Traveling abroad is not something you can improvise! Administrative formalities are necessary and some official documents are required to cross the borders.

What administrative formalities are required to travel abroad?

In Europe

For a stay in the European Union, a identity card or a valid passport are required. These procedures can take several weeks : it is therefore important to anticipate ! If you live in France, you must submit your passport application in person (fingerprinting) at a town hall. For more information, visit the public service website.

Also order before you leave the European Health Insurance Card  which will cover medical expenses on site. Issued free of charge, the EHIC is individual and nominative. The cards issued are valid for 2 years.

For minors

Whatever the destination abroad, the authorization to leave the country has become mandatory since January 17, 2017 for any minor child who travels alone and goes outside the French territory. It must be completed by a parent of the child prior to departure. It will be presented at boarding along with a photocopy of the ID of the parent who filled out the document. Please note that without this document, your child will not be allowed to fly.

What documents?

The required documents are not the same depending on your destination. For information on the documents required for each destination, visit the government’s France Diplomatie website.

If your stay is in the USA, other formalities are necessary.