FranceVatican City: Visa-free

FranceVatican City

Do France passport holders need a visa for Vatican City?

Visa-free

No. France passport holders do not need a visa to visit Vatican City for tourism.

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

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

The Vatican has no border control of its own

Vatican City is an enclave within Rome with no airport and an open border with Italy. Entry is governed entirely by Italian and Schengen rules, so you must be able to enter Italy first. The Vatican issues no travel visa of its own. The requirements below are Italy’s.

The requirement above is Italy’s, for a France passport. France → Italy in full.

RequirementVisa-free

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelNone, travel on your passport

Data as of2026-10-21

Visa-free access to Vatican City137 of 241 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Vatican City passport holders visiting France: Visa-free.

Other visa-free destinations for France passport holders

See all France destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do France passport holders need a visa for Vatican City?

No. France passport holders do not need a visa to visit Vatican City for tourism.

What currency is used in Vatican City?

Euro (EUR).

What is the emergency number in Vatican City?

112.

How many countries can enter Vatican City without a visa?

137 of the 241 nationalities this site tracks can enter Vatican City 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 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	2.9°C	32mm	138h
February	11.4°C	5.3°C	112mm	148h
March	12°C	3.8°C	70mm	236h
April	19.7°C	7.7°C	27mm	352h
May	20.6°C	9.3°C	30mm	357h
June	22.7°C	13.2°C	48mm	348h
July	25.4°C	14.2°C	12mm	362h
August	27°C	16.7°C	34mm	346h
September	23.3°C	13.3°C	33mm	293h
October	15.1°C	9.2°C	96mm	171h
November	12.9°C	5.8°C	20mm	175h
December	8.6°C	3.8°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.

About Vatican City

Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, often shortened as the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state in Southern Europe. Ruled by the pope, it is an enclave within the city of Rome, Italy, and serves as the administrative centre of the Catholic Church. Vatican City is governed by the See of Rome, commonly known as the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity under international law, which maintains its temporal power, governance, diplomacy, and spiritual independence. Vatican is also used as a metonym for the Holy See, which is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, comprising the pope and the Roman Curia. The independent state of Vatican City came into existence in 1929 via the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy, which spoke of it as a creation, not as a vestige of the much larger Papal States (756–1870), which had previously encompassed much of Central Italy.

RegionSouthern Europe

Area0 km²

CurrencyEuro (1 USD ≈ 0.89 EUR)

LanguagesItalian, Latin

Calling code+3906698, +379

Drives on theright

Emergency number112

UNESCO sites2

Climate in Vatican City

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

Monthly climate normals for Vatican City, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	13.3°C	3.7°C	29mm	251h
February	15.6°C	5.7°C	17mm	261h
March	16.2°C	6.4°C	80mm	283h
April	19.9°C	9°C	82mm	313h
May	25.3°C	13.8°C	32mm	372h
June	26.9°C	16.2°C	122mm	398h
July	32.6°C	20°C	8mm	432h
August	33°C	21.4°C	52mm	386h
September	27.7°C	16.9°C	136mm	314h
October	20°C	11.2°C	189mm	278h
November	17.7°C	9.2°C	68mm	238h
December	13.2°C	5.3°C	230mm	193h

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

Vatican City is the world's smallest country both by area and by population, and is the centre of Catholicism. This tiny country completely within Rome is packed with more history and artwork than most cities in the world, and indeed many countries. St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are all in Vatican City.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura
Vatican City

Upcoming public holidays

November 1, 2026Tutti i Santi, Ognissanti

December 8, 2026Immacolata Concezione

December 25, 2026Natale

Full source list on About.