Franceby the numbers
France welcomed 102 million international tourists in 2025, up from 100 million, and earned a record €77.5 billion from them. New US routes arrive in spring 2027, and the EU's ETIAS is still not required.
The France numbers that matter
Arrivals from our five markets
How many travellers from Canada, the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand visited France in the latest published period, and how fast each market is moving.
Tourist arrivals by market as published by Atout France; France does not publish a single official table of arrivals by country, so sources differ by market. Canada is labelled an estimate and the US figure is given as 'nearly 5.5 million'. New Zealand is left out: Atout France gives only a range of 50,000 to 100,000 a year.
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United KingdomYour edition 13.1M
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United StatesYour edition 5.5M +10%
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CanadaYour edition 1.2M
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AustraliaYour edition 860K
Crowds and climate, month by month
The short answer
Long-haul visitors spread their trips across the year. Atout France says Australians travel to France year-round, with a peak from April to October, and stay about 14 days; 62% book more than six months ahead. In 2027 the Tour de France starts in Edinburgh on 2 July and then continues in France.
Dates that move demand
- Chartres en lumières (light show)2026-04-11 to 2027-01-03 · Chartres
- Millennium of the Normans (European Year of the Normans)2027 (programme dates not yet published) · Normandy and Britain
- Tour de France 2027 Grand DépartStarts 2027-07-02 in Edinburgh; three stages in Britain to 4 July before the race continues in France · Edinburgh, then Wales, England and France
Passports, rules and the flight over
Entry rules as checked on 24 Oct 2026. Rules change: always confirm with the official source before travel.
Canadians can visit the Schengen area, including France, without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has recorded fingerprints and a photo at the border since it became fully operational on 10 April 2026. ETIAS, a €20 travel authorisation, is not yet required.
Official sourceUS citizens need no visa for stays under 90 days. Passports must be valid 3 months beyond departure from the Schengen area (6 months recommended), with one blank page. EES biometric registration applies at the border; ETIAS is not yet in force.
Official sourceBritish citizens can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Passports must be issued less than 10 years before arrival and expire at least 3 months after leaving the Schengen area. EES registration applies at the border.
Official sourceAustralia is on the EU's visa-exempt list, so Australians can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. EES registration of fingerprints and a photo applies at the border; ETIAS is not yet required.
Official sourceNew Zealand is on the EU's visa-exempt list, so New Zealanders can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. EES registration applies at the border; ETIAS is not yet required.
Official source- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Time zone
- UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer (mainland France)
- Language
- French
- Plugs
- Types C and E, 230 V
- Driving
- Drive on the right
Nonstop from our markets
| From | To | Airlines | Time / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montréal (YUL) | Paris (CDG/ORY) | Air Canada, Air France, Air Transat (CDG), French bee (ORY, daily) | Air Canada, Air Transat and French bee year-round |
| Toronto (YYZ) | Paris | Air France, Air Transat | Air Transat year-round |
| Vancouver (YVR) | Paris | Air France | Summer 2026 |
| Ottawa (YOW) | Paris | Air France | Summer 2026 |
| Québec City (YQB) | Paris | Air France | Summer 2026 |
| Calgary (YYC) | Paris (CDG) | WestJet | Year-round |
| Halifax (YHZ) and St. John's (YYT) | Paris (CDG) | WestJet | Seasonal |
| Montréal (YUL) | Lyon (LYS) | Air Canada, Air Transat | Year-round |
| Montréal (YUL) | Toulouse (TLS) | Air Canada, Air Transat | Air Canada year-round |
| Montréal (YUL) | Marseille (MRS) | Air Transat | Year-round |
| Montréal (YUL) | Nantes (NTE) | Air Transat (year-round), Air Canada (summer) | |
| Montréal (YUL) | Nice (NCE) | Air Canada | Summer |
| Montréal (YUL) | Bordeaux (BOD) | Air Transat | Year-round |
| Montréal (YUL) | Basel-Mulhouse (MLH) | Air Transat | |
| Québec City (YQB) | Marseille (MRS) and Nantes (NTE) | Air Transat | June to October; Nantes also December and January |
Selling France: the trade file
- Air France plans up to 60 weekly flights from Montréal, Québec City, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver in summer 2026, and WestJet is moving closer to Air France-KLM through codeshares.
