Hi everyone. I might sound silly to some, but I don’t care. I live in the Paris region and I’m driving to Switzerland this summer. The thing is, I’m really struggling to understand what I need to do. I’ve read that I have to declare what I’m bringing (GPS, tablet, watch, phone, etc.). Is that true, and what’s the point? How does crossing the border by car work? Is it normally hassle-free, like passing through a toll in France? I have an expired ID card that’s been extended by the state, and I’ve printed the official government document explaining that Switzerland accepts it (just in case).
On the way back to France, we’d like to bring back some chocolate, maybe a little alcohol, some local biscuit boxes, and nothing more. Maybe one or two T-shirts from there, but no cigarettes, no devices, etc. Are there quantity limits? Since it’s just my wife and me, do we need to stop at the border when entering France?
Again, sorry for the basic questions, but we’re really confused, and when I ask customs, they just send me pages to read. So thanks to anyone who takes the time to answer each of my questions.
The Schengen Area, which allows free movement of people.
This area is treated as a single space, with border checks "pushed" to the borders with non-Schengen countries.
As of today, the Schengen Area includes all EU states (with a few exceptions for certain overseas territories) except the UK, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and Cyprus.
It also includes non-EU states: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
So, you can travel from southern Spain or Italy all the way to northern Norway without any immigration checks.
That covers people.
The second point is the customs union.
The entire EU (28 countries) has a single customs policy. You can move goods, shop, etc., between countries without formalities or duties.
In addition to these 28 countries, three non-EU members of the European Economic Area—Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein—also apply roughly the same rules.
And you’ll notice Switzerland isn’t mentioned.
Special rules apply there, with customs duties if the value of what you’re carrying is too high, quantity allowances, etc.
These rules can be quite restrictive in both directions.
Here’s a Swiss document outlining these rules: www.ezv.admin.ch/...orm.%2018.50)%20.pdf
As for GPS—we’re talking about dedicated devices or apps with radar alerts.
In some countries, they’re banned. In Switzerland, even *transporting* them is illegal, and it gets complicated.
And one more small additional detail: you’ll need a vignette for your car (CHF 40.00) if you drive on Swiss highways. You can buy it at customs or at any gas station.
Nothing special—no GPS/Coyote or other radar-detecting gadgets in the vehicle (even if dismantled and stored), a vignette if using the highway, check the regulations mentioned above for exports on your return, 120 km/h on highways, 80 on other roads, watch out for speed cameras. Highway signs are green, other roads are blue (opposite of France). You probably won’t see many customs officers, except maybe a customs vehicle doing random checks anywhere... (in France or Switzerland)...
Over the past 10 years, I've entered Switzerland about ten times, and they've never asked me for anything except to buy the highway vignette when I entered via the motorway. Pretty nice, really—unlike in other countries like Austria, Slovenia, or the Czech Republic, where they let you in without a vignette and then catch you later.
For physically crossing the border, check Google Maps.
One of the main crossing points between France and Switzerland is in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois on the highway, at the Bardonnex customs.
In practice, you’ll go through the checkpoints at a very slow speed—something like 10 km/h. The officer will signal you to stop or pull over for an inspection. If there’s no instruction or staff, just keep going.
There’s no systematic check.
Regarding goods, you can bring any used items into Switzerland, including your car, without formalities or tax payments.
You can also bring what you need for your trip, like medical treatment (for the duration of your stay) or food.
Anything new is limited to 300 CHF (Swiss francs) in value (including gifts) per person.
For the return trip to France, it’s the same.
For purchases, the limit is 300 € in value (not cumulative for the same item: for example, it doesn’t apply if you’re two people buying a new tablet for 600 €).
Beyond that, you’ll have to pay taxes + VAT.
Be careful with certain goods (alcohol, tobacco)—quantity allowances apply: for cigarettes, it’s 200 per person (one carton). For alcohol, I think it’s 1 liter of spirits + 1 liter of non-spirits.
