Visas & paperwork

Hi fellow travelers, Can you tell me if it's possible to exchange money at Ivato or if it's better to do it at banks in Tana? Which banks are the most "reliable"? Regarding ATMs, what's the maximum amount you can withdraw in one go? Thanks for your tips!

I’m planning a trip to Norway in June 2025 and I’d like to know how to handle tolls with a contract like I read about

Hi, I went to submit my visa application to visit my partner’s family. We’re religiously married in France. I provided an accommodation certificate, pay slips, travel insurance, and a document stating we’re religiously married—signed, etc. I want to travel with my partner’s son, who has both Algerian and French passports and is a minor. So, I told them he lives with us. Since his father has custody, they didn’t charge me anything and said they’d call me back because my file is going to a committee. I also told them I needed to leave by July 15th. This is the Lille consulate—has this ever happened to any of you?,

Hello,

Thinking this might be useful for VF members who, like me, want to get their French driver’s license translated for a car rental in Japan, here’s the email I received this morning from the consular authorities in Tokyo:

Dear Sir,

You can obtain the translation from the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). Address: 2-2-17 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8562 Phone: 81-3-6833-9100 Email: kchosa@jaf.or.jp Website: http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/trans_f.htm (To find their office in Sapporo: http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/list_translation.htm)

Information about driver’s licenses is available on our website: http://www.ambafrance-jp.org/spip.php?article781&var_recherche=driver’s%20license The consular section can no longer provide driver’s license translation services.

Best regards,

Consular Section

So, according to this message, no more mail-in translations through the consular authorities.

Sayonara.

Hi everyone, I’m heading to the United States in August, specifically Grand Junction, Colorado, and I’d love to hear about your experiences with renting a car in this slightly tricky situation:

I still have my old French driver’s license (the pink paper version, still valid),

I didn’t have time to get an International Driving Permit (IDP),

And I plan to use a Visa debit card, not a credit card.

I’ve booked a car with Budget. I’ve seen that they *can* accept debit cards under certain conditions, especially at airport locations, but there are often high hold amounts for the deposit, and sometimes requirements like a return ticket or an extra ID. - Has anyone rented a car in the US under these conditions before? - Was the paper license accepted without any issues? - Did the debit card cause problems when putting down the security deposit? Any tips, personal stories, or warnings are super welcome! 😊 Thanks in advance!

Hello, I’m from Quebec, and my driver’s license is in French. I’m planning to rent a car in France in July 2025 with Sixt. When I check their website, it says I need to present my driver’s license and passport, so I wouldn’t need an International Driving Permit. However, if I keep reading, they specify this: «It is recommended for customers whose driver’s license was issued by a state not listed here (https://www.sixt.com/help-center/articles/permis-de-conduire/) to bring an International Driving Permit or a French translation by an organization listed in section b), as authorities may request to see the license during official checks.» When I click the link, I get an error page, so I can’t get all the information. Has any Quebecer rented a car through Sixt in France and could tell me if I can avoid the translation fees for a license that’s already in French (mine and my partner’s)? Thanks so much!

Hi, I successfully applied for an ESTA for my family and myself for an upcoming trip to New York in August. But here’s what I didn’t realize: my two older daughters are leaving for Costa Rica in a week with a layover in the United States, something I wasn’t aware of when I filled out the ESTA application. The person handling their application is stuck because one is already on file... My question is: is this ESTA valid for their layover even though it’s not specified on the application (since a U.S. address was provided)? If not, how can I reapply for their transit ESTA? Thanks for your help!

Hi, do you have a contact to receive my 4x4 in Cap de la Réunion? Thanks

Hi everyone,

I booked my round-trip ticket from Paris to Phnom Penh (way too quickly, of course) because I’d like to start in Laos. I’m traveling from November 5th to December 3rd. So, I’m wondering: when I arrive in Phnom Penh on the 6th and take a flight directly to Laos without leaving the airport, do I still need a visa for Cambodia? Also, which airport in Laos would you recommend—Luang Prabang or Vientiane?

Thanks so much for your advice!

Hey everyone! A small group of us are heading to Gabon for a research mission. Everyone got their visa without any issues through the e-visa site, and it only took a few days.

Except for a friend and me. We applied early, and three weeks later, still no news. And we leave in a week...

A colleague on-site tried to help us, but no updates so far.

My questions:

- Has this ever happened to you? - What are the solutions? (I’ve already tried calling, but it doesn’t work. The email contact form doesn’t work either. The Gabonese embassy isn’t functional, and they gave me a number that never answers and where you can’t even leave a message anymore.) - Can this be resolved easily at the airport? - Am I totally screwed?

Clean record, and I haven’t been to any sketchy countries. Brand-new passport...

Thanks in advance for your help! !

Hi,

I read on another forum that there might be an issue with insurance for our vehicles in the Faroe Islands.

Apparently, we wouldn’t be covered once we disembark from the ferry. From what I understand, the DK on our green card no longer applies to the Faroe Islands.

Could anyone confirm this?

