Visas for the Americas and Pacific

United States, Canada

No visa required for stays of up to 3 and 6 months respectively as a tourist.

That said, for the United States, authorities can be quite particular and "unpredictable" when it comes to entry for certain categories of people, so it’s best to check in advance if you think you might be in a special situation. Additionally, since 2009, an "Electronic System for Travel Authorization" (ESTA) must be applied for online at least 72 hours before departure.

Note also that an ESTA equivalent (eTA) is now required to enter or transit through Canada.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Far fewer visas are required for French travelers than in the past. With one or two exceptions, you can stay for at least a month, or even three, in each country without a visa—though you may sometimes have to pay entry and exit fees.

Central America

A visa is only required for Belize, which can be easily obtained at the border or upon arrival.

Elsewhere, no visa is needed for stays of up to 3 months in most cases (Mexico, Costa Rica, etc.). However, entry or exit fees (of varying amounts) are charged in nearly all countries.

Caribbean

For Cuba, a tourist card issued by travel agencies or the consulate is required. A visa is theoretically mandatory if staying with locals.

Elsewhere, no visa is needed (or sometimes issued on arrival, as in Grenada or Dominica), or you may simply have to pay fees for stays of less than one or three months.

South America

Suriname is the only country where a visa is mandatory; it can theoretically be obtained at the airport (but not at land borders). In Colombia, an "authorization" is issued upon entry for 30 or 60 days. Elsewhere, no visa is required for stays of less than 3 months.

Pacific

You can travel throughout the Pacific without a visa or, in some cases, obtain one upon arrival—usually for stays of less than 3 months. However, since there’s little information available for the "smaller islands," it’s best to check in advance if you plan to visit them.

For Australia, no visa is needed for tourist stays of less than three months. However, an electronic travel authorization is mandatory and must be requested when booking your ticket through the agency (it can also be obtained online).

For Papua New Guinea, a visa is required but can normally be obtained on arrival (same for Fiji).