Passport 6 Month Rule Europe
Passport validity rules for France
France follows Schengen rules. The 10-year issue rule catches out British travellers with older passports more than anything else.
The rule
Schengen rules — 3 months beyond departure, issued within last 10 years.
France check
Can I travel to France?
Schengen rules — 3 months beyond departure, issued within last 10 years.
Enter your passport dates above to see if you're good to go.
Planning France? Sorted.
AffiliateRenew on time, get insured, find a cheap flight. Affiliate partners we use ourselves.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need 6 months on my passport for France?
- No — France uses Schengen rules: 3 months of validity beyond your departure date, and your passport must have been issued in the last 10 years.
- What's the 10-year rule about?
- Older UK passports were sometimes issued with extra months on top of 10 years. Those extra months don't count for France — your passport must have been issued no more than 10 years before your day of arrival.
- Does this apply if I'm transiting through Paris?
- Yes. Any Schengen entry — including just changing planes airside in some cases — applies these rules.
- Are UK travellers still treated the same since Brexit?
- UK passport holders now travel to France as third-country nationals and must meet the full Schengen passport rules, plus the 90/180-day stay limit.
Related reading
The 6-month rule, explained
Why countries enforce it and how to tell if you meet it.
The "six-month club" countries
Full list of countries that strictly enforce the rule.
What happens if you're short
Denied boarding, refused entry — the real consequences.
Airlines vs border guards
Why your airline can refuse you boarding even when the country wouldn't.
All passport rules by country →
Browse every destination in one list.
Free weekly newsletter
Get weekly passport & travel-rule tips
Free weekly email. Country rule changes, renewal speed alerts, and the best travel deals — straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe any time. We never share your email.
Never wonder again
Store your passport once and we'll check it against every country's rule — plus remind you before it expires.