Today I ended up being denied boarding at CDG. I booked the trip through a physical travel agency with no assistance for the visa application. I applied in plenty of time and got the approval. Except I put the 9th (the day I left France) as the date instead of the 10th, which is the arrival date in India. That’s what caused the denial. I’m guessing I don’t have any recourse? Thanks for your replies.
Today I was denied boarding at CDG. I booked the trip through a physical travel agency with no assistance for obtaining the visa. I applied in time and got the approval. Except I put the 9th (day of departure from France) as the date instead of the 10th, the arrival date in India. That’s what caused the denial. I guess there’s no recourse for me? Thanks for your replies.
You can at least ask the agency to refund the airport taxes included in your flight fare. It’ll be a small consolation.
For the rest, as far as I know, there’s no cancellation insurance that covers visa issues as a reason.
In the future, don’t forget to check out the other big travel forum to complement VoyageForum. Over the past few years (while VF was closed), the topic of Indian visas was frequently discussed and covered there, especially regarding issues with validity dates.
In the future, don’t forget to check out the other major travel forum to supplement VoyageForum. Over the past few years (while VF was closed), the topic of Indian visas was frequently discussed and addressed there, especially regarding the issue of validity dates.
Sorry, but I don’t see any other
major travel forum.
All I’ve seen is a poor, clunky, badly designed, and downright ugly forum—some kind of VF knockoff that’s really not, and I mean *really* not, a major travel forum. It doesn’t even come close to what VF was before it shut down!!!
Today I was denied boarding at CDG. I booked the trip through a physical travel agency with no assistance for obtaining the visa. I applied in time and received approval. Except I put the 9th (the day of departure from France) as the date instead of the 10th, which is the arrival date in India. This resulted in the denial. I assume I have no recourse? Thanks for your responses.
I’m trying to understand, but I just can’t...
Who refused to validate this visa?
I don’t get the date issue. When you apply for a visa online on the only valid site—the official consulate one—they only ask for the planned travel date... without considering the arrival date. I think your agency misled you... or maybe, like I said, I just didn’t understand. What matters for boarding is the ETA issued by the Indian consulate with the mention GRANTED. And from what you said, you had received it.
I only saw a poor, shoddy forum, really unstable and badly made, and ugly on top of that,
I agree with that opinion—there are at least two of us who think so! :) I’m talking about the forum from the paper guide of the same name, of course. But that’s another topic entirely.
... Sorry, but I don’t see any other major travel forum. I only found one poor, shaky, badly designed, and ugly forum—some kind of VF knockoff that’s really, *really* not a great travel forum and doesn’t hold a candle to what VF used to be before it shut down!!!
You’re probably talking about this other forum,
not the Gdr (which never claimed to reach VF’s level)
Except that I put the 9th (day of departure from France) as the date instead of the 10th, the arrival date in India. That’s what caused the refusal.
Wow, I’ve never seen anything like that before! The opposite, sure, I would’ve understood...
So a visa for entering India on the 9th wouldn’t be valid if you arrive one day later, on the 10th?!
Is that even possible?
Except that I put the 9th as the date (day of departure from France) and not the 10th, the arrival date in India. That’s what caused the denial.
Wow, I’ve never seen anything like that before! The other way around, I would’ve understood...
So a visa for an entry into India planned for the 9th wouldn’t be valid if you arrive one day later, on the 10th?!
Is that even possible?
No, that’s just it—it’s not possible. There’s something about this story that doesn’t add up. When the forum first reopened, there was a long debate about this in another thread. Someone traveled two years AFTER getting their ETA!!!
I wonder who actually denied boarding...
...a visa for entry into India planned for the 9th wouldn't be valid if you arrive one day later on the 10th?! Is that even possible?
This isn’t about a visa (stamped in your passport before departure or upon arrival in the destination country), but rather an e-visa or ETA (electronic travel authorization) for one month (I think) that was applied for and obtained too early (by one day). As a result, its validity period (30 days between the issue date and expiration date) didn’t cover the arrival date in India.
I’ll try to be more precise:
I filled out the form on the official site (using the link from the travel agency’s email) and received approval for my 30-day visa.
But since the agency didn’t give me any advice on how far in advance I should apply (the agency’s link was from December), I filled it out a full month before my trip, indicating my travel date as February 9th.
Except I was leaving on the 9th and obviously arriving on the 10th.
So for my visa to be valid, I should’ve arrived in the country on the 9th, and then it would’ve been good for 30 days.
That’s why they refused to let me board at the CDG counter.
