Réunion
Phone Code
+262
Capital
Saint-Denis
Population
860,000
Native Name
La Réunion
Region
Africa
Eastern Africa
Timezone
Réunion Time
UTC+04:00
On This Page
Réunion is the French overseas department in the south-western Indian Ocean — 800 km east of Madagascar, 200 km south-west of Mauritius — built around volcanic mountains, roadless wilderness treks, protected coral lagoons and a Creole culture rooted in three centuries of Indian Ocean trade. It is part of France and part of the European Union, but it sits outside the Schengen Area — the single most consequential entry distinction for visitors. EU citizens enter freely with a national ID card, no time limit. UK and US passport holders enter visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism or business, on a passport valid at least three months past the planned departure date and with proof of an onward or return ticket. A short-stay Schengen visa issued for mainland France does not grant entry to Réunion unless it is specifically endorsed for the DOM, so travellers needing a visa must apply through the French consulate covering their country of residence and request the overseas-department endorsement.
Réunion entry rules and visa policy
Réunion applies French immigration law as an integral overseas department, but with one decisive difference from mainland France: it is outside the Schengen Area. A short-stay Schengen visa issued for France or any other Schengen state does not authorise entry to Réunion unless it has been specifically endorsed for the French overseas departments — the single most-missed fact for travellers. See the visa categories below for the specific entry conditions for EU/EEA citizens, visa-free nationalities and long-stay visas.
Common Visa Types
EU/EEA free movement
Citizens of EU and EEA member states — including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and so on — enter Réunion freely with a national identity card or passport, with no time limit on the length of stay. The same applies to Swiss nationals under the EU-Switzerland free-movement agreement. Suitable for tourism, extended stays, retirement, study, work, and permanent relocation; no visa or residence permit is required for the stay itself, though anyone settling for the long term will register with the local préfecture in the usual French way.
Visa-free short stay (up to 90 days)
Tourism and business visits for nationals of countries that hold a visa-waiver agreement with France — including the UK, the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and many others. Requirements: passport valid at least three months past the planned departure date, an onward or return ticket, sufficient funds for the duration of the stay, and a yellow-fever vaccination certificate where the traveller's recent itinerary triggers the requirement. The 90-day allowance covers Indian Ocean island vacations, volcano hiking on Piton de la Fournaise, multi-day trekking through Cirque de Mafate, beach and lagoon stays on the western coast, and short business meetings.
Long-stay French visa (visa de long séjour)
For stays beyond 90 days — work assignments, university or research enrolment, family reunification, retirement settlement, or any other long-term project on Réunion — applicants whose nationality is not visa-exempt apply at the French consulate competent for their country of residence. Supporting documentation typically includes a passport with adequate validity, an employment contract or admission letter from a French institution, proof of accommodation on Réunion, comprehensive health insurance, evidence of sufficient financial means, and a criminal-record certificate where required. Processing times vary by consulate and visa category; apply at least eight weeks before the planned arrival, and explicitly request a visa valid for the French overseas departments rather than mainland France only.
Travel essentials for Réunion
Réunion is one of the most dramatic islands in the Indian Ocean — a French overseas department that delivers European infrastructure alongside one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes. Piton de la Fournaise, the roadless Cirque de Mafate, and the protected western lagoon each offer a completely different side of the island, while a Creole food and music culture drawn from three centuries of Indian Ocean trade ties it all together. Euro is the currency, French standards of safety and infrastructure the baseline, and direct flights from Paris put this remote volcanic island within reach of a single connection.
Discover Réunion
Réunion's southern shield volcano erupts on average every nine months and has done so reliably for the entire span of human record-keeping on the island. What sets it apart from Etna or Stromboli is the visitor infrastructure: the Route des Laves climbs the eastern flank past the 2007 lava field that buried the RN2 and reformed the coastline, while from the western approach the Route Forestière winds up to the Pas de Bellecombe at 2,311 m. From the viewing platform a marked trail descends into the Enclos Fouqué caldera and crosses the lava plain to the rim of the Dolomieu crater itself — a four-to-six-hour return walk through a landscape that resembles nothing on earth except, perhaps, the surface of Io. The Maison du Volcan at Bourg-Murat puts everything in geological context, and the Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise, run by the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, livestreams real-time tilt and seismic data so that visitors can plan around eruption phases.
Ways to Experience This Destination
One of the world's most active volcanoes, erupting multiple times per year. The marked trail from Pas de Bellecombe descends into the Enclos Fouqué caldera and crosses lava fields to the crater rim — a viscerally dramatic hike through an alien landscape. The RN2 provides road access to the trailhead, making this reachable without a guide.
The only cirque in Réunion with no road access whatsoever — entry is on foot via steep mountain passes or by helicopter. The interior is dotted with Creole hamlets (îlets) where families run gîtes for trekkers. Multi-day circuits crossing into the adjoining Cirque de Cilaos or Cirque de Salazie are among the finest trekking routes in the French-speaking world.
Réunion's western coast is protected by a fringing coral reef creating a calm lagoon ideal for snorkelling, paddleboarding, and swimming. Saint-Gilles-les-Bains is the main resort hub; Saint-Leu hosts a world-class surf break. The Hermitage and Boucan Canot beaches are among the finest in the Indian Ocean.
