France: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic

Stay alert

Overall verdict for France: Stay alert. Below, the risk level of each of the 23 topics that get travellers fined or arrested. The exact rule, thresholds and penalties are in the LawsTravels app.

France: read the 3 riskiest rules free →

🎁 Free, no account: Drugs, Weapons, Extradition

The 23 topics at a glance

Banned or serious riskAllowed, with limitsRelaxed

Get the exact rules for your trip

This page gives you the level. The app gives you the rule, the numbers and the penalties for France, offline, in 23 languages.

France: read the 3 riskiest rules free →

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How France compares

With 3 of 23 topics flagged red, France is stricter than 26 of the 34 other countries in Europe (regional average: 2.2). Worldwide, France ranks #86 of 148 for strictness (tied with 16 other countries).

What sets it apart

Extradition: flagged red here, while only 29 of 148 countries are this strict.
Medicines: relaxed here, while 119 of 148 countries restrict or ban it.
Politics & protest: relaxed here, while 115 of 148 countries restrict or ban it.

What to watch most in France

🔪 Weapons · Guides by topic

Pocket knives, multi-tools and even a corkscrew can be classified as a weapon depending on blade length and lock type.
Pepper spray and personal alarms are banned or restricted in a surprising number of countries.
Tasers and knuckledusters are prohibited essentially everywhere.

💊 Drugs · Guides by topic

Almost every country separates use, possession and trafficking — and the line between them is a weight, not an intention.
Being caught with several bags, a scale or cash next to the drug will usually reclassify "use" into "dealing".
Carrying for a friend counts as your possession. There is no shared-responsibility defence.

France at a glance

CapitalParis

CurrencyEuro (EUR)

LanguageFrench

Emergency number112

Driving sideRight

Mains voltage230 / 400 V

Calling code+33

Time zoneUTC+01:00

Plug typesC · E

Land bordersAndorra🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇩🇪 Germany 🇪🇸 Spain 🇮🇹 ItalyLuxembourgMonaco🇸🇷 Suriname

Frequently asked questions

Is France strict with tourists?

Overall verdict: Stay alert. 3 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Drugs, Weapons, Extradition), 8 require caution.

What can get me fined or arrested in France?

The strictest topics for travellers in France are: Drugs, Weapons, Extradition. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.

Where do I find the exact rules for France?

In LawsTravels: open France, each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. 3 topics are free on every country; the other 20 unlock for the price of a coffee.

What is the emergency number in France?

In France, dial 112. Capital: Paris. Currency: Euro (EUR). Main language: French.

Which side of the road do they drive on in France?

In France, traffic drives on the right. Mains voltage: 230 / 400 V. Calling code: +33. Time zone: UTC+01:00. Plug types: C · E.

Countries with the closest profile

🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇮🇹 Italy 🇩🇪 Germany 🇬🇷 Greece 🇳🇱 Netherlands

Levels summarise publicly available legal information for travellers and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies: confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.