Customs and immigration on a private flight to France
Within the Schengen area there are no passport checks. From the UK, the US or the Gulf, the first landing must be at an airport with customs and border police. Here is what that means for your flight.
- Within Schengen
- No passport checks
- From outside Schengen
- Airport with police and customs
- Le Bourget and Nice
- Customs H24
- Cash
- Declare €10,000 or more
How border formalities work
From another Schengen country, no passport checks apply, although customs can still check goods on flights from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. From outside Schengen, such as the UK, the US or the UAE, the aircraft must land first at an airport with border police and customs, where passengers are checked on arrival.
The French AIP requires an aircraft arriving from abroad to make its first landing at an airport with customs, police and health controls, and a departing aircraft to make its last stop in France at one. A flight plan is mandatory for every flight crossing a French border.
Which controls apply depends on where you come from. French customs separates border crossing points for people (points de passage frontaliers) from Union international airports for goods, and an airport needs one or both depending on the origin of the flight.
We arrange the formalities with the arrival airport's handler and confirm them before you fly; see our Paris and Nice pages for the main gateways.
Sources:French AIP, GEN 1.2 entry, transit and departure of aircraft (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026; text valid from 26 May 2016)French customs (DGDDI): note DG 23-028 on Union international airport (AIU) status and border crossing points, issued after December 2022 (PDF)French AIP, AD 2 LFPB Paris-Le Bourget, AD 2.3 operational hours (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026)French AIP, AD 2 LFMN Nice Côte d'Azur, AD 2.3 operational hours (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026)French AIP, AD 2 LFMD Cannes-Mandelieu, AD 2.3 operational hours (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026)
What applies by origin
| Flying in from | Border police (people) | Customs (goods) |
|---|---|---|
| An EU country in Schengen | No checks | No formalities |
| Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein | No checks | Required: baggage counts as goods and can be checked |
| An EU country outside Schengen, such as Ireland | Required | Not required |
| Outside the EU and Schengen, such as the UK, the US or the UAE | Required | Required |
Customs information for each airport is published in section AD 2.3 of the French AIP, or on the approach chart for smaller aerodromes.
Sources:French customs (DGDDI): note DG 23-028 on Union international airport (AIU) status and border crossing points, issued after December 2022 (PDF)SIA, AIC A 27/09: international flights within the Schengen area and to Switzerland (2009)
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Customs hours at the main business aviation airports
| Airport | Customs and immigration (AIP AD 2.3) |
|---|---|
| Paris-Le Bourget (LFPB) | H24 |
| Nice Côte d'Azur (LFMN) | H24 |
| Cannes-Mandelieu (LFMD) | On request |
From the AIRAC cycle of 1 October 2026. Where the service is on request, the handler books it before the flight.
Sources:French AIP, AD 2 LFPB Paris-Le Bourget, AD 2.3 operational hours (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026)French AIP, AD 2 LFMN Nice Côte d'Azur, AD 2.3 operational hours (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026)French AIP, AD 2 LFMD Cannes-Mandelieu, AD 2.3 operational hours (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026)
Notice periods for foreign operators
- Operators from outside the EU generally need prior DGAC authorisation for each non-scheduled commercial flight. For an isolated flight the request is due two working days before departure within the Europe and Mediterranean zone, and eight days for other origins.
- Short series of flights need eight days' notice in the Europe and Mediterranean zone and 15 days otherwise; systematic series need two months.
- Operators from countries in the 1956 Paris multilateral agreement need only a notification for some intra-European flights, such as air taxi flights in aircraft of six seats or fewer, sent at least two days before departure.
- Private, non-commercial flights in aircraft registered in an ICAO state only need a flight plan, with the first landing and last take-off at an airport open to international traffic.
- French and other EU operators do not need this authorisation. We file what is needed and build the notice period into the timing of your quote.
Documents for passengers and crew
- Passports or national identity cards for everyone on board. EU citizens get a minimum check of their document; nationals of other countries get a thorough check on entry and exit, including any visa.
- The aircraft carries a goods manifest in triplicate, a short list of on-board provisions and the flight plan, plus any DGAC authorisation.
- Cash of €10,000 or more carried into or out of the EU must be declared to customs.
- Pets have their own rules; see our guide to flying private with pets.
Sources:Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Schengen Borders Code, articles 5 and 8 (EUR-Lex)French AIP, GEN 1.2 entry, transit and departure of aircraft (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026; text valid from 26 May 2016)Regulation (EU) 2018/1672 on controls on cash entering or leaving the Union, article 3 (EUR-Lex)
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistDo I need my passport on a private flight from Geneva to Nice?+
There are no border checks on flights within Schengen, but carry a passport or identity card: customs can still check baggage on flights from Switzerland, which is outside the EU customs union.
Where can a private jet from London land in France?+
The first landing must be at an airport with border police and customs, because the UK is outside Schengen and the EU. Paris-Le Bourget and Nice list both services around the clock.
Does a private jet need a permit to fly to France?+
The AIP rules on prior authorisation are for operators from outside the EU. Such an operator generally needs DGAC authorisation, two working days ahead for an isolated flight from the Europe and Mediterranean zone.
Do I need to declare cash on a private flight?+
Yes, if you carry €10,000 or more into or out of the EU, under Regulation (EU) 2018/1672.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on 19 October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.French AIP, GEN 1.2 entry, transit and departure of aircraft (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026; text valid from 26 May 2016)
- 2.French customs (DGDDI): note DG 23-028 on Union international airport (AIU) status and border crossing points, issued after December 2022 (PDF)
- 3.French AIP, AD 2 LFPB Paris-Le Bourget, AD 2.3 operational hours (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026)
- 4.French AIP, AD 2 LFMN Nice Côte d'Azur, AD 2.3 operational hours (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026)
- 5.French AIP, AD 2 LFMD Cannes-Mandelieu, AD 2.3 operational hours (SIA eAIP, AIRAC 1 October 2026)
- 6.SIA, AIC A 27/09: international flights within the Schengen area and to Switzerland (2009)
- 7.Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Schengen Borders Code, articles 5 and 8 (EUR-Lex)
- 8.Regulation (EU) 2018/1672 on controls on cash entering or leaving the Union, article 3 (EUR-Lex)
Cleared before you land.
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