No need to stop if you’re within these limits and/or no officer is present and/or they don’t signal you to stop.
I don’t see the point of giving all these explanations to someone who doesn’t feel like reading... The rules are basically the same as for going to Spain or Italy—you don’t need to declare everything you don’t intend to import into Switzerland, and I assume the guy isn’t traveling with his phone or tablet still in its original packaging.
As for bringing back alcohol at full price from a country that doesn’t even produce it—that’s just laughable.
He’d be better off checking his international bank card’s spending limit, assuming he even has one.
I mean, if he’s traveling with a radar detector on his smartphone, using it, and then gets caught at the border or at a red light because it’s visible, he’ll be in deep trouble.
Declaring things is a principle.
You either respect it or you don’t.
And no, the duty-free allowances and values aren’t the same as for travel within the EU.
Just make sure you know what you’re allowed to bring, in either direction.
Remember that a French customs check can also happen well after the border.
True! But if he just wants to smuggle some chocolate and cookies, he’s not risking much. 😏 Drug trafficking usually comes from Spain, and for weapons, I don’t know—you’d have to ask the folks from Marseille’s northern neighborhoods, but I don’t think they transit through Switzerland either.
I have family in Switzerland, so I go there often, and customs officers don’t really have time for pointless checks. They only stop cars that look suspicious to them—like luxury cars with four guys inside or, on the flip side, rolling junk heaps that don’t seem like they could afford a vacation in Switzerland. That said, Serge will still need to stop if he has to buy the vignette.
Personally, I don’t see the point in smuggling boxes of chocolate—especially since I only like dark chocolate... 😏
The rules are basically the same as for going to Spain or Italy (...) As for bringing back alcohol at a high price from a country that doesn’t produce it, it’s still laughable.
No, the rules are absolutely not the same: the country is outside the EU, which is why there are still physical customs posts with Switzerland, whereas they’ve disappeared within the EU.
Switzerland is a wine producer, FYI.
And there was a time when the French used to buy their cigarettes in Switzerland, as they were cheaper. Not being a smoker, I don’t know the current price difference.
Also, FYI, buying computer equipment is cheaper in Switzerland than in France. Between the tax refund and the taxation in France, you’ll need to do the math to see if it’s worth it. But keep in mind that you’ll have to add 20% VAT when returning to France, which isn’t the case in Spain or Italy.
Come on, stop jumping on me! Of course I know Valais wines, but as far as I know, Switzerland doesn’t produce whisky or cognac, and it’s not worth bringing back alcohol that costs twice as much as it does here. Just a reminder—I’ve got family in Switzerland and I’ve been going there since I was a kid.
It’s really Serghio who needs the explanation—I doubt he’s thinking about Swiss wines when he talks about bringing back alcohol. To be honest, I’m not even sure he knows the national currency isn’t the euro and that prices are super high.
Yeah, yeah, I know all about the currency. And I'm staying with friends, so no worries there. As for alcohol, I don’t see the point in buying a bottle I could find in France 😄. And if I do buy alcohol, it’ll be 2-3 bottles max. They won’t make a fortune off me 😄.
Oh yeah, and on top of kirsch, there are other fruit spirits like apricot brandy, plum, raspberry, damassine, and absinthe too.......
Anasthasie's family must run on Henniez 😛
A lot of people here seem to forget that Geneva Airport isn’t far, so duty-free isn’t more expensive ;) But that’s not the case for everyone. And yes, Switzerland does make alcohol, and the region produces wine—it’s not as good as they claim, but they do make it!
If you have a passport, try to bring it along with your ID card. My partner got a hard time because their French ID card, even though it was extended by the French state, isn’t well-received in Switzerland. Flash your papers with the utmost care and your brightest smile. Swiss customs officers don’t mess around with the French, nor does the police, for that matter!
If they ask if you have anything to declare, even if it’s within the legal limit or just your luggage, say yes. If you say no and they think you should’ve said yes for a bag with 3 bananas, they *can* give you a hard time for no reason.
