This guide covers the UK visa from France in 2026: the ETA now required of French citizens, current fees in euros, and the visa routes for non-EU residents of France. Since Brexit, French nationals are visa-free for short visits but need an Electronic Travel Authorisation to travel. Whether you need a quick ETA for a weekend in London or a work visa for a longer move, this guide sets out the requirements, costs, and how to apply.
Source: Home Office ETA datasets and entry clearance visa fees, year ending March 2026.
French citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025, and it is fully enforced — no ETA, no boarding. In the year to March 2026 the UK issued about 2.3 million ETAs to French nationals at a 99.6% approval rate. The ETA costs €19 and is valid for two years; only non-EU residents of France need an actual visa.
UK Visa from France: Requirements and Fees 2026
France and Britain sit just 34 kilometres apart at the Channel's narrowest point, and the ties run deep — the Norman Conquest of 1066 reshaped English law and language, and the 1904 Entente Cordiale turned old rivalry into alliance. Today around 150,000 French-born people live in the UK and a similar number of Britons live in France. Since Brexit, though, French travellers face the same ETA system as other visa-exempt nationals.
French citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to six months, but they do need an ETA (€19, valid two years) obtained through the UK ETA App. Non-EU residents of France need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) instead. For work, study, or family stays, French nationals apply for the relevant visa and give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App — no visa centre visit.
UK Entry Requirements for French Citizens
Entry is straightforward for short trips but no longer automatic. French nationals can no longer use EU lanes and pass through the same control as other non-EU visitors, though e-Gates remain open to French passport holders at major airports. The core requirement is a valid passport plus an approved ETA before you travel.
- A valid passport for the duration of the stay
- An approved ETA (€19, valid two years, via the UK ETA App)
- Evidence of return or onward travel
- Accommodation details or a host's address
- Enough funds to support the visit without working
- Genuine intention to leave within six months
At the border — whether by Eurostar into St Pancras, ferry into Dover, or by air — officers may ask about your plans, accommodation, and funds, though detailed questioning is rare for French visitors. Keeping your booking and return details on your phone speeds things up. Travellers from elsewhere in the region face the same system, including UK visa from Germany applicants.
Do French Citizens Need a Visa for the UK?
No visa is needed for short visits — tourism, family, or business meetings up to six months. French citizens do need an ETA, mandatory since 2 April 2025, costing €19 and valid for two years. For work, study, or stays beyond six months, the appropriate visa is required. The ETA is applied for in minutes through the UK ETA App.
The UK brought visa-exempt European nationals into the ETA scheme during 2025 to screen arrivals before travel. According to the official gov.uk ETA guidance, French citizens have needed one since 2 April 2025. Home Office figures for the year to March 2026 show a 99.6% issue rate for French applicants — approval is effectively automatic for eligible travellers.
ETA vs Visa: Which Applies to You?
| Feature | UK ETA | UK Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Who needs it | French and other visa-exempt nationals | Non-EU residents of France (e.g. Indian, Algerian) |
| Cost | €19 | From €152 (6-month visitor) |
| Process | App, minutes | Online + biometrics |
| Decision | Often minutes, up to 3 working days | About 3 weeks (standard visitor) |
| Validity | 2 years, multiple entries | 6 months to 10 years |
The full rules, exemptions, and how the scheme works across nationalities are covered in our guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. Visitors from the Netherlands and other EU states follow the same ETA route.
UK Visa Fees from France 2026 (in Euros)
French citizens pay only €19 for an ETA. Non-EU residents of France pay from €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa. Work visas run from €924, the Student visa is €671, and a partner/family visa is €2,481. All fees are paid in euros and are non-refundable. These figures reflect the fee schedule current in 2026.
Home Office fees are set in pounds and shown in euros for applicants in France and the eurozone. The figures below are pulled from the official fee calculator and apply identically across euro-currency countries.
Visitor and Short-Stay Fees
| Visa Type | Fee (EUR) | Max Stay Per Visit |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (French citizens) | €19 | 6 months |
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | €152 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | €569 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (5 years) | €1,015 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (10 years) | €1,268 | 6 months |
| Marriage Visitor | €152 | 6 months |
| Private Medical Treatment | €263 | 11 months |
| Direct Airside Transit (DATV) | €47 | Airside only |
| Visitor in Transit | €84 | 48 hours |
For travellers planning repeat trips, the long-term visitor visa spreads the cost over two, five, or ten years while still capping each stay at six months.
Work, Study and Family Fees
| Visa Category | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Student | €671 |
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years) | €924 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | €1,825 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | €365 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | €383 |
| Partner / Family visa | €2,481 |
| Adult Dependent Relative | €4,370 |
| Priority service | +€597 |
| Super Priority service | +€1,194 |
Any visa over six months also carries the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged in pounds at £1,035 a year (students and Youth Mobility participants pay £776). It is paid on top of the visa fee and is not converted to euros. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt.
UK Tourist Visa from France
French citizens need no tourist visa — only the €19 ETA for visits up to six months. Non-EU residents of France, such as Indian, Algerian, Moroccan, or Tunisian passport holders, need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) for any trip. Both cover tourism, sightseeing, and visiting friends or family. French nationals apply via the ETA app; others apply through a visa centre.
"UK tourist visa from France" means different things by nationality. A French passport holder visiting as a tourist only needs an ETA. A non-EU national living in France must apply for a Standard Visitor visa regardless of how long they have lived in France — a French titre de séjour does not grant visa-free UK access.
| Your Status | What You Need | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| French citizen | ETA (UK ETA App) | €19 |
| Other EU/EEA citizen in France | ETA (UK ETA App) | €19 |
| Indian passport holder in France | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
| Algerian / Moroccan / Tunisian in France | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
| Other non-EU resident of France | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
If a visit was refused before, our guides on why UK visas are refused and the realistic odds of success when reapplying explain how to strengthen a fresh application. Travellers from Belgium follow the same visitor framework.
