Réunion visitors must check visa rules separately from mainland France

Réunion is outside the Schengen area

France-Visas explicitly identifies Réunion among France’s non-European territories outside the Schengen area. Travellers combining Paris and Réunion should therefore check permission for each part of the journey rather than assume that one short-stay visa covers the entire itinerary. This current guide explains the territorial distinction, not a new November border restriction.

The official France in the Schengen area page links the legal instruments governing entry to the different overseas territories. Use the Réunion-specific reference when checking the destination: permission for another French overseas territory should not be treated as universal permission for every island. A flight sold as a domestic connection does not itself determine immigration eligibility. Establish the route, passport, intended activities and length of stay before choosing the application category.

Check whether an existing document provides an exemption

France’s Service Public guidance says non-European travellers normally need a destination-specific short-stay visa for overseas visits, subject to exemptions. It identifies valid residence permits and long-stay type D visas issued by France or another Schengen country as grounds for exemption. This differs from relying on an ordinary Schengen short-stay visa.

The same guidance says nationality, passport type and destination can also affect the requirement and links the official visa assistant. European citizens can enter for up to three months with a valid passport or identity document. Check the actual category rather than copy the result for a travelling companion.

For the non-European short-stay cases described, the passport must have two blank pages, have been issued less than ten years earlier and remain valid at least three months beyond departure. Where a visa is required, apply before departure through the French consulate serving the place of residence. A destination-limited overseas visa does not itself allow entry to Schengen.

Prepare a coherent application for the actual itinerary

The official overseas visa form expressly includes Réunion and asks for the territories of destination, intended arrival and departure dates, length of stay and travel purpose. It also records previous French visas and any permission for the final destination. Use those fields to describe the complete journey accurately, including any onward travel requiring separate permission.

The form requests passport details, current nationality, identity information, residence permission where living outside the country of citizenship, and the host or accommodation details. It distinguishes self-funding from support by a host, company or other guarantor. Assemble evidence consistent with the stated accommodation and means of support rather than leave the application narrative disconnected from the bookings.

For minors it asks for the parental authority or guardian’s identity and nationality. Names must match the travel document. The form is an application, not an approval: obtain the category-specific checklist and appointment instructions through France-Visas before submitting, and verify the territorial wording and validity on any issued visa.

British visitors should distinguish tourism from longer stays

The UK government’s Réunion advice is specifically for full British-citizen passport holders travelling from the UK. It describes visa-free visits of up to 90 days for tourism or business, but directs longer stays, work, study and other purposes to the French visa process. Do not extend that passport-specific advice to every UK resident or every British nationality category.

The advice requires passport validity extending at least three months beyond planned departure and rejects passports reported lost or stolen. British residents of Réunion should carry their residence document with the passport when entering or leaving; where the document has been applied for but not received, the guidance identifies the emailed application certificate. Use this resource to check the relevant travel-document position and resolve an uncertain case with the French consulate.

Budget for the overseas category rather than the Schengen tariff

France-Visas’ official fee table lists €60 for an ordinary short-stay visa for Réunion, with €35 for children aged six to under twelve. It lists exemptions for children under six, spouses of French citizens and specified EU, EEA or Swiss family members, with additional country-specific cases to check.

The separate Schengen row is €90, illustrating why the destination and category matter. Confirm the applicable exemption and any collection-service charges through the receiving consulate’s instructions before paying. The table does not guarantee approval or a processing date; allow appointment and assessment time before the intended departure.