Réunion's food culture blends French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Malagasy influences into a distinct Creole cuisine. The Saturday morning markets — particularly the marchés forains of Saint-Paul and Saint-Pierre — are the best entry point: carry (curry) stalls, rougail saucisse, bouchons, samossas, and dozens of bottles of rhum arrangé infused with local vanilla, passion fruit, and lychee.
Two further glacially carved mountain cirques, each dramatically different in character. Cilaos is drier and produces Réunion's only wine and a distinctive lentil; Salazie is lush and misty, home to the Grand Ilet valley and the cascade du Voile de la Mariée. Both are reachable by spectacular mountain roads and serve as bases for long-distance hiking trails.
Money & Currency
Euro (EUR)
Currency code: EUR
Practical Money Tips
Euro (EUR) — Réunion is a French Overseas Department (DOM) and full eurozone member since 1999; no currency exchange needed from France, Belgium, or other eurozone countries; GBP, USD, and CHF exchangeable at banks and bureaux de change in Saint-Denis and Saint-Pierre; full French banking system: BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Caisse d'Épargne, Crédit Agricole, LCL, Banque de La Réunion; SEPA transfers from EU banks at no extra cost
Réunion is a French Overseas Department (Département d'Outre-Mer) and full eurozone member since 1999. Travelers from France, Belgium, and other eurozone countries need no currency exchange — the Euro is the official currency. GBP, USD, and CHF are exchangeable at major banks (BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Banque de La Réunion, Crédit Agricole, LCL) and bureaux de change in Saint-Denis (the capital) and Saint-Pierre. SEPA bank transfers from EU banks incur no extra international fees. Réunion operates under the full French banking and regulatory framework, including FDIC-equivalent deposit guarantees.
ATMs widely available throughout Réunion — BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, Caisse d'Épargne, La Banque Postale, Banque de La Réunion in Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul, Saint-Gilles-les-Bains; always withdraw in EUR; Wise and Revolut work well; remote areas (Cirque de Mafate, high mountain trails) are cash-only — carry sufficient EUR before hiking
ATMs are widely available in Réunion's main towns and tourist areas. BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, Caisse d'Épargne, La Banque Postale, and Banque de La Réunion have branches and ATMs in Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul, and Saint-Gilles-les-Bains. Always withdraw in EUR. Wise and Revolut work well at all bank ATMs. Important: the Cirque de Mafate (inaccessible by road — hiking/helicopter only) and high mountain trails are completely cash-only. Carry sufficient EUR before any multi-day trek. Remote gîtes (mountain lodges) often accept cash only.
French-standard card infrastructure — Visa and Mastercard accepted widely in tourist areas, hotels, supermarkets, and restaurants; Apple Pay and Google Pay work very well (full French banking compatibility); no tipping — service compris under French hospitality law; contactless payments widely used; remote areas and mountain gîtes are cash-only; American Express less accepted outside major hotels
Réunion has French-standard card payment infrastructure. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in tourist areas (Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre), hotels, supermarkets (Carrefour, Leclerc, Jumbo Score), and most restaurants. Apple Pay and Google Pay work very well — full compatibility with French banking apps (BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Société Générale). No tipping required — service is included (service compris) under French law. Contactless payments are widely used. Remote gîtes in the Cirques (Mafate, Cilaos, Salazie) and small local snack bars may be cash-only.
More expensive than mainland France due to island isolation premium: budget guesthouse Saint-Gilles EUR 60–100/night; mid-range hotel EUR 120–250/night; restaurant meal EUR 14–30; rougail saucisse or carry at a local snack EUR 8–12; Piton de la Fournaise hiking free; mountain gîte dinner and bed EUR 40–60/person (essential in Mafate — cash only); no tipping (service compris)
Réunion is more expensive than mainland France due to island supply chain costs and import taxes. Budget guesthouse in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains or Saint-Leu: EUR 60–100/night. Mid-range hotel: EUR 120–250/night. Restaurant meal: EUR 14–30. Local snack bar (rougail saucisse, carry poulet, samossas): EUR 8–12 — outstanding value for local cuisine. Piton de la Fournaise volcano hike: free entry. Mountain gîte in Mafate or Cilaos (dinner, bed, breakfast): EUR 40–60/person — book well in advance and bring cash as most gîtes are cash-only. No tipping — service is legally included in all bills.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
Only if it's specifically endorsed for the French overseas departments — a standard Schengen visa for mainland France, even a multiple-entry one, does not cover Réunion by default, so request the DOM endorsement explicitly when applying if Réunion is on your itinerary.
Sturdy hiking boots and multi-day trekking basics are enough — no technical climbing equipment is needed — but book gîtes well ahead for the dry season, since there's no way to arrange accommodation once you're already inside the roadless cirque.
Yes, under normal conditions — the marked trail to Piton de la Fournaise's crater rim is closed by park authorities whenever eruption risk rises, and the Observatoire Volcanologique publishes real-time monitoring data, so access is actively managed rather than left to visitor judgment.
Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.