Most U.S. citizens are familiar with the standard rule for travel within the Schengen Area: they may stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa.
However, fewer people are aware of a little-known bilateral agreement between France and the United States that may allow Americans to remain in France for an additional 90 days.
The Standard Schengen Rule
Under Schengen rules, all time spent in Schengen countries counts toward the same 90-day limit. This includes time spent in France, Spain, Italy, or any other Schengen State.
Once those 90 days are used, travelers must normally leave the Schengen Area.
The France-U.S. Bilateral Agreement
Separate from Schengen law, France and the United States signed a bilateral visa-waiver agreement in 1949, which remains in force.
Under this agreement, a U.S. citizen may stay in metropolitan France for up to an additional 90 days without a visa, beyond the normal Schengen allowance.
Importantly, the initial 90 Schengen days may include time spent in France.
In practical terms, this means a U.S. citizen may:
- spend 90 days anywhere in the Schengen Area, including France; and then
- remain in metropolitan France only for up to 90 additional days.
This creates the possibility of a total stay of up to 180 days, subject to the conditions of the bilateral agreement.
What About the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The European Union is progressively implementing the Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border system that records entries and exits into the Schengen Area.
This system will make automatic overstay detection easier.
One practical question remains: how will border authorities distinguish between time spent under standard Schengen rules and time spent under the France-U.S. bilateral agreement?
Public guidance on this point remains limited.
Practical Considerations
Although the legal basis for this extended stay exists, practical application may vary.
Travelers relying on the bilateral agreement should be prepared to document:
- their Schengen travel history,
- the legal basis for the extended stay,
- and proof that the additional stay is limited to metropolitan France.
This is particularly important because not all border officers or carriers are familiar with this historic agreement.