Thanks for your input!
I don’t get your situation either.
You got a 30-day visa starting on the 9th, you arrive on the 10th... So where’s the issue, as long as you’ve got a ticket to return before the 30 days are up?
Yes, thanks, that’s exactly what I thought after your first message.
You applied for and got your e-visa or ETA a day too early (30 days in advance).
Once issued, it’s only valid for 30 days from the date of approval.
This is info that’s frequently reminded on the INDIA Forum by knowledgeable contributors (like FANZI, MAITREPO, etc.) who give great tips.
It’s too bad you didn’t think to check the Guide du Routard when planning your trip, especially since VoyageForum was down at the end of last year.
Yes, exactly. With no guidance at all for the visa application (when to apply, what information to provide, etc.). Just an email with a link. The travel agency didn’t even ask to check if it was filled out correctly.
Hello,
I’m reaching out about this topic.
Did you have a direct flight?
What time did you arrive in India?
I go to India almost every year.
In fact, I’m planning a trip there in September.
Have a great day and see you soon!
My main question is whether the agency is at fault?
I think on this topic we’ll all just say anything and everything. If you want to try taking legal action, your best bet is to explain everything to a lawyer—preferably one who specializes in this kind of case—rather than asking us travelers, since we don’t know much about these kinds of disputes. Just for a consultation about your question, it won’t cost you much.
PS: You haven’t mentioned your disappointment/frustration about not being able to leave.
Thanks for your insightful reply. Expanding my options, I wanted to get some feedback from the forum. Of course, I sent an email to the agency to formalize the situation, contacted their platform by phone, and I'm still waiting for their response... Given how slow they are to get back to me, I also imagine the local contact told them I never arrived. I also reached out to a legal service for initial advice and to prepare my registered letter. Of course, the frustration of not being able to leave is huge. I don’t think I’ve fully processed it yet. The suitcase is still in the entryway. The mental exhaustion and the amount of money involved aren’t helping. Thanks again
... My main question is whether the agency is at fault?
YES, there’s a lack of advice due to the agency’s insufficient knowledge and therefore incompetence regarding e-visas or ETAs.
This results in a double penalty for you: missing your trip and losing money.
The agency informed you that you needed to apply for an e-visa, but they should have also warned you and drawn your attention to the very specific conditions for obtaining a 30-day Indian e-visa. Indeed, such an ETA expires 30 days after its issue date. In relation to your arrival date in India, you shouldn’t apply for it too early—or, of course, too late.
The 1-year and 5-year Indian ETAs are less problematic because they’re valid for 1 and 5 years from their issue date (so there’s less risk of error).
Similarly, when traveling to the USA or Canada, this isn’t an issue because the US ETA is valid for 2 years after approval, while the Canadian eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is valid for 5 years.
Thanks so much for this super detailed reply. I think I’ll be starting a long process to try and get my money back. I’ll come back to share updates on how my issue progresses, in case it helps anyone. Thanks again to everyone! 😊
yes, the steps to follow are clearly outlined on the public service website.
You should always try to resolve the issue amicably before resorting to legal action if necessary.
We can’t really help you, but personally, I’m with you wholeheartedly. I find this really traumatic, and I can tell you’re devastated. That suitcase still in the hallway really gets to me...
Of course, these are just words, and they don’t fix your problem, but just a little encouragement.
I went through something similar a few years ago. Because of a handling error on the Air France website—but also due to incorrect information from a customer service agent over the phone—my ticket was canceled. When I showed up for check-in, I was told my ticket had been voided. For personal reasons, it was such a shock that, in a panic, I paid full price for a new ticket to be able to leave. 2000 €. I was convinced I was in the right and that Air France would acknowledge the professional mistake of their phone agent (calls are recorded) and reimburse me. But after over a year of procedures, registered letters, hiring a lawyer, and going through mediation, it was Air France that "won" the battle! And yet, the computer error could have been fixed at boarding.
So I know how awful it is to hear at the gate: no, you can’t leave.
I wish you good luck in the fight ahead—because there *will* be a fight, no doubt about it. And I hope you win.
Thank you so much for your empathy.
We’re really looking forward to our trip and we’ve stretched ourselves financially to go, so this kind of situation is more than frustrating.
And walking into a travel agency, I didn’t expect to run into something like this!
I just sent off my registered letter.
Hang in there too, and thanks again for your support.
If you arrived in India on the 10th and your visa was valid starting from the 10th, they couldn’t refuse your boarding because you were on Indian soil with a visa that was valid date-to-date, right?
