British Indian Ocean TerritoryFrance: Visa-free

British Indian Ocean TerritoryFrance

Do British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for France?

Visa-free

No. British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders do not need a visa to visit France for tourism for stays of up to 3 months within any 180-day period.

No visa is required for a short tourist stay. Travel on a valid passport alone.

Source: eur-lex.europa.eu (checked September 3, 2026).

RequirementVisa-free

Maximum stay3 months within any 180-day period

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelNone, travel on your passport

Data as of2026-10-14

Visa-free access to France126 of 230 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? France passport holders visiting British Indian Ocean Territory: Visa required.

Other visa-free destinations for British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders

See all British Indian Ocean Territory destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for France?

No. British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders do not need a visa to visit France for tourism for stays of up to 3 months within any 180-day period.

How long can British Indian Ocean Territory citizens stay in France without a visa?

Up to 3 months within any 180-day period, for tourism, ordinary passport.

What currency is used in France?

Euro (EUR).

What is the emergency number in France?

112 / 114 / 15 / 17 / 18.

What time zone is France in?

Paris (UTC+2).

What is the nearest airport to Paris?

Paris-Orly Airport (ORY), about 14 km away.

How many countries can enter France without a visa?

126 of the 230 nationalities this site tracks can enter France visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is a British Overseas Territory situated in the Indian Ocean. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands, many very small, amounting to a total land area of 60 square kilometres. The largest and most southerly island is Diego Garcia, 27 square kilometres, the site of a Joint Military Facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. Official administration is remote from London, though the local capital is often regarded as being on Diego Garcia.

RegionEastern Africa

Area60 km²

CurrencyUnited States dollar (1 USD ≈ 1.00 USD)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+246

Drives on theright

Climate in British Indian Ocean Territory

Warmest April, coolest August, driest October, sunniest October. Best time to visit: April, May, June, August, September, October, November.

Monthly climate normals for British Indian Ocean Territory, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	27.9°C	26.2°C	404mm	268h
February	28.3°C	26.9°C	315mm	294h
March	28.5°C	26.6°C	257mm	309h
April	28.9°C	27.3°C	121mm	316h
May	28.5°C	26.8°C	211mm	315h
June	28.1°C	26.5°C	211mm	307h
July	27.6°C	26.3°C	251mm	255h
August	26.8°C	25.8°C	88mm	315h
September	27°C	25.8°C	49mm	347h
October	28°C	26.8°C	43mm	366h
November	28.1°C	26.4°C	238mm	305h
December	27.7°C	25.8°C	365mm	296h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

The British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Islands, is centrally located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives, about halfway between Madagascar and Indonesia. The main island, Diego Garcia, is a military facility off limits to anyone not on official duty, but some of the uninhabited outer islands can be visited by independent yachters with advance permission.

Full source list on About.

About France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country primarily located in Western Europe. Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, and many islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean. Metropolitan France shares borders with Belgium and Luxembourg to the north; Germany to the northeast; Switzerland to the east; Italy and Monaco to the southeast; Andorra and Spain to the south; and a maritime border with the United Kingdom to the northwest. Its metropolitan area extends from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea. Its 18 integral regions, five of which are overseas, span a combined area of 632,702 km2 (244,288 sq mi), with a total population estimated at over 69.1 million in 2026. Its capital, largest city and main cultural and economic centre is Paris, with a metropolitan population of over 13 million.

CapitalParis

RegionWestern Europe

Population68.7M

Area551,695 km²

CurrencyEuro (1 USD ≈ 0.89 EUR)

LanguagesFrench

Calling code+33

Drives on theright

TimezoneParis (UTC+2)

Nearest airportParis-Orly Airport (ORY), 14 km

Emergency number112 / 114 / 15 / 17 / 18

UNESCO sites71

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$48,986 (2025)

Tourist arrivals117.1M (2020)

Climate in Paris

Warmest August, coolest January, driest July, sunniest July. Best time to visit: July, August, September.

Monthly climate normals for Paris, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	8.9°C	3°C	32mm	138h
February	11.4°C	5.5°C	112mm	148h
March	12°C	4°C	70mm	236h
April	19.6°C	7.8°C	27mm	352h
May	20.6°C	9.4°C	30mm	357h
June	22.7°C	13.3°C	48mm	348h
July	25.4°C	14.4°C	12mm	362h
August	26.9°C	16.8°C	34mm	346h
September	23.3°C	13.4°C	33mm	293h
October	15.1°C	9.4°C	97mm	171h
November	12.9°C	5.9°C	20mm	175h
December	8.6°C	3.9°C	136mm	114h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

France is a country with which almost every traveller has a relationship. Many dream of its joie de vivre shown by the countless cafés, picturesque villages, and world-famous gastronomy. Some come to follow the trail of France's great philosophers, writers and artists, or to immerse in the beautiful language it gave to the world. Others still are drawn to the country's geographical diversity, with its long coastlines, massive mountain ranges and breathtaking farmland vistas. France is famously home to Paris, the enchanting City of Love, where romance dances in the air and every corner whispers sweet nothings.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe
Abbey of Fontenay
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments
Beaches of the D-Day Landings, Normandy, 1944
Belfries of Belgium and France
Bertrimoutier Franco-German war cemetery
Canal du Midi
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims
Champagne hillsides, houses and cellars

Upcoming public holidays

November 1, 2026Toussaint

November 11, 2026Armistice 1918

December 25, 2026Noël

Full source list on About.