From September 8 to October 28, 2023, France will host the Rugby World Cup, with games taking place in nine different locations throughout the ten host cities. The event will be the 10th men’s Rugby World Cup and the second time France has served as the host nation following a noteworthy occasion in 2007.
To attend the 2023 France Rugby World Cup in the Schengen Zone, foreign nationals of none Schengen member countries must apply for a short-stay Schengen visa.
Visa Options For Rugby World Cup
If you are subject to the visa requirements of France, you will require a Short-stay Schengen C-Visa.
It is recommended that you apply for your France Rugby World Cup Tickets prior to making your application.
France Rugby World Cup 2023 World Cup Venues
Below are all the venues where the Rugby World cup in France will take place. You can click the names of each venue to visit the official venue page for further information and ticket prices.
France’s national stadium, which was constructed for the FIFA World Cup in 1998, now serves as the home venue for the nation’s rugby squad.
At RWC 2023, Stade de France will host ten games, including the tantalising opener between the All Blacks and the French, semi-final matches, bronze medal, and the championship game will all be played at this stadium.
Fans having tickets to any of those games will have plenty to do off the field of play, including the option to explore nearby Paris’s world-class museums, historic sites, and much more.
Less than two weeks before it played host to the semi-finals of that year’s Top 14 play-offs, the Stade de Bordeaux, the home of the city’s Ligue 1 football team, opened its doors in May 2015.
Bordeaux will host five matches during the RWC in 2023, with Fiji, Ireland, South Africa, Wales, and Samoa having set to participate.
Visitors may nticipate a tranquil stay in the world’s wine capital.
Bordeaux is a World Heritage Site that offers a spectacular fusion of cuisine, culture, and architecture away from the grapes.
The Olympique Lyonnais stadium, which opened in January 2016, has subsequently hosted several international sporting events, including rugby.
The rugby history of the city is extensive. RWC 2007 matches were held in Stade de Gerland, and Lyon OU, a two-time French champion team, is located in the city.
The stadium will host the first RWC 2023 game between Wales and Australia, and with the hosts, France, Italy, and New Zealand, also slated to visit the city, supporters with tickets to Lyon should be in for a treat.
Stade Vélodrome, a historical venue that has undergone three renovations since its opening in 1937, hosted two quarterfinals of the RWC 2007.
Fans will have the chance to visit Marseille, a historic port city on the Mediterranean coast when they aren’t watching rugby.
France, England, Scotland, Argentina, and South Africa have fixtures at this stadium, and two of the quarterfinals will be played here.
FC Nantes plays its home games at Stade de la Beaujoire, which opened in 1984.
Four games are scheduled at Stade de la Beaujoire, with the highlight for local fans being Japan’s match against Argentina on the penultimate day of the group stage.
Stade Pierre Mauroy, which was opened in August 2012 as the residence for Lille OSC, played host to its inaugural rugby match three months later when France defeated Argentina 39–22.
The stadium will host five RWC 2023 pool matches, with hosts France, England, Scotland, and Samoa all spending time there.
Another site for the RWC 2023 is Stade de Nice, the home of Ligue 1 club OGC Nice.
Wales, England, Japan, Italy, and Scotland are among the nations slated to play at Stade de Nice during the RWC 2023.
The match between England and Japan on September 17, 2023, promises to be one to remember as Eddie Jones faces off against the team he led to the RWC 2015.
There will be much for fans to do in this city on the Côte d’Azur between games, from relaxing on the beaches to taking in the local art scene to dining niçoise-style and is located to the west of Monaco.
Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Stade Geoffroy Guichard, the oldest stadium chosen to host the RWC in 2023, was built on September 13, 1931, and has since had three renovations, each taking place before the stadium was used for footballing events.
Stade Geoffroy Guichard will host four RWC 2023 matches, with Australia, Argentina, Fiji, Italy, and Samoa all assured of participating in the “City of Design.”
Stadium de Toulouse, initially constructed to host the FIFA World Cup in 1938, has had three renovations.
