Visa information

Nationals of all Western European countries can visit France without a visa; US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can stay up to 90 days without a visa. For additional details and specific visa requirements, please contact the French Embassy in your country.

Depending on your nationality, a visa is required when intending to travel to France. All visas must be applied for prior to departure at the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the applicant's country of residence.

SPIE recommends that you secure your travel visa before registering for the conference as cancellations after the preregistration cutoff date may result in a cancellation fee.

Letter of Invitation
FOR CONFERENCE CHAIRS, TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND AUTHORS: Individuals requiring letters of invitation to obtain travel visas must be listed on a paper or in the programme to receive an invitation letter. If you are listed in the conference programme and need an Official Invitation Letter from SPIE for visa application purposes, please submit the completed Invitation Letter Form.

FOR EXHIBITORS: If you are an exhibitor requiring a letter of invitation from SPIE to obtain a travel visa to participate in the Exhibition, please fill out and send the Exhibitor Invitation Letter Request Form.

In This Section

Visa types for visits to France

The type of visa required depends both on the duration and purpose of your stay in France: tourism, professional purposes, studies, family purposes.

For stays up to 90 days,  you will need to apply for a short-stay visa.

Regulations and types of visas vary according to the French territory you intend to visit:

  • For European territory (mainland France), France complies with Schengen regulations related to the Schengen area, and issues a short-stay Uniform Schengen visa;
  • For non-European territories (French overseas territories), France issues a short-stay national visa;
  • If you intend to transit through a French airport without exiting the "international zone", please check whether you need to apply for an "A" airport transit Schengen visa.

For visa application form and the latest information, please visit the Official Website for Visa Application to France or check with your local French Embassy or Consulate.

Letters of Invitation

For Conference Chairs, Technical Committee Members, and Authors

Individuals requiring letters of invitation to obtain travel visas must be listed on a paper or in the program to receive an invitation letter. If you are listed in the program, and are in need of an Official Invitation Letter from SPIE for visa application purposes, please fill out and send the Invitation Letter Request Form.

  • Please fill out a separate form for each person requesting a letter.
  • E-mail completed form to SPIE to InvitationLettersEU@spieeurope.org
  • All letters of invitation will be sent by airmail and by email (as a PDF attachment) unless a courier account number or credit card number with expiration date is provided with the original request.
  • Please allow up to 15 business days to process your request.
  • SPIE is unable to contact Embassies in support of an individual attempting to gain entry to attend an SPIE meeting.

For Exhibitors

If you are an exhibitor requiring a letter of invitation from SPIE to obtain a travel visa to participate in the Exhibition, please fill out and send the Exhibitor Invitation Letter Request Form.

We recommend that you secure your travel visa before registering for the conference as cancellations after the preregistration cutoff may result in a cancellation fee.