Thanks

I got approval for my visa on May 16th. There’s a new provider handling passport delivery now, but when I submitted my application online, it was a different one—I’d already paid for delivery with them. Specifically, it was CSRA FRANCE SARL, 3-5 rue St Georges in Paris. I’d like to get a refund for that delivery, but there’s no way to reach the embassy, and I don’t have a phone number or email address to contact them. Has anyone else found themselves in the same situation? Thanks in advance! Martinette 34

Hi, I’m traveling with my 6-year-old daughter this summer, and since her father hasn’t seen her in 3 months, he won’t be able to sign a travel consent form for me. He’s been completely out of touch since early March, and I have no idea where he is. We’re heading to Montreal for 2 weeks in early July—I have both the outbound and return tickets. Am I required to provide a signed consent letter from the father, even though she’s traveling with a parent who has legal custody? If I don’t have one but can prove my good faith—explaining that he’s completely unreachable—will that be enough? Thanks for your help!

Hi there, Could anyone give me some info about the international driver's permit in Namibia? Is it mandatory to rent a 4x4 with or without a roof tent, or is an English translation of my French license enough to get around the whole country? Thanks in advance for your replies!

Hi

On the Air France website

For flights to Thailand

They might ask you at boarding to present the digital TDAC card

Hi, I’d like to know if a flight reservation for Bangkok is enough for the visa or if I need to wait until I have the actual ticket. Thanks

Hi, I was signing my passport at home and the ink bled a little—could this cause any issues? I’m kinda freaking out here, thanks. https://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/2025/25/6/1750538225-img-1731.jpeg

Hi, My passport is valid until February 2026. I’d like to book a flight to Rwanda for September, but they require a passport valid for 6 months after entry—which mine won’t be. It takes me a month and a half to get a new passport, and I’d like to buy my ticket now with my current passport. What’s the solution? Thanks for your help! Daniel

Hi everyone, in a few months I need to bring my Thai partner to France. I’m going to prepare the "attestation d’accueil" for 3 months. On the form, they ask me to act as a financial guarantor for her stay—no problem for me. But on the visa application, France asks her to prove she has sufficient income to get the visa. Is it still necessary for her to prove that, given that I’m acting as her financial guarantor? Thanks

Hi everyone!

I just got notified of a short-stay visa refusal for Greece, with the reason being that the purpose and conditions of my stay weren’t sufficiently justified. Yet I included in my application an explanatory letter, paid round-trip flight and hotel reservations, a paid ticket for my visits, and travel insurance—all matching the duration of my stay. I’m really puzzled by this decision and feel it’s unfair. Could anyone here shed some light on what might have gone wrong?

Thanks in advance!

Best regards,

Hi there. I had a simple question, please? My 10-year-old son’s French passport expired a month ago, and I just realized it. We’re supposed to leave for Morocco by car on June 30th, taking the ferry from Algeciras. I applied for his passport renewal today, but it won’t be ready for at least 2 months.

Can he enter Morocco with his expired passport? For the return trip, I’ll already have his valid passport.

Thanks for your help—I’m really in a bind here.

Hi fellow travelers!

I’m planning a backpacking trip to the USA for autumn 2024.

I’ve already been to New York in February 2024, but my ESTA expires on September 27, 2025. However, I’d like to leave in early September. Is it possible to apply for a new ESTA before my trip so that the new one is valid instead of the old one when I’m there?

Thanks for your help! Antoine

Hi there,

I’m not sure what’s being said on the various European diplomatic sites, but on the Belgian one, they mention that an ESTA and/or visa aren’t a guarantee of entry. Immigration services have the final say—they could even ask to see your electronic devices like phones, tablets, or cameras. And there might be extra hassles for LGBTQIA+ travelers.

Hi everyone,

I’m finally heading to Mongolia for two months this August and September. Do you know the procedure for applying for a visa, since I’ll be there for more than 30 days? Looking forward to your tips! Thanks! !

Hi there. I’m reaching out to ask for your advice about travel insurance for my trip.

I bought Eurostar tickets back in January, but I forgot to take out travel insurance right away.

I’d like to get multi-risk travel insurance now, but most insurers say you have to sign up within 48 to 72 hours after buying your transport tickets.

Do you know of any insurance that doesn’t have this deadline and lets you sign up even months after buying your tickets?

Thanks so much for your help in advance.

Best regards

Hi there, hope you're doing well! :) I’m leaving from Bordeaux for Thailand this Tuesday and should land on Wednesday. I wanted to ask about the TDAC—I don’t quite get it: Do you have to do it a maximum of 3 days before departure or 3 days before arrival? How long does it take to get the document, and what form does it come in? I’m worried about messing this up—if you were arriving on Wednesday, when would you fill it out? Thanks for your feedback!

Has it gone back to 30 days for visa exemption? Valid from when? And is a flight ticket mandatory for leaving the country? Thanks!

Hi,

I’m going to a youth association this summer. They’re asking for the passport number of each participant. Is this normal? Apparently, it’s for the authorities.

Thanks!

Mathieu

salam alykom my Algerian brothers I’d really like to get more explanations about my situation. I’m a student and my problem is military service—I didn’t register from the start and I didn’t do the medical visit, which means I’m not entitled to a deferment or anything. But I know I’m not being actively searched because I have a friend who confirmed it from the gendarmerie office. Plus, I only have a call-up order, alhamdulillah. I have the chance to travel to live in another country, and what I want to know is: when I arrive at the airport here in Algiers, will customs stop me and not let me through because of all this? barak allaho fikom

Hi everyone, Have any travelers recently returned to Morocco via the border at Ceuta? If so, how is the crossing at Moroccan customs going right now? Are there any products bought in Ceuta that are banned from import into Morocco? Thanks for your replies! Hope you had a great holiday