European Union and Schengen Area

You can go to the 27 Schengen countries equipped only your national identity card (CNI): Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (for Overseas Territories, passport required in case of correspondence by requesting countries), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

These other European countries also accept it: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Liechtenstein and Monaco.

Islands such as Corsica in France, Sardinia and Sicily in Italy, Madeira and the Azores in Portugal, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands in Spain, or Crete in Greece, and Cyprus are also accessible without a passport.

What about the UK?

The conditions of entry into the UK have changed since its withdrawal from the European Union. Since 1^er october 2021, know thata valid passport is required to visit England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. You can travel by Ireland with an identity card only (and also pass through Northern Ireland from Ireland with a NIC).

Outside the European continent

Few countries allow French nationals to enter their territory without a passport:

• Turkey: an identity card may be sufficient if its period of validity exceeds the date of entry by at least 150 days (5 months) (travel of less than 3 months);
• Egypt: The identity card must be valid at least 6 months after the date of return to France. "A visa is required. It is affixed, on arrival, to a form provided by the local authorities. Travelers must bring two identity photos that will be attached to this form before their departure,” France Diplomatie explains;
• Tunisia: An identity card can be accepted if you are traveling as part of a group trip organized by a travel agency. The travel booklet issued by the latter will be required (this tolerance not always being applied, it is recommended to travel to Tunisia with a passport).

Discover the simulator proposed by Service-Public.fr to know the identity document required to travel to Europe, in case of short stay (less than 3 months).