French business travellers are privileged: their passport opens the doors to most business destinations, according to a study recently published by Kayak.fr. The online travel search specialist has compiled data on some 200 countries, and has come to the following conclusion: " French travellers are fortunate to have access toone of the most advantageous passports in the world in terms of mobility: in fact, it ranks Ranked 3rd worldwidetied with Italy, Spain, the UK and Finland, according to the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index 2016." . Sweden and Germany dominate the rankings of the most internationally recognised passports.
The Kayak infographic looks region by region at the different situations faced by business travellers during their professional trips. It appears that Africa is the most problematic destination in terms of formalities. The majority of countries on the African continent require a visa, which also has to be obtained in advance. More complex, the destination is also more expensive. Africa is said to have the most expensive visas for French passport holders. Kayak cites the example of visas for Mauritania (120 euros), Mauritania (120 euros) and Mauritania (120 euros). Cameroon (115 euros) and Equatorial Guinea (110 euros).
Conversely, North America, Latin America and Europe would be the most dynamic regions. regions most accessible to French business travellers. Across the Atlantic, only two countries require a visa: Cuba and Suriname. In Europe, only Russia and Belarus require a visa.
" Having a good knowledge of the administrative procedures for entering each country can help travellers choose their destination and itinerary to suit their budget and departure dates. "says John-Lee Saez, Kayak Regional Manager for France, Spain and Austria.
However, this state of affairs is not set in stone - quite the contrary. Kayak points out that " Prices and procedures are subject to change according to the political decisions of each state. ". There have been some notable developments recently at Canada, where an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is required since this summer. It should be noted, however, that the government has just extended until 9 November 2016 the " leniency period "This gives French business travellers a further reprieve. The procedure has also changed in Qatar, which now offers greater flexibility. The local authorities have justextend the duration of the free transit visa from 48 to 96 hours. This is good news for business travellers who want to take advantage of a stopover in Doha to a few extra hours of bleisure.