- Americans remain strongly attached to intermediaries: Atout France says travel agencies and OTAs are still very powerful in the US market.
- Australians plan early: 62% book more than six months ahead, tour operators set programmes 8 to 12 months out, and stays in France average 14 days.
- The average international tourist spent €760 per stay in 2025 (+7%), and the share of 4- and 5-star hotels in France's hotel stock rose 22% between 2019 and 2025.
- ILTM CannesTypically first week of December
Opening in France
More figures we've reported
Bottles Le Cep d'Argent produces a year
Founded in Magog in 1985 by brothers from France's Champagne region, the estate grows about 60,000 vines.
Projects Moment Factory says it has created since 2001
The Montreal studio now has offices in Tokyo, Paris, New York, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, alongside its regional Quebec night walks.
Year Lac-Mégantic became Quebec's only Cittaslow town
The town was certified on 22 June 2018 and calls itself the first French-speaking Cittaslow town in the Americas.
Year monks from Normandy founded Saint-Benoît-du-Lac
Monks of the French abbey of Saint-Wandrille, then in exile in Belgium, founded the abbey on Lac Memphrémagog on 4 December 1912.
European travellers who trust AI results
Compared with 33–42% who trust retail travel agents, in research across the UK, France and Germany.
What changes next
ETIAS, a €20 authorisation valid for three years, is expected from the last quarter of 2026. The EU says the exact date will be announced at least six months before launch; it is not yet required.
EU Delegation to the US; France.frThe EU Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, replacing passport stamps with a digital record of each entry and exit, a photo and, from age 12, fingerprints.
French Ministry for Europe and Foreign AffairsFrom spring 2027, new direct routes will link Paris, Marseille, Nice and Toulouse with New York, Washington DC, Denver and Seattle, and Charlotte–Paris will be restored.
Atout France, US market briefThe direct Perth–Paris service was rerouted in March 2026: it now runs 5 times a week from Perth or Sydney with a technical stop in Singapore.
Atout France, Australia market briefCanada was among the fastest-growing markets for advance bookings in early 2026 (+7% three months out), and the government targets €100 billion in international receipts by 2030.
French Ministry for Tourism, 2025 tourism review
Latest on France
Quick answers on France
Do Canadians need a visa for France?
No. Canadians can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area without a visa (travel.gc.ca). Fingerprints and a photo are now taken at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System, and ETIAS is not yet required.
How many tourists visit France?
France welcomed 102 million international tourists in 2025, up from 100 million in 2024, and they spent a record €77.5 billion (+9%), according to the French tourism ministry.
When does ETIAS start for France?
The EU expects ETIAS from the last quarter of 2026 and says the exact date will be announced at least six months ahead. It will cost €20 and last three years or until the passport expires.
Is France safe to visit?
The US State Department rates France Level 2, 'Exercise increased caution' (21 October 2026), and New Zealand's SafeTravel also advises increased caution (23 October 2026).
Are there direct flights from Canada to France?
Yes. Air France, Air Canada, Air Transat, French bee and WestJet fly nonstop from Montréal, Toronto, Québec City, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax and St. John's to Paris, and from Montréal and Québec City to Lyon, Toulouse, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Bordeaux and Basel-Mulhouse (summer 2026, Atout France).
How many Americans visit France?
Nearly 5.5 million in 2025, up 10% on 2024, and they spent €7.3 billion (+17%), according to Atout France.
Every figure on this page comes from the organisation that publishes it, linked where it appears and listed here. We checked them on 24 October 2026 and update the file when new figures come out. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
- French Ministry for Tourism and Atout France (estimate)
- INSEE, tourist accommodation survey, Q4 2025
- Atout France, US market brief
- Atout France, Canada market brief (estimate)
- Atout France and Brittany Ferries, 14 Apr 2026
- Atout France, Australia market brief (citing the European Travel Commission)
- EU Delegation to the US; France.fr
- French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
- travel.gc.ca
- travel.state.gov
- www.gov.uk
- home-affairs.ec.europa.eu