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 a €24 Electronic Travel Authorisation to travel — whether for a weekend in London by Eurostar or the first step of a longer move.
UK Visas from France
UK Visa from France 2026: Fees, ETA Requirements & How to Apply
UK Entry Requirements for French Citizens
French citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to six months, but they do need an ETA (€24, valid two years) obtained through the UK ETA App. Non-EU residents of France need a Standard Visitor visa (€164) 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.
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, with e-Gates still open to French passport holders at major airports.
- A valid passport: covering the duration of the stay.
- An approved ETA: €24, valid two years, via the UK ETA App.
- Evidence of return or onward travel.
- Accommodation details: a booking 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. 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, and Home Office figures for the year to June 2026 show a 99.5% issue rate — approval is effectively automatic for eligible travellers.
ETA vs visa: which applies to you from France (2026)
| Feature | UK ETA | UK Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Who needs it | French and other visa-exempt nationals | Non-EU residents of France (e.g. Indian, Algerian) |
| Cost | €24 | From €164 (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 |
Source: GOV.UK ETA guidance; Home Office fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as displayed in euros.
The full rules, exemptions, and how the scheme works across nationalities are covered in our guide to the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Visitors from the Netherlands and other EU states follow the same ETA route.
UK Visa Fees from France 2026 (in Euros)
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, apply identically across euro-currency countries, and are non-refundable.
UK tourist visa price and short-stay fees from France (2026)
| Visa Type | Fee (EUR) | Max Stay Per Visit |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (French citizens) | €24 | 6 months |
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | €164 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | €615 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (5 years) | €1,097 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (10 years) | €1,371 | 6 months |
| Marriage Visitor | €164 | 6 months |
| Private Medical Treatment | €284 | 11 months |
| Direct Airside Transit (DATV) | €50 | Airside only |
| Visitor in Transit | €91 | 48 hours |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as displayed in euros; ETA per GOV.UK.
UK work, study and family visa fees from France (2026)
| Visa Category | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Student | €678 |
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years) | €995 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | €1,966 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | €394 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | €413 |
| Partner / Family visa | €2,508 |
| Adult Dependent Relative | €4,417 |
| Priority service | +€608 |
| Super Priority service | +€1,215 |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as displayed in euros.
The Immigration Health Surcharge
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
“UK tourist visa from France” means different things by nationality. A French passport holder visiting as a tourist only needs the €24 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.
What you need for the UK, by status in France (2026)
| Your Status | What You Need | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| French citizen | ETA (UK ETA App) | €24 |
| Other EU/EEA citizen in France | ETA (UK ETA App) | €24 |
| Indian passport holder in France | Standard Visitor visa | €164 |
| Algerian / Moroccan / Tunisian in France | Standard Visitor visa | €164 |
| Other non-EU resident of France | Standard Visitor visa | €164 |
Source: GOV.UK ETA and Standard Visitor guidance; Home Office fees, 8 April 2026 schedule.
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, and the 2, 5 or 10-year visitor visa spreads the cost for frequent travellers.
UK Visa from France for Non-EU Residents
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 — the six-month Standard Visitor visa costs €164, goes through the visa centre network in Paris, Lyon, or Marseille, and takes about three weeks.
French Residence Strengthens Your Application
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. Assemble the file using our UK visa supporting documents checklist, and if a UK-based relative is hosting you, our guide to the invitation letter from a UK host shows what to include.
Working and Studying in the UK
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 €995 for up to three years or €1,966 beyond that, plus the health surcharge, and it leads to indefinite leave to remain 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 €413. For courses over six months, the Student visa costs €678 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 €2,508, 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. For an ETA there is no form beyond the app itself — download it, scan your passport, take a photo, and pay.
- 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.
Processing Times and Delays
Standard processing is about three weeks for non-settlement visas and up to twelve weeks for settlement routes; ETAs are usually decided within minutes. If a decision runs late, our guide on UKVI delays explains how to chase it, priority and super-priority services can speed things up where available, and you can track timelines with our guide to post-biometrics waiting times.
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. Sources: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule; GOV.UK ETA guidance. Figures verified August 2026 against the 8 April 2026 fee schedule.
Frequently Asked
Questions about UK Visas from France
No visa is needed for visits up to six months, but French citizens must hold an ETA before travelling. It costs €24, 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 (€24) 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 (€164) regardless of their French residence status, because a French residence permit does not grant visa-free UK access.
For French citizens the price of a UK visit is simply the €24 ETA — there is no tourist visa to buy. Non-EU residents of France pay €164 for the six-month Standard Visitor visa, with longer options at €615 for two years, €1,097 for five, and €1,371 for ten. Applications for those visas run through the centres 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 (€995–€1,966), 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 (€413). 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 (€608) targets five working days for visitor visas, and super priority (€1,215) 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.
Oui, si vous n'êtes pas citoyen de l'UE. Une carte de séjour ou une carte de résident française ne donne pas accès au Royaume-Uni sans visa : le visa Standard Visitor coûte €164 pour six mois, avec dépôt des empreintes au centre de Paris, Lyon ou Marseille. Les citoyens français et européens n'ont besoin que de l'ETA à €24.
L'ETA pour les visites coûte €24 (£20). Les visas complets : Standard Visitor €164 (six mois), visa étudiant €678, Skilled Worker €995 (jusqu'à 3 ans), Youth Mobility €413 et visa de partenaire €2,508. Les frais se paient en ligne lors de la demande, et les citoyens français vérifient leur identité via l'application UK Immigration: ID Check — sans rendez-vous au centre de visas.