UK Visa from France for Non-EU Residents
Non-EU residents of France pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa, whatever their nationality. The application goes through the visa centre network in Paris, Lyon, or Marseille and takes about three weeks. A French residence permit strengthens the application as evidence of ties, but it does not remove the visa requirement.
France hosts large communities from non-EU countries who often travel to the UK for business or tourism. Indian, Algerian, Moroccan, and Tunisian nationals living in France must obtain a visa for any UK trip, regardless of purpose or length. Their French residence permit does not grant visa-free access.
Legal residence in France — especially a carte de résident — helps a UK visitor application by showing strong ties and a clear reason to return. Include your residence permit, employment contract, and evidence of settled life in France such as property, bank accounts, or children in school alongside the standard documents.
A well-prepared file matters: assemble your evidence using our UK visa supporting documents checklist, and if a UK-based relative is hosting you, our guide to the sponsor's invitation letter shows what to include.
Working and Studying in the UK
French citizens need a work visa since Brexit. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing employer sponsorship and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. French nationals give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home. The Youth Mobility Scheme (ages 18–35, €383) and the Student visa (€671) are the other common routes.
Free movement ended on 31 December 2020, so French nationals now need permission to work or study long-term. The upside is convenience: as an EU national, you verify your identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check App rather than attending a visa centre. UK visa grant rates for French applicants are high — around 96% for work and 98% for study in the latest Home Office figures.
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker route is the main path for French nationals taking UK employment. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a salary meeting the general threshold of £41,700, with lower thresholds for some roles. The fee is €924 for up to three years or €1,825 beyond that, plus the health surcharge, and it leads to settlement after five years.
Youth Mobility and Student Routes
French citizens aged 18 to 35 can apply under the Youth Mobility Scheme to live and work in the UK for two years without a job offer; places are limited and allocated by ballot, and the fee is €383. For courses over six months, the Student visa costs €671 and allows part-time work. After a degree, the Graduate route gives two years' post-study work. Shorter courses up to six months need only an ETA.
Partner and Family Routes
French nationals joining a British or settled partner can apply for a partner visa, currently €2,481, with a minimum income requirement of £29,000. Where the sponsor holds EU Settlement Scheme status instead, the free EUSS family route may apply rather than the paid partner visa.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from France
The process depends on whether you are a French citizen or a non-EU resident of France. French nationals do almost everything by app; non-EU residents use a visa centre for biometrics.
- Complete the online application and pay the fee in euros at gov.uk
- French citizens: give biometrics via the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home
- Non-EU residents: book biometrics at a visa centre in Paris, Lyon, or Marseille
- Upload your supporting documents
- Wait for the decision — about 3 weeks standard, 5 days on priority
- Receive your eVisa or a vignette in your passport
For an ETA there is no form to complete beyond the app itself — download it, scan your passport, take a photo, and pay. If a visa decision runs late, our guide on UK visa delays explains how to chase it, and priority and super-priority services can speed things up where available. You can track timelines with our guide to processing after biometrics.
- French citizens need an ETA (€19), applied for via the UK ETA App — issue rate 99.6%
- For visas, French nationals use the ID Check App — no visa centre visit
- Non-EU residents of France pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa
- Work visas need sponsorship and a £41,700 general salary threshold
- The health surcharge (£1,035/year, £776 students) applies to visas over six months
- The Graduate route gives two years' post-study work after a UK degree
For official confirmation, use the gov.uk visa checker and the Standard Visitor visa guidance. Neighbouring guides cover the UK visa from Austria, the Common Travel Area rules for Ireland, and the UK visa from Switzerland.
No visa is needed for visits up to six months, but French citizens must hold an ETA before travelling. It costs €19, lasts two years, and is obtained through the UK ETA App. The requirement has applied since 2 April 2025 and is enforced at boarding — without an approved ETA, carriers will not let French travellers board Eurostar, ferries, or flights.
It depends on nationality. French and other EU citizens need only an ETA (€19) for visits up to six months. Non-EU residents of France — Indian, Algerian, Moroccan, or Tunisian passport holders, for example — need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) regardless of their French residence status, because a French residence permit does not grant visa-free UK access.
Non-EU residents of France pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa in 2026, whatever their nationality. Longer visitor visas cost €569 for two years, €1,015 for five years, or €1,268 for ten years. Applications are made through the visa centre network in Paris, Lyon, or Marseille and take about three weeks.
A French citizen with an ETA can stay up to six months per visit for tourism, family, or business. There is no annual cap on visits, but frequent or very long stays may prompt questions about whether you are a genuine visitor. Working, studying long-term, or settling all require the relevant visa with its own conditions.
Not without a work visa. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing sponsorship from a licensed UK employer and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. French nationals aged 18–35 may also use the Youth Mobility Scheme (€383). Business meetings are allowed on an ETA, but paid work is not.
Yes. French and other EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals applying for UK work, study, or family visas can verify their identity through the ID Check App from home, so no visa centre visit is needed. You scan your passport chip with your phone's NFC reader and take a photo to complete identity checks.
Standard processing is about three weeks for visitor and other non-settlement visas, and up to twelve weeks for settlement visas such as partner routes. Priority service (€597) targets five working days for visitor visas, and super priority (€1,194) aims for the next working day where available. ETAs are usually decided within minutes, up to three working days.
The UK ETA App is for applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation, which French citizens use for short visits up to six months. The UK Immigration: ID Check App is for giving biometrics when applying for an actual visa — work, study, or family. In short, the ETA app is for visiting and the ID Check app is for longer stays that need a visa.