Has Anyone Been Fined for Overstaying in France? Real Stories and Legal Risks

What does “overstaying” actually mean in France?

Overstaying basically means remaining in France beyond the period allowed by your visa or visa-free entry. For most non-EU tourists (like from the US, UK, Canada, Australia), that’s 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen Zone. Sounds simple, right? But oh boy, things can get messy fast.

And yes – people do get fined. Sometimes more. But let’s unpack it properly.

Schengen rules vs. French enforcement

France, being part of the Schengen Area, shares border policies with other Schengen countries. So if you overstay in Italy and fly out of Paris, guess what? France is enforcing the same rule.

BUT – France has its own approach when it comes to actually applying penalties. More on that below.

Yes, people have been fined – but it's inconsistent

So, has anyone really been fined for overstaying in France? 100% yes. But it’s... well, kind of a lottery.

Some travelers get away with a warning. Others get a stamp and a €198 fine. A few are slapped with a re-entry ban. It varies wildly, even between two people flying out of the same airport on the same day.

Real-life example: The Canadian couple in Nice

In 2019, a retired Canadian couple spent 5 months in France, loving every wine-soaked second. They thought they could just pay a fine when they left. Surprise! Border police at Nice airport told them they had overstayed by 60+ days and banned them for two years from Schengen countries. No fine, just the ban. They were crushed.

Another story: The American who overstayed by a week

A traveler from NYC missed her return flight and ended up staying 8 days over. She was super anxious at Charles de Gaulle but—get this—the officer glanced at her passport and waved her through with a smile. No stamp, no fine, nada. (She couldn’t believe it either.)

What are the possible penalties for overstaying?

Fines and bans

• Fine: Usually up to €198, though that’s not always enforced.

• Schengen ban: This is the big one. Can be from a few months to years.

• Detention or deportation: Rare, but it has happened — mostly in cases of very long overstays or other legal issues.

It depends on a lot of factors

• Length of overstay (1 day vs. 3 months = very different vibe)

• Officer’s mood (seriously – some are chill, others not so much)

• Airport or border crossing (Paris CDG is tougher than small regional airports)

• Your nationality (let’s be honest – Western passports sometimes get more leeway)

Does applying for a visa extension help?

Sometimes yes, sometimes it makes it worse. France technically allows for visa extensions in limited cases, like illness or serious family events. But just wanting to “stay longer and see more castles” isn’t enough.

And applying doesn’t pause the overstay clock unless it’s formally approved. One guy on Reddit said he applied for an extension in Marseille and got no response for weeks. He left 10 days late and got fined €100. So yeah… risky.

Final thoughts: better safe than sorry

So, has anyone been fined for overstaying in France? Absolutely. But many haven’t. It’s unpredictable, which makes it kind of worse, right?

If you're thinking of pushing your luck — maybe “just a few days” — don’t. France is getting stricter post-COVID and post-Brexit. And a ban from Schengen means not just France, but Italy, Spain, Germany, the whole deal.

And honestly? Paying €7 for an ETIAS travel pass in 2025 is a lot better than getting a €200 fine and a year-long ban because you didn’t check the calendar.

Just saying.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.