France: Special Streamlined Visa Processes Introduced for Olympic Athletes, Staff, Official Guests
January 12, 2024
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At a Glance
- France launched a system to facilitate the visa applications of certain attendees of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.
- This so-called ‘Olympic Consulate’ will process the short-stay visa applications for accredited athletes, staff, sports teams, delegations, and media (among others) – who will benefit from priority processing, waived visa application and service fees, minimal documentary requirements and the ability to keep their travel document or passport throughout the process instead of submitting it to authorities.
- Additionally, as a warning, travelers planning to travel or relocate to France during this period should be aware that appointment and processing delays are expected due to a significant influx of visitors.
The situation
Effective January 1, 2024, France launched a system to facilitate the visa applications of certain attendees of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.
A closer look
- System details. This so-called ‘Olympic Consulate’ will process the short-stay visa applications for accredited athletes, staff, sports teams, delegations, and media (among others) – who will benefit from priority processing, waived visa application and service fees, minimal documentary requirements and the ability to keep their travel document or passport throughout the process instead of submitting it to authorities. It is expected that the accreditation period will run from shortly before the start of the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2024 to shortly after the end of the Games.
- Official invitees. Those with a letter of invitation from the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (OGOC) will also benefit from a simplified visa process with no application fees and access to a dedicated appointment calendar to submit biometrics and visa applications.
All other categories of non-EU/European Economic Area/Swiss nationals remain subject to regular visa application procedures and entry requirements.
Looking ahead
Individuals planning to travel or relocate to France during this period should be aware that appointment and processing delays are expected due to a significant influx of visitors. Applications for short-stay visas should be submitted at least 15 days and no more than six months before the planned visit.
Fragomen in France is Fragomen France AARPI., operating as an immigration consultancy/law firm in France. This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
