Before you travel

Documents for flying from Beauvais

Without a valid identity document you will not be able to board. What you need depends on your nationality and the country you are flying to: a national ID card, a passport and, in some cases, a visa.

You will be asked for your documents at the airport. Before you leave home, check that yours are valid (babies’ too) and, if you need to renew them, do it in good time: the process can take weeks.

Each passenger is responsible for carrying their own valid documents. If you are unsure about your situation, ask the authorities of your destination country, your travel agent or your airline. For entry into France, the French government publishes the conditions on its public services portal: conditions for entering France.

If you are a European Union citizen

This applies, for example, to Spanish or Italian travellers.

Flights within France: national ID card or passport.
Flights within the EU: a national identity card from a European Economic Area (EEA) country or a passport. If your destination is not in the Schengen area, check the specific requirements.
Flights outside the EU: as a general rule, a passport. Some countries accept an EEA identity card and others also require a visa.

If you are not a European Union citizen

Flights within France: identity document or passport.
Flights within the EU: EEA identity card or passport. For destinations outside Schengen, check the country’s requirements.
Flights outside the EU: passport. Some countries accept an EEA identity card, and a visa or other documents may be required.

If you are a French citizen

Flights within mainland France: identity card, passport or photo driving licence.
Flights within the EU and the Schengen area: French national identity card or passport.
Other destinations: passport, and for some countries a visa or other documents too.

Many countries do not recognise the automatic five-year extension that France applies to its identity cards. If yours shows as expired even though France still considers it valid, travel with a valid passport. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains this on its website: validity of the French identity card (in French).

Whatever your nationality, the same ministry’s country advice page summarises the entry requirements for each destination: advice by country and destination (in French).

Minors travelling without their parents

Minors resident in France who travel abroad alone or without one of their legal guardians need an authorisation to leave the country (AST), signed by one of their parents and accompanied by a copy of that parent’s identity document. The French family record book (livret de famille) is not a travel document. You will find the details on the family travel and minors page and on the official portal: authorisation to leave the country (in French).

Each airline’s requirements

The airlines set out on their websites which documents they accept and how they are checked during check-in:

Practical tips

If you are travelling in Europe, apply online for a European Health Insurance Card at least three weeks in advance; that way you avoid having to pay medical costs up front.
Scan your documents and keep a copy in the cloud or in your email. It does not replace the originals, but it helps a great deal if you lose them.
Do your online check-in a few days beforehand on your airline’s website or app and download your boarding pass; that way you avoid extra charges at the airport.