French passport

A French passport (French: Passeport français) is an identity document issued to French citizens. Besides enabling the bearer to travel internationally and serving as indication of French citizenship (but not proof; the possession of a French passport only establishes the presumption of French citizenship according to French law), the passport facilitates the process of securing assistance from French consular officials abroad or other European Union member states in case a French consular is absent, if needed.

French passport
The front cover of a contemporary French biometric passport
TypePassport
Issued by Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs
First issued12 April 2006 (first biometric passport)
1 April 2013[1] (current version)
PurposeIdentification
EligibilityFrench citizenship
Expiration5 years after issuance for citizens under the age of 18; 10 years for adults
Cost86 € (adult) / 42 € (15-17) / 17 € (14 and under)[2][3]

Every French citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The passport, along with the national identity card allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland.

History

The history of the French passport can be traced to documents issued in the 19th century.

Types

Passports are valid for 10 years for applicants aged 18 or over and 5 years for applicants under the age of 18. Optical passports (older) have no sign under the word "Passeport" on the front page. Electronic passport contains an embedded chip and has the chip logo under the word "Passeport". Biometric passeports are the most recent ones and are decorated as the electronic passports but the word "Passeport" is underlined. The 3 types of passport are shown above.

Physical appearance

Front cover

Unlike those from most other EU countries which are burgundy, ordinary passports have a Bordeaux-red front cover, with the national emblem of France emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The word "PASSEPORT" (Passport) is inscribed below the coat of arms and "Union européenne" (European Union), "République française" (French Republic) above. The "e-passport" cover has a microchip symbol at the bottom. On the biometric variant of e-passports, the word "PASSEPORT" is underlined. French passports use the standard EU design, with the standard passport containing 32 pages.

1941 French Vichy SAFE - CONDUCT travel document issued to a Jewish refugee.
1941 Vichy France issued Service passport used for South America.

Identity information page
  • Biodata page of a French non-biometric passport
  • First page of a French non-biometric passport

The biodata page includes the following data:

  • Photo of Passport Holder
  • Type (P)
  • Code (FRA)
  • Passport No.
  • Surname
  • Given Names
  • Nationality (Française)
  • Date of Birth
  • Sex M
  • Place of Birth FRANCE
  • Date of Issue
  • Date of Expiry
  • Authority
  • Holder's Signature
  • Height
  • Colour of Eyes
  • Residence Page 36

The information page ends with the Machine Readable Zone starting with P<FRA.

Languages

The data page is printed in French and English with translation of the fields on the bearer's page in the other languages of the European Union elsewhere in the document.

Visa free travel
Main article: Visa requirements for French citizens
Visa requirements for French citizens
  France
  Freedom of movement
  Visa not required
  Visa on arrival
  eVisa
  Visa available both on arrival or online
  Visa required prior to arrival

Visa requirements for French citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of France. As of 7 January 2020, French citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 186 countries and territories, ranking the French passport 6th in the world in terms of travel freedom (tied with Sweden) according to the Henley Passport Index.[4]

French citizens can live and work in any country within the EU as a result of the right of free movement and residence granted in Article 21 of the EU Treaty.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Council of the European Union - PRADO - FRA-AO-03003". Consilium.europa.eu. 2011-10-25. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  2. Passeport
  3. "Passeport d'un mineur : première demande - France in the United Kingdom - La France au Royaume-Uni". Uk.ambafrance.org. 2019-11-29. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  4. "Global Ranking - Passport Index 2020" (PDF). Henley & Partners. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  5. Treaty on the Function of the European Union (consolidated version)
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