If you’d arrived on the 9th, it would’ve been 24 hours too early.
But from what you’re saying, that wasn’t the case! !
... We’re so excited for our trip and have saved up so much to go that this kind of situation is more than disappointing.
And walking into a travel agency, I never expected to run into something like this!
I’ve just sent my registered letter....
When selling a package holiday, travel agencies sometimes offer to handle the visa (or ETA) application process for the customer if needed—this service (which they probably didn’t mention to you) is usually charged as an extra fee.
But most of the time, it’s the traveler who takes care of their own visa/ETA application, just like they check their passport’s validity and stay up to date with vaccinations.
When you apply for an ETA online yourself, the issue is that during data entry (which isn’t always straightforward), you risk making an unintentional mistake due to a lack of helpful information and no outside support (agency, friends, etc.). Unfortunately, that’s what happened to you.
I hope you manage to get compensation from the agency that provided poor assistance, especially since the planned services in India (accommodation, transport, meals, tours, etc.) weren’t used.
This option wasn’t offered to me.
For a previous trip, the agency did indeed take care of everything.
But a professional who knows the challenges a private individual faces could have pointed out the specifics for obtaining it.
I haven’t had any response from the agency so far.
The local contact must have reported that I didn’t arrive on Monday!
Unbelievable service!
Thanks for your insights.
For VF members who have visa expertise to help you, we’d need to see your documents...
I still can’t wrap my head around how a visa valid from the 9th of the month wouldn’t be valid on the 10th—the day you were supposed to arrive in India. It’s completely baffling! Some info is missing.
Something’s definitely off here.
I thought so too... But I think I figured out that the trip had to be planned *exactly* for 30 days, date to date, with no buffer at all. That was pretty risky, especially in India where a train delay, a strike, or anything else can happen and prevent you from leaving on the planned day...
So, yeah, the visa wasn’t valid anymore at the end of the stay—it was one day short. That’s the explanation I came up with...
That’s the same reasoning I had, but once you’re there, it’s always possible to extend a visa—especially in this case for just one day!
In most countries, including Thailand, if you exceed the planned date by one or two days, you pay the overstay fee on the day of departure.
That’s the same explanation I gave myself, but on the spot, it’s always possible to extend a visa—especially in this case for just one day!
In most countries, including Thailand, if you exceed the planned date by a day or two, you pay the overstay fee on departure.
In India, it is ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTEND A VISA on the spot, except in cases of force majeure like illness, hospitalization, or a special event in India. And if you overstay, not only do you have to pay a fine, but you can also be "penalized" with a visa ban for a certain period (duration unspecified)—it’s a matter of whether the immigration officer is lenient or not. On top of that, you need to apply for a special EXIT VISA without which you can’t leave. And since you can’t stay without a visa... well, you go to prison, plain and simple, until your situation is sorted out. No joke!
Indian immigration services are very strict and severe about overstaying. That’s actually why the airline—which is responsible for checking and knows India’s strict rules—denied boarding.
Especially since, upon arrival, immigration would have noticed the issue and refused entry, sending you back at the airline’s expense for not doing their job. So airlines are extra careful.
There you go, now you know everything.
This isn’t recent, but once I left Nepal on foot via a mountain trail and entered India outside an official border post. No exit stamp from Nepal or entry stamp for India. True story!
I sorted out my situation the next day in Darjeeling, and it went as smoothly as could be!
I did have a visa in my passport, though 😅
In India, it’s absolutely IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTEND A VISA on the spot, except in cases of force majeure like illness, hospitalization, or a special event in India... And if you overstay, not only do you have to pay a fine, but you can also be "penalized" with a visa ban for a certain period (duration unspecified)
PS: I now know that getting sick can help you avoid prison ;)
This isn’t recent but once I left Nepal on foot via a mountain trail and entered India outside a border post. No exit stamp from Nepal or entry stamp for India. True story !
Can you tell us roughly when this was, at least?
It’s true I had a visa in my passport
Well, there you go—but if your visa hadn’t been in order, especially entering almost illegally like that, I think the letter would’ve had a hard time getting through...
Not that old: November 1985. I was coming back from the Kangchenjunga base camp.
For Nepal, I didn’t have any trekking permit. I showed my passport as a permit, and a cop (who didn’t speak a word of English) at a checkpoint wrote something in Nepali on the first page of my passport, next to the photo!! That later invalidated my passport once I got back to France, but it didn’t bother the Indian authorities at all
... I still can’t wrap my head around how a visa valid from the 9th of the month wouldn’t be valid on the 10th of the same month, the day of your planned arrival in India. It’s absolutely incomprehensible! Something’s missing. There’s definitely something off here.
