was rejected and have one month to appeal the decision by writing to the France mission. Your application will then be reconsidered. You can also apply for a visa again if your circumstances have changed.

Can I submit my visa application through mail, a courier, or through another person?

All applicants must appear in person in the Embassy/Consulate or Visa Application Center for the submission of the documents since the identity needs to be verified and biometric data must be collected. Please contact local France representatives for more precise information.

Will my fees be refunded if my visa is refused?

All fees are non-refundable and will not be refunded if your visa application is not successful.

Can I work in Monaco with a Schengen Visa?

No, you generally cannot work in Monaco with a Schengen Visa. If you come to Monaco as a temporary foreign worker, you need to apply for a national visa in advance.

Can I extend the validity of my visa?

It is possible to extend the validity of visas only in exceptional cases, such as a natural disaster. This must be done at the Foreigners’ Office covering your area of residence.

Can a Schengen visa be extended or transferred to a residence permit?

A Schengen visa is issued for a maximum period of stay of three months and cannot be extended. The visa must be applied for, by the traveler personally, at the France/Monaco Foreign Mission abroad, which is responsible for the place of residence and cannot be extended in Monaco, nor converted into a residence permit.

When should I apply for a visa?

You may only submit your visa application within 180 days before your date of departure. We recommend that you apply at least 15 working days before the date you intend to travel to Monaco or Schengen Area.

Could the Embassy/Consulate request me to provide additional documents or information?

The embassy may request you to provide additional documents or information, according to your personal situation, even after you have submitted all the required documents mentioned on the official website of the Embassy/Consulate/Visa Application Center.

Blogs About Monaco That Might Inspire You to Visit

Tural Musayev 21 November 2021

Top tourist attractions in Monaco

Beautiful and glistening On the French Riviera, Monaco is a tiny royal principality. It is probably the gorgeous small piece of land on the globe, measuring less than two square kilometres. So, what are some tourist attractions in Monaco? You will have the sight after reading this article. Stay with Pickvisa! Monaco is a site […]

Tamerlan Mehdiyev 29 May 2021

Important details about Monaco visa

Being the second smallest country, Monaco attracts many tourists every year. Strangely, Monaco only has borders with France. When people think of Monaco, confusion often appears. Is Monaco an independent state? Yes, it is independent since 1297. Why do people make such mistakes about Monaco, then? Although the state is independent, the relations of Monaco, […]

Kanan Isazade 23 January 2021

12 Instagrammable places in Monaco

Do you know the name of the sovereign city-state of millionaires in Europe? Yes, today, we are going to talk about Monaco. In recent years, Monaco became one of the most attractive destinations for tourists. Data show that 32% of the total population is a millionaire. Every year thousands of people travel to Monaco, and […]