Honestly, this is all true—I’ve worked in Switzerland, my partner too, and I’ve lived near the border for over 20 years. I can tell you that if they can be a pain, they *will* be :)
La vie ce n'est pas seulement respirer c'est aussi avoir le souffle coupé.
Where do you live, Dominique?
It’s frowned upon because even though Switzerland accepts it, customs officers aren’t as flexible and don’t like approving this kind of thing.
La vie ce n'est pas seulement respirer c'est aussi avoir le souffle coupé.
I live in France, a country where the law of the Republic requires law enforcement (police, customs, immigration, etc.) to respect French legislation.
I can't imagine Switzerland wouldn't do the same.
I don't know what "mal vu" (frowned upon) or "not liking to accept" means.
There's no flexibility involved.
Either the document is valid or it isn't—it's binary.
+5 refers to the period from January 2, 2004, to December 31, 2013.
At the time of your check, only ID cards issued to adults between January 2004 and June 2009 were (or had been, for those issued from January to June 2004) in the +5 category.
If your partner is "young," that might explain your experience.
If their ID wasn’t in the +5 category, then the customs officer might have had an issue.
Here’s a table to give you an idea:
www.service-public.fr/...ers/vosdroits/F32303
I’ll ask again since I didn’t get an answer: How old (adult/minor) was your partner when their ID was issued?
I get the feeling you’ve never had the chance to taste the really good wines produced just in the canton of Geneva (you’ve got to go to the open cellars—they’re not sold commercially), and I’d really like to know why you claim customs officers could hassle you over 3 bananas. Why write such nonsense?
I’ve tasted plenty of Swiss wine and honestly, I don’t find it all that great.
Why did I say customs officers might hassle you over 3 bananas? It was a silly example to make my point. I can tell you that as a French person, we often end up at customs with officers protesting over things that are absolutely ridiculous.
Dom, I also asked you a question. My partner was an adult at the time.
Whether it’s the law or not, some people just love to put you in your place even when they’re wrong. Like with motorcycles—sometimes they try to slap you with fines that make no sense.
I can tell you I’ve been on the receiving end multiple times of customs officers nitpicking because they can’t reprimand you for something that actually bothers them. And I’m far from the only one.
La vie ce n'est pas seulement respirer c'est aussi avoir le souffle coupé.
Dom, even in our own country, we have corrupt cops and police brutality. It’s the same everywhere, so don’t come telling me how customs officers behave—I’ve crossed paths with them several times a day, every day, for years.
La vie ce n'est pas seulement respirer c'est aussi avoir le souffle coupé.
I’d rather not continue this discussion given the direction you’d like it to take.
I’ll just wrap up by reminding everyone that customs officers worldwide are there to enforce customs regulations.
These rules are complex and still apply between France and Switzerland since Switzerland isn’t part of the European Union or even the EEA.
Duty-free allowances for cross-border commuters, frontier workers, and international transport employees are very limited because, by definition, they can cross borders every day.
www.legifrance.gouv.fr/...p;dateTexte=20190620
Examples for entering France, regardless of the cross-border commuter’s nationality:
- 40 cigarettes for a cross-border commuter,
- 0.5 liters of wine for a cross-border commuter,
- other goods: 75 € for a cross-border commuter.
You can imagine it’s not much different the other way around, right?
Beyond these limits, duties, taxes, VAT, etc., must be paid.
Cross-border commuters know these rules well—they’ve been in place for years—even if they claim otherwise.
It’s the usual cat-and-mouse game, as always.
Fair enough, let's leave it at that. There's a difference between theory and practice, between texts and reality. As long as you think you know it all about people who've been through things, it's clear no one will move forward!
La vie ce n'est pas seulement respirer c'est aussi avoir le souffle coupé.
Where do you live, Dominique?
It’s frowned upon because even though Switzerland accepts it, customs officers aren’t as flexible and don’t like approving this kind of thing.