This isn’t about a visa (which is stamped in your passport before departure or upon entry into the destination country) but an e-visa or ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization).
Member GINGERS applied for and obtained (via this Indian government website) a 30-day ETA whose validity is only 30 days from the date of issue. Such an ETA therefore allows arrival in India no later than its expiration date.
--> See the "Date of expiry of ETA" on around the 10th line of the attached image.
The ETA GINGERS had expired on Sunday, February 9th, while her landing in India was only scheduled for Monday, February 10th. When departing from Paris-CDG on the 9th, she was refused boarding for Chennai (via Abu Dhabi), where she would have been issued a tourist visa for India.
The ETA that GINGERS had expired on Sunday, February 9, while their landing in India was only on Monday the 10th. Departing from Paris-CDG on the 9th, they were therefore denied boarding for Chennai (via Abu Dhabi)...
Oh yeah, for sure—if the visa expired BEFORE entering India, it’s definitely not valid! And as a result, the airline’s job is to refuse boarding to any passenger without a valid visa.
I thought the visa expired a day before the planned exit from India!
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I’m heading to Laos next spring, but I have a question about the Thai arrival/departure form. I’ll be flying PAR-BKK, then taking the train to Laos (so exiting Thailand), and later re-entering Thailand by train to catch my return flight. Do I need to fill out two forms in this case?
Hi there,
I have a 9-seater passenger vehicle that I use for my business in Paris, transporting people.
I’m planning to go to Algeria with my family.
The vehicle registration lists my company as the owner.
Can I get a TPD (Temporary Admission Document)?
Will I need a KBis extract or a power of attorney?!?
Thanks for your help.
Worst case, I can add my personal name as a co-owner on the registration, but that would be a real shame!
Hi,
I’m bringing Seresta, an anxiolytic (tranquilizer) from the benzodiazepine family,
to help me sleep.
I’ll have the prescription with me.
Will this be a problem at customs, and do I need to declare it?
Same question for antibiotics?
Thanks a bunch!
Hi,
I’m writing to ask for some info—I’ve heard that you **must** have travel insurance to land in Zanzibar.
What’s the process, and which insurance should I get?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Seb
Hi there,
I’m a French citizen living in Switzerland, and I set up an RV LLC in Montana, USA. Through that, I was able to register 3 vehicles (an RV, a Jeep, and a Harley) with Montana plates.
I’d like to spend 3 months in Mexico, but it seems complicated—maybe even impossible—to cross the border from the US with all 3 vehicles.
Can anyone give me some advice?
Hi, are there any travelers who’ve recently crossed the border between Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan) and Beineu in Kazakhstan?
It was closed for a while.
Thanks for any info!
I bought a one-way flight (Ryanair) and a return flight (EasyJet) to spend a week in Morocco in April.
My passport expires 3 weeks after the return date.
Some websites say the passport must be valid for 3 months at the time of entry.
However, it will still be valid both on entry and return, but its validity will only be 1 month at the time of entry (and 3 weeks on the return date, everything prepaid).
It's an individual family trip.
The consulate can't give me an answer—they're still looking into it (really!)
Last year, we stayed for 3 months in Thailand, north of Khao Lak, and were able to benefit from the 2-month visa exemption, renewable for one month by going to Takua Pa to validate a 1-month extension (1,900 baht).
This year, it’s a disaster for us—not only were we planning a 4-month stay, adding a visa run in between (which some say is quite risky), but the law is apparently changing in the coming months with the return of the 1-month exemption (plus the usual 1-month option). So, we looked into applying for a 6-month multiple-entry visa, allowing a maximum of 60 consecutive days in Thailand. However, I can’t find anywhere the minimum time required outside Thailand between two stays—do any of you have an idea?
Thanks for the info! If you’d like tips on Khao Lak and the surrounding areas, we’ve got some experience, though things change fast!
Cheers,
Bruno.
My partner, our 8-year-old daughter, and I are going on vacation to Gex.
We’ve decided to spend one day in Switzerland and another in Italy. Will we need ID (national ID card or passport)? Do we also need ID for our daughter?
Hello,
We’ll soon be moving to Madagascar long-term.
As a French national, I need to obtain a short-stay visa that can be converted to a long-stay one. To do this, I have to send the required documents to the Madagascar embassy in Paris.
