Most Americans know the rule by heart: ninety days, then out. Under the Schengen framework, U.S. visitors may spend up to three months in the Schengen Area without a visa in any given 180-day period.
Yet, buried in diplomatic archives lies a rare exception: a bilateral agreement signed between France and the United States in March 1949, still in force today.
A treaty that never disappeared
On 16 and 31 March 1949, France and the United States exchanged diplomatic notes establishing a reciprocal visa-free regime for short stays. The deal allowed nationals of each country to remain in the other for up to three months without a visa.
When Europe later created the Schengen framework, this modest post-war agreement was never repealed. As a result, U.S. citizens may spend up to ninety days in the Schengen Area, plus an additional ninety days in France alone, for a total of up to six months without a visa, provided the extra period is spent exclusively on French territory.
A hidden rule that works
Although the agreement is rarely referenced in internal guidance and remains unfamiliar to many préfectures, consulates, and embassies, French border police have been known to apply it in practice.
At Esquisite, we have accompanied a number of U.S. nationals who lawfully extended their stay in France under the combined Schengen and 1949 bilateral agreement framework, with their status recognized by the police aux frontières at exit checks.
This practical reality, however, must be understood alongside an essential limitation: the bilateral agreement applies only to short stays in France. It does not grant work rights, bypass residency requirements, or replace the need for a long-stay visa for those wishing to settle in France.
Beyond the U.S.: other bilateral arrangements
France concluded similar short-stay visa exemption agreements with several countries before Schengen was created. Depending on the nationality involved, these older treaties may allow a lawful stay in France beyond the standard ninety-day Schengen limit.
However, each case must be analyzed individually, according to:
- the exact terms of the bilateral agreement;
- how the treaty interacts with current French and EU law; and
- present-day administrative practice.
Need guidance?
At Esquisite, we regularly advise on the intersection of French, EU, and international law—including under-used treaties such as the 1949 U.S.–France bilateral agreement.
If you are a U.S. national, or a citizen of another country benefiting from a bilateral agreement with France, and wish to understand how these provisions may apply to your situation, our team can assist with tailored legal advice and supporting documentation.
Published in The Esquisite Review, November 2025. This article reflects the legal position as of publication. Immigration rules and administrative practice are subject to change.