The idea of something being "well-regarded" or "frowned upon" has no place in the reasoning of an immigration or customs officer.
Either the Swiss government accepts a regulation, or it doesn’t, and the officer enforces those decisions.
The rest is just talk.
Sorry, but often you just have to apply and enforce the law.
Ils ne savaient pas que c'était impossible, alors ils l'ont fait.
For your info, goods declared under duty-free allowances obviously don’t need to be declared. It’s a right.
Otherwise, declare your vehicle too while you’re at it: it’s also admitted duty-free and represents the highest value when you go through customs.
As for Swiss border guards, sure, they can be a bit cold. But it’s also their way of asserting their authority, especially with people coming from countries where respect for authority is lower (it’s well-known everywhere, actually).
Regarding nitpicking:
Actually, border guards will run your names through their databases as soon as the check starts.
They check if you’re wanted, banned from entering, or have outstanding traffic fines or other issues.
I’ve often heard of cross-border commuters getting caught “by surprise” on their way to work in the morning and having to pay hefty fines on the spot for parking violations or other offenses.
If you’re not flagged negatively in their files and you have a credible reason for coming to Switzerland (a very tourist-friendly country), the inspection will rarely go deep.
Otherwise, it’s usually just a quick search of the car or luggage, but that’s not common.
Finally, the mention of corruption is kind of amusing.
I don’t get the impression that Switzerland is a country where small arrangements are frequent.
From what I’ve read in the Swiss press, cases of police corruption seem quite rare
(Except maybe in Geneva).
What’s been said should also be taken in the local context.
There’s tension in the border area, especially around Geneva. Probably due to cultural differences (in the broad sense).
It’s also pretty funny to hear (quite widespread) cross-border commuters attributing all sorts of flaws to the Swiss. Besides the fact that Switzerland has a huge number of foreign residents, those same commuters don’t hesitate to cross the border to earn three times as much as in France without bearing the higher cost of living.
If you're talking about corruption based on what I said, you misunderstood. I was simply explaining to Dom that just because someone represents the law doesn’t mean they follow it to the letter without any exceptions. So I’m not saying Swiss customs officers are corrupt—just that, as you mentioned, there’s a bit of a rivalry with cross-border workers.
Swiss people have plenty of flaws, but so does everyone. And saying "the Swiss" is still talking about over 8 million people—so it doesn’t mean anything! Like saying the French don’t respect the police. Some do, some don’t. ANYWAY. It’s clear that Swiss police tend to target French people more than Swiss citizens.
As for taking advantage of the salary—yes, that’s true, though not every cross-border worker earns 5,000 CHF, let’s be clear. As a cross-border worker, you pay for *LaMal* (or CMU, but for me it was 333 CHF per month for *LaMal*), you pay taxes that add up to a pretty penny, and just because you’re a cross-border worker doesn’t mean you’re living *super* well. In Annemasse, everything costs an arm and a leg—rent, food, parking, activities (and some don’t even earn a Swiss salary).
So yes, there are advantages, and we take them, but that doesn’t make us oil sheikhs. Because after my exchange rate, paying *LaMal*, I only earned 200 CHF more than I did in hospitality in France working 39 hours a week—while putting in more hours here! (The 200 CHF extra is if you prorate the hours worked in Switzerland with a French salary.)
SOOOOO it’s not *that* amazing. Plus, the Swiss benefit too. They get to pay lower salaries (the job I had was previously done by a Swiss woman who earned 1,400 CHF *net* more than my *gross*), some live in France, others do their shopping here, yet they criticize us just as much. It’s a give-and-take.
La vie ce n'est pas seulement respirer c'est aussi avoir le souffle coupé.
The term "corruption of Swiss authorities" was used. Strictly speaking, it has little relevance here given Swiss morality (I wouldn’t be disparaging by citing other countries where the situation is more problematic)... even if Geneva seems to be a small exception...
It’s not illogical that Border Guards check non-Swiss residents more often.
