Canada
Exercise a high degree of caution
Exercise a high degree of caution in France due to the elevated threat of terrorism.
France
France’s regions range from Parisian boulevards to Mediterranean villages, each shaped by centuries of culture and the French language.
Overview
France’s regional variety runs from Paris and Lyon to Atlantic cliffs, Alpine peaks, Mediterranean streets, and bustling market towns. The French language is a unifying thread, while each region offers distinct traditions, cuisines, and landscapes that reward closer comparison.
At a glance
Languages
- French(Official)
- Basque(Recognized)
- Breton(Recognized)
- Corsican(Recognized)
Population68,373,433
CurrencyEuro (EUR)
1 EUR = 1.1404 USD
1 USD = 0.8769 EUR
Popular places
Cost of living
Numbeo publishes these source indexes relative to New York City.
Cost of LivingPotentially much less expensiveSource category: All | 2026
RentPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Rent | 2026
GroceriesPotentially less expensiveSource category: Grocery | 2026
RestaurantPotentially less expensiveSource category: Restaurant | 2026
Local Purchasing PowerStronger local purchasing powerSource category: Purchasing Power | 2026
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Quality of life
Quality of LifeStrongSource category: Quality Of Life | 2026 | Overall quality of life index
SafetyMixedSource category: Safety | 2026 | Safety index (100 = safest)
HealthcareGenerally favorableSource category: Healthcare | 2026 | Healthcare quality index (100 = best healthcare)
PollutionLowSource category: Pollution | 2026 | Pollution index (100 = most polluted)
TrafficHighSource category: Traffic | 2026 | Overall traffic index (considers time + inefficiency + CO2)
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Entry requirements
Visa and residency reference data is available for Self-Employment, Family Reunification, Tourist / Visa Waiver, and 11 more.
Self-Employment
- Entrepreneur / Profession Libérale Visa
France-Visas route for creating or joining a commercial, industrial, artisanal, agricultural, or liberal-profession activity in France.
- 1 year, renewable
Family Reunification
- Family Reunification Visa
France-Visas family route covering family regroupement for relatives of foreign residents in France and family reunification for refugees or other protected persons.
Tourist / Visa Waiver
- French Overseas Territory Short-Stay Visa
France-Visas publishes overseas-territory visa guidance for this Caribbean territory. The selected row captures the short-stay visitor route for stays up to 90 days.
- 90 days
- No work rights
- Tourism / Private Stay (Up to 3 Months)
France-Visas route for tourism and private stays of up to three months. The official page says tourism and private-stay visits do not permit professional activity.
- 3 months
- No work rights
Entrepreneur / Startup
- Passeport Talent - Business Creation / Takeover
Passeport Talent route for applicants creating a company in France or taking control of one as a real and serious business project.
EU Blue Card
- Passeport Talent - EU Blue Card
France-Visas Passeport Talent route for highly qualified employees eligible for the EU Blue Card in France.
- Employer-sponsored only
Investor
- Passeport Talent - Economic Investor
Passeport Talent route for direct economic investment in France, including capital participation above ten percent or other direct investment forms listed by France-Visas.
Work (Employer-Sponsored)
- Passeport Talent - Innovative Company Employee
Passeport Talent route for a qualified employee hired by a recognised innovative company on a contract longer than three months.
- Employer-sponsored only
- Salaried Employment Visa
France-Visas route for short- or long-term salaried employment in France. The official page says the French employer must obtain the required work authorisation before the visa application.
- Employer-sponsored only
Non-Lucrative
- Private Stay / Tourism (Over 3 Months)
France-Visas route for tourism and private stays of more than three months. The official page says this route does not permit professional activity.
- No work rights
Student
- Student Visa
France-Visas student route for applicants accepted by a higher education institution in France. The page distinguishes short study stays under three months from long-stay student visas.
Languages
- French(Official)
- Basque(Recognized)
- Breton(Recognized)
- Corsican(Recognized)
Sources
- Country language reference
Safety
3 source-backed travel advisories are available for France.
United Kingdom
No destination-wide FCDO travel warning
FCDO travel advice currently has no destination-wide warning for France. Review the full FCDO travel advice before travelling, including safety, entry, health, and insurance guidance.
United States
Level 2Exercise increased caution
Exercise increased caution in France due to terrorism and unrest. Pickpocketing and phone thefts are common, especially in crowded places. Terrorist groups continue to plan possible attacks in France and may attack with little to no warning. There are also regular, peaceful protests and strikes in Paris and other cities throughout France. Pickpocketing and phone thefts are frequent crimes.
They can occur in crowded areas such as:
- Airports
- Subways and train cars
- Tourist attractions
- Train stations
Terrorist groups continue to plan possible attacks in France. They may attack with little or no warning.
Possible targets include:
- Tourist locations
- Transportation hubs and airports
- Markets and shopping malls
- Local government facilities
- Hotels, restaurants, and clubs
- Places of worship
- Major sporting and cultural events
- Educational institutions
- Parks
- Other public areas
Peaceful demonstrations and strikes happen often in Paris and other cities in France.
- Protests can disrupt transportation services
- On rare occasions, protests have turned violent or caused property damage
- Police may respond with water cannons and tear gas
Explore within France
GuadeloupeBasse-Terre and Grande-Terre form this French overseas department in the eastern Caribbean.MartiniqueFort-de-France anchors this French overseas department in the Caribbean.Saint BarthelemyGustavia harbor anchors this French overseas collectivity in the Caribbean.Saint-MartinMarigot, Grand Case, and coastal villages anchor this French overseas collectivity.French PolynesiaExplore a French collectivity of over 100 islands, including Tahiti and Bora Bora.New CaledoniaDiscover a French Pacific territory known for its marine life and French cuisine.Wallis and FutunaA French collectivity in Polynesia, known for traditional life and preserved landscapes.
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