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Visa

Entry and working conditions for foreign cast & crews depend on the nationality of the professional, the country of origin and the duration of the stay in France.

Some nationalities are exempt from visa requirements, such as EU, EEA and Swiss nationals.

The Visa wizard on the official website for visas to France will help you determine the visa requirements depending on the situation :

Type of visa

Entry visas can be broken down into two main categories:

  • Short-stay visa
  • Long-stay visa

The duration of your visa will depend on the length of your stay in France.

  • A short-stay visa allows you to remain in the Schengen area. For short stays, repeated over time, you can obtain a travel visa.
  • A long-stay visa allows you to stay more than 3 months and to settle in France. If you stay between 3 months and 1 year, you will have a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit.

Applying for a visa

Applicants are advised to apply at least one month before the planned date of arrival in France. Processing timescales can vary from one consulate or embassy to another.
Applicant’s passport must be valid for 3 months after the date of departure from France and have two blank pages facing each other.

Work permit

For non-European nationals filming for more than 3 months in France, a work permit will be required to obtain a visa (Talent Passport are exempted).
As of April 6, 2021, applications for work permits to hire foreign employees have to be done online on a dedicated portal.

Contacts 

For further information, please contact Film France CNC:

Laurie Ades

Promotion & Production Support manager

Joanna Verner

Promotion & Production Support manager