Some time ago, I had a dispute with a transport company (resolved by customer service later). I had to pay an invoice, and I was told that if I didn’t, I’d be registered with the debt enforcement office and the police would come to my home. As a non-resident, the second phase would have been complicated to enforce. The only solution: a border check.
You probably know many cross-border workers who’ve been caught at the border for unpaid traffic fines (speeding, parking...). It’s very common. A friend had to pay her outstanding fines while going through immigration at an airport in the country while heading on vacation.
For cross-border workers, I understand your point of view.
But someone working under French labor law also pays health insurance contributions (the CSG and CRDS lines on my pay slip have very significant amounts, not including supplementary insurance). Plus, I learned when I went to the tax center for my declaration that all your health contributions are tax-deductible... unlike for the French: a non-significant portion of my CSG is taxable!
Still, Swiss salaries are much higher—let’s not pretend otherwise (even if Geneva is known for abuses).
The standard of living is much higher in border regions than in other parts of France (especially around Lake Geneva, less so in Alsace). But think about workers under French status who endure this standard of living without corresponding salaries.
Yes, working hours are longer in Switzerland than in France, and there’s more precarity... but given the number of cross-border workers who take the risk, the game must be worth the candle, as they say.
Sure, the Swiss benefit from shopping in France, but the Geneva Migros and Manor stores haven’t gone bankrupt, unlike in Basel, where it’s easy for Swiss residents to shop in "duty-free" stores.
As a cross-border resident under a French contract, I find the complaints from cross-border workers (the ones you’re making aren’t unique to you but are widespread in this community) quite hard to hear. The "existential financial problems" are pretty far from the yellow vests’ demands about making it to the end of the month.
As I mentioned before, not every cross-border worker earns 5,000 CHF—there’s a real issue there. I earned more than a French person working in France, but again, it wasn’t nearly enough to live large or go wild.
You’re talking about those struggling with the cost of living on the French side, and I’ve mentioned that too—I’m one of them, my mom is, my partner is... I pay rent for an average apartment that would get me a house elsewhere. I spend 80 € on groceries for just three meals, and I pay 13 € for a movie ticket while others pay 6 €. I live this reality, but when I was in Switzerland, it just meant I could afford a few extra expenses here and there—like buying name-brand groceries instead of store brands or treating myself to a movie and dinner out occasionally. But absolutely no chance of upgrading my apartment, buying a newer car, or splurging on designer clothes. Because let me repeat: NOT EVERY CROSS-BORDER WORKER EARNS 5,000 CHF. Some make just 2,000 CHF, and once you’ve paid all your bills, well...
I’ve always filed my taxes, and I’ve never had tax deductions for my health insurance.
And social security plus a mutual insurance plan rarely costs just 300 bucks—especially since that 300 doesn’t even include the mutual plan.
It’s the same for the Swiss—stop thinking it’s some kind of paradise for them (or even foreigners living and working there). Once you look at everything they have to pay and how much they actually take home, a lot of people would come down from their conquistador high. And don’t just look at Geneva to get the full picture of Switzerland—it’s a jet-set lifestyle for many. But trust me, there are plenty of Swiss people struggling too.
La vie ce n'est pas seulement respirer c'est aussi avoir le souffle coupé.
Please!! I posted a message, a question that might seem basic to some. Thanks to those who replied in PM. Please stop settling your differences here. We never finish because everyone goes off into comments that go beyond my question. Why don’t you exchange in PM instead? It’d be more sensible. Thanks to everyone
Switzerland makes excellent white spirits (between 40 and 50% alcohol) that are highly prized by enthusiasts (like me) at a reasonable price for those in the know. I’ve already brought back some Fendant from Valais, a fantastic Swiss white wine, and I’m not the only one! But with 6 bottles and 4 adults in the car, the customs officers didn’t bat an eye. For chocolate, I’ve never seen a customs officer take an interest.
So as long as you stay within reasonable limits—and considering you’ll see that Swiss prices are often a bit high—you’ll be fine!
