travel to france with a criminal record

Hi,

I was wondering if people could help me out.. Im an Australian who would like to visit France with my family next year for a 4 week holiday. I have a previous criminal record and was given a fine and community service. I know you need a Visa to enter the USA but what about France with a criminal record? Ive looked at the embassy info and cant seem to find a specific answer.

If I dont, do i need to state that i have a criminal record on my passenger arrival card?

Will the Immigration officer at the airport ask me about a criminal record? Im travelling with friends who dont know about my record and was hoping i wouldn’t have to tell them, but if they will hear me be questioned i would rather tell them in advance.

Thanks all for the help with this difficult situation.

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Frist, don%26#39;t feel too badly,, a fine and community service means you are likely not a high risk ex con( hope you get I am being lighthearted). My friend had a DUI conviction( drunk driving) and she applied for a legal pardon before we travelled to the States( about 10 years ago). I have no idea how your country does things, but here for many minor crimes one can apply for such a legal pardon,, usaully a set amount of years after the conviction. That may be a possibilty, then you would not have to worry at all. There is a fee involved , a rather large one as I recall.

As for really being able to answer your question I think you really need to refer to some proper channels. An immigration website maybe( just start googling) .

Frankly, I doubt you are on a %26quot;no fly%26quot; list, but do you want to find out differently after spending thousands on an airline ticket and being in line at the airport.. you will not be refunded one penny if denied entry,, so I would look into the legal and correct channels for answers, not just hearsay from a travel forum..

Good luck, hope it works out.

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France has an embassy in Australia. It would be best if you cantacted them DIRECTLY with your unusual request--

www.ambafrance-au.org/france_australie/

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When you arrive in France, the arrival card does not have any questions about criminal record.

It is only the USA that gets excited about criminal records. Which is strange, considering the number of criminals who are already in the country...

But it might be best to check with the French Consulate.

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Nick is correct - anything to do with visas and admissions policies is the business of the Consular office. I think in Oz, the Consul General of France website is shared with the Embassy web site.

As I%26#39;ve said to all the other Aussies I%26#39;ve posted to, I hope that you and yours came through all the recent troubles with no lasting problems. We watched on television, and all of us worried about all of you.

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sydneynick wrote:

%26lt;%26lt;It is only the USA that gets excited about criminal records. Which is strange, considering the number of criminals who are already in the country...%26gt;%26gt;

That%26#39;s just uninformed U.S.-bashing, sydneynick, and it%26#39;s doubly humorous when one ponders the origins of the now-honorable nation of Australia.

Anyone entering Canada, for instance, with a DUI felony conviction on their record is automatically barred from entering that country. And the border crossing agents in Canada DO occasionally ask, and they DO turn away people with criminal records. I%26#39;ve seen it happen, to a friend who had a DUI on his record.

I think the best advice given here is to check with the French embassy in Australia.

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Oh -- but it%26#39;s common knowlege that everyone in the US has a hand gun!! ;)

Nick: Let%26#39;s not be bashing other countries here. What you read and watch on TV isn%26#39;t always the case.

Check with your consulat -- but I would assume that if they issue you a passport then there isn%26#39;t any issue. But check to be sure!

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I am sure you won%26#39;t have any problem, as a few countries ask for criminal records, but France does not for tourists. It might different for immigration though.

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I really do not think that entering into France will be a problem for someone with a criminal record as long as his credentials are otherwise in order.

But as signothetimes53 points out, a US citizen will be barred from entering into Canada with any type of conviction; DUI or petty theft. The customs people in Canada have access to US government computers tracing anyone with a conviction of any kind. A 20 year old DUI is sufficient grounds (according to Canadian custom officials) to bar you from entering into their country.

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Sarastro,, it works both ways, as I said my friend with a DUI had to apply for a pardon to go to Hawaii with us. She did not want to be turned away either.. and her conviction was 10 years old, but she didn%26#39;t want her then young children to see mommy getting in trouble.. she was told that she could be turned away at border in States when she had done preliminary research.

Just want you to realize its a two way street ,, States is same as Canada.

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I tried doing a little internet research but only found out that as an Australian citizen you would need a visa if you came to the States. The VWP (visa waiver program) does not apply to those with a criminal record. I believe a similar situation exists for travelers to the UK (for Martha Stewart anyway). Definitely check with the French Embassy as someone else suggested. Enjoy your holiday!