Rugby has a lengthy history with the ancient stadium, which has hosted games for Stade Toulousain in the Top 14 and European Champions Cup.
During the RWC 2023, matches involving Fiji, Japan, the All Blacks, Samoa, and Namibia will take place in Toulouse.
Documents Required
The following documentation is needed to obtain a Schengen Short Stay Visa for the 2023 Rugby World Cup:
Completed application form as provided
Two photographs that are the same were taken within the last three months. They must also adhere to the requirements for Schengen visa photos.
A current passport. On the day you intend to leave the Schengen Area, your passport must still be valid for a further three months.
Flight booking details, including your arrival and leave dates from the Schengen Zone and your flight numbers.
Validation of accommodations. You must provide proof of your lodging while in the Schengen region.
Evidence of financial resources, proof of your ability to pay for your stay in the Schengen Area. Statements from your bank accounts show that you have the required fin
Travel itinerary, including your confirmed tickets to attend the Rugby World Cup 2023.
Travel insurance for the Schengen Area. Your Europe insurance should provide for at least of €30,000 for any medical crises, including repatriation in the event of deat
When to apply for a 2023 France Rugby World Cup Short-term Schengen visa
You must submit your application a month before your anticipated journey to the Schengen Area. Your visa application for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France can be submitted as late as 15 days before your trip and as early as six months beforehand. Please be aware that this Visa will be in high demand so you should apply as soon as possible.
You can make an application on our website where we will ensure your documentation is processed to the highest standard and assist you with the entire process including appointment booking.
How long does it take to obtain a short-term Schengen visa?
The average Schengen embassy processing time for a Schengen Short Stay Visa is a minimum of 10 business days. In other words, you can usually expect a response to your application in two weeks or less; however, this may take longer due to the high demand associated with this tournament.
Please be aware that this timeframe may be extended to 30 days and, in exceptional circumstances, up to 60 days during the busiest times of the year when embassies receive a higher volume of applications.
How to apply for a Schengen visa for the Rugby World Cup
- Submit your application on our website
- Allow up to 2 working days for documentation processing (unless you opt for the express service)
- Receive your processed documentation via secure download
- Follow the appointment booking guidance provided (we can book on your behalf if required)
- Gather the supporting documents as per the checklist given to you.
- Attend your appointment and pay the visa fees as advised.
- Receive the result of your application.
Schengen Visa Countries
If you are a third-country national, you will need a visa to enter France for the Rugby World Cup 2023. In fact, you will need a visa to enter any other Schengen country. A full list of countries in the Schengen zone can be found below:
How long is the 2023 France Rugby World Cup short-term Schengen visa valid?
This Visa may be valid for up to 90 days out of every 180 days. However, the embassy handling your application will determine how long your Visa will be valid.
They will grant you a valid visa for three months if they think it is reasonable. But they can still give you a visa that is just good for a week or even less.
Typically, you are allowed to stay there for as long as the tournament lasts (up to 90 days).
When you pick up your documents, examine the Schengen visa sticker attached to your passport for precise details.
People Also Asked...
Tickets for the Rugby World Cup 2023 are only available from the RWC official ticketing website.
You can challenge the rejection; the appeal must be submitted to the consulate that decided to deny the visa within 15 days of receiving the denial notice. The appeal document must be an original and bear the appellant’s original signature, either in person or by mail (not email). However, there might not be enough time to finish the necessary process.
Short-stay visas, also known as Schengen visas, are frequently denied, and it’s usual for applicants to be uncertain of the precise reasons why. If the Consular Office is unable to obtain all the essential information from your completed application, your visa request can be rejected.
There are several reasons why visa requests are denied; the most common among them are the applicant’s criminal history, a damaged passport, the validity of one of the submitted documents, and a lack of sufficient funds to finance travel. Fill out our online inquiry form to lower your application’s likelihood of being denied.
You can usually reapply as soon as you learn your Schengen Visa application has been denied.