And I’d really like to know why you claim that customs officers can hassle you over 3 bananas. Why write such nonsense?
I don’t know about 3 bananas, but for 1 kg of tea, yes! :(
I was checked at Zurich Airport coming from Sri Lanka. I had a kilo of tea. Back then (1976), in Sri Lanka, it was hard to buy less than 1 kg. And I never expected to get in trouble over a pack of tea!
Well, it cost me a fine—I’ve forgotten the amount—but more importantly, I had to wait around for almost an hour and missed my train to France! (Paperwork to fill out, etc.) I had 10 times the allowed limit because, according to Swiss customs, the limit was 100 g per person back then!! So being hassled over 3 slightly oversized bananas? Why not? ;)
Beer is way cheaper than in France... and much better...
At 0.50 CHF or even 1 CHF max for a 50cl can... in France, you can’t even get a disgusting budget beer for that price...
In Switzerland, you’ve got several brands at that price (24-can packs), like Moretti, la Valaisanne, and others...
I don’t know about taxes and stuff, but when it comes to beer, I stock up every time I travel to Switzerland! 🍻
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But since our last trip in July 2015, they’ve introduced this eTA thing. Seems more like a way to make money than to actually secure Canada, if you ask me, but anyway, that’s not the point.
I applied for an eTA for myself, my wife, and our two kids. They all got approved within hours, but not me! I was asked to create a GC key and then an IRCC account, which I did. Normally, you get news within 72 hours, but since Monday, January 15th, nothing!
In the "message" section of the account, it says "explanation letter (required)" with a deadline of January 25th, but I can’t find any explanation anywhere—despite searching the Canadian government website and Google. No links, nothing!
I’ve emailed them but haven’t heard back yet. I’m thinking of calling the Canadian embassy in Paris tomorrow. Even though I’m not stressing yet, it’d be a bummer if everyone else got to go without me!
If anyone’s had this issue before or knows what this explanation letter is about, I’d love to hear more.
hi there
I’m heading to Seoul in September, and to do that I need to get a travel authorization that we apply for through K-ETA....... turns out I can (barely, I admit) fill out the form up to the address of our "stay location," but every address I’ve entered has been rejected by the system. I’ve tried my hotel, the Lotte Hotel (which is well-known in Seoul), the airport—basically, I’ve entered at least 20 addresses, all rejected....
So, to anyone who’s successfully gotten the authorization, could you tell me which address you used to get that "elusive" approval?...
Question for those who’ve done it:
In theory (French national), I’m visa-exempt for a 30-day tourist stay, but on France Diplomatie it says on this page
Hi there,
I know there are similar topics here and elsewhere, but they’re a few years old, and I need an up-to-date answer to make sure I don’t throw over 1000 € out the window. Thanks for your patience.
I’m planning a trip from France to Alberta/British Columbia, and I’m unsure about which bank card to use for the security deposit with the rental company (I’m thinking of going with AVIS).
I contacted Avis Canada, and they told me a credit card is absolutely required. I asked my bank for a credit card (a *real* credit card), but they only offered me a deferred debit card.
My question: For a rental with Avis Canada, is a Gold International Mastercard deferred debit card usable for the security deposit needed to finalize the rental? Is the "CREDIT" label enough? (Some cards say "CREDIT" and others say "CARTE DE CREDIT"—seems minor, but it’s actually a big deal in how the card works.)
I’ve seen conflicting info everywhere I look... My bank says it’s *usually* okay (the deferred debit card), while Avis Canada insists it *must* be a credit card, not debit—even when I mention the deferred debit card.
I know the whole credit card concept is already confusing, and on top of that, some sites say a deferred debit card counts as a credit card, while others say it doesn’t.
Thanks to anyone who can share a recent experience!
Have a great day
Hi there,
I’m heading to Senegal in January for a month and was wondering if I just need my French driver’s license or if I should get an international permit?
Thanks!
JL
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!
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 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, 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?
