British Indian Ocean TerritoryFrench Guiana: Visa-free

British Indian Ocean TerritoryFrench Guiana

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

Visa-free

No. British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders do not need a visa to visit French Guiana 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 of2026-10-21

Visa-free access to French Guiana139 of 243 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 French Guiana?

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

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

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

What currency is used in French Guiana?

Euro (EUR).

How many countries can enter French Guiana without a visa?

139 of the 243 nationalities this site tracks can enter French Guiana 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	26.1°C	404mm	268h
February	28.4°C	26.9°C	315mm	294h
March	28.5°C	26.6°C	258mm	309h
April	28.9°C	27.2°C	122mm	316h
May	28.5°C	26.7°C	209mm	315h
June	28.1°C	26.4°C	211mm	307h
July	27.6°C	26.2°C	251mm	255h
August	26.8°C	25.8°C	87mm	315h
September	27°C	25.8°C	49mm	347h
October	28°C	26.7°C	43mm	366h
November	28.1°C	26.3°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 French Guiana

French Guiana, also known by its French name Guyane or Guyane française, is an overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. Bordered by Suriname to the west and Brazil to the east and south, French Guiana covers a total area of 84,000 km2 (32,000 sq mi) and a land area of 83,534 km2 (32,253 sq mi). As of January 2026, it is home to 298,554 people.

RegionSouth America

Area83,534 km²

CurrencyEuro (1 USD ≈ 0.89 EUR)

LanguagesFrench

Calling code+594

Drives on theright

Climate in French Guiana

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

Monthly climate normals for French Guiana, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	28.3°C	21.7°C	136mm	272h
February	28.7°C	21.4°C	112mm	269h
March	29.7°C	22.1°C	189mm	271h
April	28°C	22.3°C	604mm	166h
May	28.1°C	22.5°C	514mm	179h
June	28.6°C	22.1°C	383mm	234h
July	29.4°C	21.8°C	202mm	285h
August	30.4°C	22.1°C	136mm	322h
September	32°C	22.2°C	74mm	323h
October	32.9°C	22.8°C	71mm	334h
November	28.6°C	22.3°C	310mm	213h
December	28.5°C	22.1°C	240mm	258h

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

French Guiana is an overseas French department and region in the Amazonia region of South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname. It is governed as an overseas department of France with the same rights and privileges granted to all other French departments, and it benefits financially from the arrangement. Compared to the other "Guianas", French Guiana has the most visible preserved rainforest and a more relaxed and organized lifestyle, but also the highest prices and the least backpacker infrastructure.

Upcoming public holidays

November 1, 2026Toussaint

November 11, 2026Armistice de 1918

December 25, 2026Noël

Full source list on About.