First contact: Key French and US authorities

The basics – telling the government

It may sound obvious, but it bears repeating – you must know the difference between a short and a long stay, as this will impact on who to inform and how.

If you are a US national planning to spend no more time than 90 days in France and the wider, border-free Schengen area under the standard visa waiver, you do not need to inform the French authorities about your arrival in any special way.

This could be for reasons such as for tourism, certain permitted business trips, or family visits. 

In this case, your visit is registered automatically at the border when your passport is scanned. 

Starting in late 2026, US travelers will also be required to obtain an Etias (European Travel Information and Authorization System) authorization. This is not a visa – it is a pre-travel electronic authorization to travel linked to your passport. Updates are available on the Etias portal.

If you want to stay in France for a period of more than 90 days, before you travel you must have a long-stay visa organized from the US (see chapter 2 on visas).

You cannot apply when in France, to convert your short stay after arriving. On arrival, your long-stay visa requires validation within three months.

While not essential, it is also advisable to register with the US State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (Step) in order for the US Embassy to have your whereabouts on file. This will enable them to locate you and have your contact details in case of emergency in either the US or in France.

The US Embassy is in Paris, but there are consulates (branches helping US citizens) in Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Rennes and Strasbourg. 

Your long-stay life in France

Whether moving for work, study, or family reasons, before long you will likely have to make contact with your prefecture. This will be a key port of call for administrative tasks such as residency card application processing and renewals or applying for French nationality.

Among other functions, prefectures also coordinate elections, are responsible for maintaining public order, and in times of natural disasters, health emergencies, or civil unrest, will lead the local response on behalf of the government.

The main prefecture is the one for their department of France, usually in the largest city. There may also be one or more sub-prefectures in other major towns, but they do not deal with the full range of issues. Regional prefectures also exist.

The prefecture is the local representative of the national French state and is headed by the préfet (prefect). His or her role includes ensuring implementation of national laws and policies at local level and acting as a liaison between central government and local councils.

Using the name of your department, you can find your prefecture here. 

Mainland France and Corsica have 96 departments across 13 regions. Each of them also has a number, which is usually the first two digits of your postcode. They are roughly alphabetical in order. 

Each department is sub-divided into communes, which can range in size from small hamlets through to large cities.

A commune is overseen by a maire (mayor) and conseil municipal (municipal council), who are responsible for managing local services such as water, waste, local roads, schools (elementary level) and planning. 

The municipal council is also known as la mairie, which can also refer to the building its services are run from (ie. the town hall). In larger towns and cities the building is known as l’hôtel de ville. 

Getting to know your local mairie is highly advised, especially in smaller communes where you are likely to meet the mayor. He or she is a central figure in local life. A polite written introduction in French can show goodwill and help smooth integration. 

In areas where the arrival of newcomers is notable, some may even invite you to a local welcome event at New Year or apéro (drinks and snacks), which it is highly advisable to attend.