Monaco is one of the richest countries in the world, and a famous destination for wealthy individuals, packed with luxurious hotels, resorts, and casinos.
If you want to visit Monaco, you need to see if you need to obtain a Monaco visa to enter. However, the Republic of Monaco does not have a visa system, so to visit Monaco, you need to apply for a France visa at the nearest embassy/consulate of France.
Do I Need a Visa to Go to Monaco?
Because Monaco does not have its own visa system, it uses the same visa requirements as France. So, if you need a visa to visit France, you will also need a visa to visit Monaco.
In a nutshell, if you want to visit Monaco for 90 days and are a citizen from one of the countries listed below, you do not need a visa to enter Monaco:
- If you are a citizen from a country with a visa-free agreement with Schengen.
- Citizens of EU/EEA/Switzerland and their family members.
Everyone else needs to apply for a visa to visit Monaco.
Document Checklist for Monaco Visa
To apply for a Monaco visa, you must submit the documents listed below at France’s nearest embassy/consulate in your home country.
- A valid passport. Your passport must be valid at least three months after your return date. Include a copy of your previous visas (if any).
- Two photos. Photos must be taken within the last six months; they must be in colors and taken on a light background.
- Application form. You must fill out the application form for a Monaco visa completely and with sincere answers. However, to complete the application form first, you need to download it online, print a hard copy, fill it out and sign it at the end.
- Fee payment receipt. You can finish the payment for your visa application at the embassy/consulate of Monaco when submitting the documents. Make sure you attach the receipt of the payment to other requested documents.
- Health insurance. Document proof that you have valid health insurance. Your health insurance must be valid within the whole Schengen area and cover at least €30,000 for medical emergencies.
- Bank statement. This is a document issued from your bank, and it must prove that you are financially stable and can finance yourself while in Monaco.
- Cover letter. Your cover letter is an introduction to the embassy/consulate. The cover letter must explain the purpose of your visit, how long you plan to stay, which countries you plan to visit, etc.
- Accommodation proof. An accommodation proof is a document proving that you have a place to stay while in Monaco. This can be a document from a rental agreement, a letter of invitation, a hotel reservation, etc.
- Invitation letter (if applicable). An invitation letter is a document issued by a family member or a friend living in Monaco, stating they will sponsor your trip or accommodate you.
- Criminal record. The criminal record is a document issued by the police of your home country, and it must prove that you are not a threat to the Republic of Monaco.
- Flight itinerary. A flight itinerary is a document showing your flight plan. This document must include flight date and time, return flight ticket, airplane airline, etc.
Monaco Visa Application Process
You have to apply for a Monaco visa at the nearest embassy or consulate of France, by following these steps:
- Contact the nearest embassy/consulate of France and book an appointment. Make sure you book your appointment well in advance of your trip – at least two weeks.
- Gather and submit all the requested documents at the French embassy/consulate. Make sure you gather all the requested documents and submit them to the nearest embassy/consulate of France in your home country.
- Wait for an answer. Within ten working days, you will receive an answer via text or email from the embassy/consulate of France responsible for your Monaco visa application. You can then travel to France and through France enter Monaco.
Keep in mind that any false information or missing documents can lead to your visa refusal.
Monaco Visa Application Interview Questions
When applying for a Monaco visa, you may be asked to be interviewed. You will find below some of the most common questions asked in a visa interview:
- Why do you plan to visit Monaco?
- How old are you?
- What do you do for a living?
- Are you married?
- Do you have children? If yes, how many?
- Do you plan on returning to your home country after your Monaco visa expires?
- Have you traveled abroad before?
- Are you traveling alone?
- Can you show us your bank statement?
- Would you like to live in Monaco?
- Do you have any family members in Monaco, etc.?
Monaco Visa Fees
The fee for a Monaco visa application is as follows:
- €80 for a standard visa.
- €40 for children under the age of 12.
Because visa applications for Monaco are submitted through the French embassy, the fees are the same as French visa fees.
You are exempted from paying the visa fee if you are:
- A child between 0-6 years.
- A researcher who is traveling for research reasons.
- A student who is traveling with their school.
- An EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen. Then you and your family members do not need to make the payment for your visa application.
Monaco Visa Processing Time
The processing time for a Monaco visa is around ten working days. However, the processing time depends on several factors, such as:
- When you submit the application form.
- On your age.
- Where you live, etc.
Make sure you submit your application before at least two weeks before your travel date to avoid trip disruptions in case the processing time is delayed.
How Long Can I Stay in Monaco With a Visa?
The duration of a Monaco visa depends on the type of visa you apply for:
- If you apply for a short-stay visa, its duration is three months. You can calculate the period of legal stay in Monaco here.
- If you apply for a long-stay visa, the duration of this visa is one year.
Monaco Visa Extension
You can exceed the three months limit in Monaco, only if you apply for an extension. However extensions are granted only in exceptional cases:
- You have a strong personal reason.
- Your country is facing political problems.
- Force majeure or humanitarian reasons that prevent you from leaving Monaco.
What Can I Do If My Application Is Refused?
However, if your visa for Monaco is rejected, you can:
- Re-apply one more time for the same visa.
- Apply for a visa to another Schengen country.
- Appeal the rejection. You can write an appeal letter to the embassy/consulate of Monaco that refused your visa.
Your Monaco visa can be rejected for many reasons, such as:
- The passport not being in good condition or valid.
- Missing documents.
- Not attending your visa appointment on time.
- Providing false information.
Monaco Residence Permit
If you are planning on staying longer than one year in Monaco, you need to apply for a Monaco temporary residence permit. A temporary residence permit will allow you to stay in Monaco for five years. To apply for a Monaco temporary residence permit, you need to follow these steps:
- Apply for a France long-stay D visa. A France long-stay D visa will allow you to enter Monaco through France. You do not need to apply for a France long-stay visa if you are an EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen; you can immediately enter Monaco and apply for a residence permit there.
- After entering Monaco, you can apply for a residence permit at the Public Security Bureau.
Monaco Residency by Investment
You can also obtain a residence permit by investing in Monaco. However, to obtain a residence permit by investment in Monaco, you need to fulfill the following criteria:
- You must invest at least 500,000 in a business in Monaco.
- You must rent or own a property in Monaco.
- You must have a clean criminal record.
- You must pass an individual interview.
- You must have proof that you have invested in Monaco.
Working in Monaco: Monaco Work Permit
If you want to work in Monaco, you must apply for a Monaco work permit. To obtain a work permit, your employer must help you through the application process. The process is as follows:
- Your employer must apply for a vacancy at the Monaco Employment Service.
- You must have the employment contract endorsed by the Employment Service and submit the contract along with a valid identity document and proof of address to the Employment Service.
- Pay for the fee. You will also need to pay any associated application fee when applying for a work permit.
- You apply for a French long-stay D visa and enter Monaco. After entering Monaco, you need to apply for a residence permit at the Public Security Bureau.
Monaco Dual Citizenship
Monaco does not allow dual citizenship, meaning that you need to let go of your previous citizenship in your home country when applying for Monaco citizenship.
To apply for citizenship in Monaco, you need to live in Monaco for five years with a temporary residence permit and another five years with a permanent residence permit, so in total, ten years. After staying for ten years in Monaco, you can apply for Monaco citizenship.