No issues with that procedure so far.
If I get this visa, once I arrive in Madagascar, I’ll need to provide the same documents to the Ministry of the Interior in Anosy. I’m trying to find an email address or website for the Ministry to check which documents I need to submit (I think they ask for additional ones).
If you have any info on this, I’d appreciate your replies.
Best regards,
M. Buisson Eric
I’d like to know if anyone has already applied for a private visa to Russia with an invitation from a Russian resident.
I traveled earlier this year with an e-visa, but since I want to stay longer, I’ll be visiting my friend who lives in eastern Russia.
For the visa application, does the invitation need to be on an official paper form issued by the Russian ministry? And most importantly, do I need to present the original for the application, or is there an electronic version that can be sent directly to the consulate in France?
Thanks for any info if you’ve gone through this process before!
I filled out the B2 form to apply for a visa, created an account on Atvis to pay the visa fees and schedule a meet-up, but every time I try to pay with my Boursobank Visa 1st card, they refuse the payment with a message telling me to check my details (address), even though everything is correct. Does anyone know why this is happening, or maybe they don’t accept Visa cards? Are you aware of this?
Thanks for your feedback!
Elisabeth
There are rumors going around about the ETA: it must absolutely be on your smartphone in the "ETA" app.
Paper documents might not be accepted.
Is this real or just a hoax?
Thanks, I’m leaving in 3 weeks. My passport is good to go and my ETA is still valid for a year, but I only printed the email I received.
Thanks everyone.
Hi there,
We need to apply for a B2 visa because we visited Iran in 2018. It currently costs $185, but they’re planning an additional $250 fee per person for the same visa—it’s been approved but not yet implemented. Does anyone know when this fee will take effect?
Thanks in advance!
Elisabeth
Hi there,
In November, we're heading off on a 4-month trip. We'll be landing in China and plan to leave the country via a land border into Vietnam.
I’ve read that China may ask for proof of exit within 30 days (flight ticket or other reservation). Since we’d be leaving by land, I’m wondering how this works in practice.
Has anyone here been in this situation recently?
Did the airline ask for an exit ticket before boarding?
Did Chinese authorities require proof upon arrival?
Is a train/bus ticket to Vietnam sufficient?
Is a cancelable or flexible reservation accepted?
Hi there,
Just a question that’s probably been asked before (though usually the other way around for my situation :))
My wife and I are heading to the US.
On her ticket, it only has her maiden name (e.g., Martine DUPOND).
On her passport, it’s written as Martine DUPOND épouse AVRY.
No issues for travel, I hope I did the right thing with the ticket?
Then for the ESTA, is just Martine DUPOND enough, or do I need to include the "épouse AVRY" part like on the passport?
Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
I’m spending a few days in San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) and would like to cross the Argentine border to make a loop toward Salta and then return to Chile to drop off the rental car.
I’ve heard that crossing the border can be tricky!
Is it possible with a rental company’s authorization? Which company, and at what cost?
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Best regards,
Arnale
I saw on the French Embassy in Peru’s website and the Peruvian Consulate in Paris’s site that the rule is to have a passport valid for 6 months *after the arrival date* (not the return date).
I arrive in Peru on August 13, 2019 (for about twelve days), and my passport is valid until February 16, 2020.
That’s 6 months and 3 days after my arrival date in Peru. In my opinion, I’m good to go.
But could I still be denied entry if they say I don’t cover the return date or that I’m too close to the 6-month mark?
I read on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that it’s possible to apply for a temporary driving permit in China, valid for 1 month.
I’m planning to rent a car (without a driver) to explore part of the country next August, so I was wondering:
Has anyone here already gone through this process upon arrival?
How long do the formalities take on the spot?
Is it possible to handle these steps in advance, before arriving in China?
Hi there,
My departure is slowly approaching, and now that I’ve got my Russian visa sorted, I’m fine-tuning the rest of my trip to Tajikistan. Since the Tajik visa is no longer required for stays under 30 days (for French nationals), I’ll need to visit the Ministry of Interior (OVIR) to register within 10 days of entering the country. No big deal, though, since I had to go there anyway to apply for my GBAO permit. 😉 However, I’ve *seen* several reports from travelers (mostly motorized) mentioning that you need an entry permit for Kyrgyzstan, which has to be arranged in advance at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) in Dushanbe. Otherwise, you’re *stuck* at the Kyzyl-Art border (with no Wi-Fi, of course, to try and sort it out). The most recent report was from a year ago, so I’d love to know if this is still the case and if it’s indeed at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) where you need to go for this pre-authorization.
Does anyone have any recent info on this?
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone.
I’m leaving for almost 3 months in the Philippines (11 weeks total) starting in early May.
I already have my round-trip ticket.
The problem is, I don’t have time to get a 2-month visa because the process takes nearly a month.
From what I’ve read here and there, I need a return ticket valid for less than a month when I arrive in the Philippines to prove my good faith.
After that, I can apply for a 30-day extension at the immigration office.
I’m planning to either buy a fully refundable ticket to the nearest country or a fake ticket.
For 3 months, I’ll need to extend my visa two more times before my return date to France.
My question is this:
Will immigration ask me each time I extend my visa by one month to show proof of an exit ticket matching the new visa extension date?
Is it possible to extend directly by 2 months before the initial 30 days expire?
Thanks in advance for your experiences and tips! 😊
I’ve been to Thailand several times, but it was about 20 years ago…
There’s a new system in place now, it seems.
TDAC – Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
Before arriving, I apply for a TDAC, okay.
If during my stay I cross the border to spend a few days in Malaysia and then re-enter Thailand,
do I need to submit a new TDAC application?
Do I use the same TDAC as when I first entered the country?
Or do I initially have to pay for a Thai multi-entry visa?
Thanks in advance for your insights—I can’t find the answer online.
My partner (Mexican) entered France on January 21st as a tourist. She was therefore entitled to stay for 90 days in the Schengen Area. She’ll be leaving for Mexico on April 16th, so she’ll have “used up” 86 days.
She plans to return to France on July 18th. According to the European Commission’s Schengen calculator, this new stay “may be authorized for a maximum of 90 days.” That’s not very clear ("may be," "for a maximum of").
The text of Article 6 of the European regulation (2016/399) states that for a stay planned in the territory of the Member States, not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period, one must examine "the 180-day period preceding each day of the stay." That’s not very clear either.
My partner wants to return to France for a 90-day period starting on July 18th. Is this possible?
There are two ways to look at it:
1) The first day she spent in the Schengen Area was January 21st. That day will drop out of the calculation 180 days later, on July 20th.
From July 20th, she’ll get back 1 day of possible stay; on July 22nd, 2 days; and so on. All the days from her previous stay (January 21st–April 16th) need to be outside the 180-day rolling window.
The last day of her stay was April 16th. Looking 180 days ahead, that brings us to October 13th. From that date, she’ll be able to return for a full 90 days.
2) The number of allowed days is calculated for each day of the new stay. In other words: the 180-day window is recalculated every day, not fixed at the entry date.
If she re-enters France on July 18th, she’ll only have a “credit” of 4 days. But with each day of her new stay, one day from the previous stay (January–April) will drop out of the calculation. The rolling window allows her to “replace” days from the previous stay with those of the new stay, without ever exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.
In this case, my partner could stay in France for 90 days starting on July 18th.
The Prefecture doesn’t provide any information, nor does Air France, and in the forums I’ve checked, opinions are divided. Thanks for any insights you can share!
Hello,
We’re planning to travel to Indonesia (Sulawesi with family) next July and August for a stay longer than a month (about 6 weeks).
I’ve seen that it’s possible to get a 60-day visa before departure, but I’ve also read about people having a lot of trouble getting it (some even didn’t manage and had to leave without it).
We absolutely need to have these 4 visas BEFORE leaving because once we’re in Sulawesi, I’m not sure we’ll be able to go to an embassy to request a visa extension after 30 days.
In short, how can we **100% guarantee** that we’ll get our 4 60-day visas before our trip this summer?
Hello, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026!
We’re heading back in October for a trip through Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
I have a question: for our route, we’ll need to cross the Zambia and Zimbabwe borders twice each. From experience, I know we won’t have any issues with Botswana.
But for the other two countries, I can’t find a clear answer.
All your tips are welcome!
I’m currently a student on a gap year, and I don’t plan to go back to school right away. That said, traveling really interests me. But I’ve been wondering: does being a student come with any perks when you decide to go abroad? The real question is whether I should re-enroll in a program just to keep that status without actually attending.
hi everyone,
I’m French and live in France, and my Thai girlfriend just told me she’s pregnant—she lives in Thailand. First step, a paternity test to set my mind at ease. What steps do I need to take to recognize the child? Can I do it before the birth or only after? Where do I need to go, and what paperwork is required?
Just to clarify, I want him to stay in Thailand but be able to come to France anytime without any issues!
Thanks for taking the time to read and reply.
