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Did You Know That Brazil Has a Border with France? It Sounds Crazy, but It’s True — a Little Piece of Europe Nestled in the Amazon Jungle Where the School is French, the Police are French, and the Currency is the Euro.
A Tropical France Next to Amapá
While many still think that to see a French person you need to cross the Atlantic, there are Brazilians living right next to them, right here in South America. This is because French Guiana, which shares a direct border with the state of Amapá, is an overseas territory of France — meaning it actually is part of France, with all the rights: flag, laws, euro, and expensive baguettes in the market.
The border between Brazil and French Guiana is about 730 km long, which is longer than many internal borders in Europe. There’s more France here on our side than many imagine.
What Is French Guiana, After All?
French Guiana is not an independent country, but rather a sort of French “state” located outside of the European continent. It is part of the European Union, uses the euro (€) as its official currency, and follows French laws. This includes French public schools, modern hospitals, European transportation, and salaries in euros.
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Heading to Brazil in a Bonanza F33 single-engine aircraft: a couple departs from Florida on a visual flight, makes technical stops in the Caribbean to refuel and organize paperwork, and begins the staged crossing until they reach the country.
Entry Allowed: No More Visa Required
Until recently, Brazilians needed a visa to enter French Guiana. But since June 2025, the French government has allowed visa-free entry for Brazilians on short trips.
The aim, according to the French president, is to strengthen ties with Brazil and facilitate transit at the border, but he made it clear: “You can enter, BR, just don’t bring any trouble.”
Can You Live and Work There?
Living? You can manage. Working? That’s a bit complicated. Although entry is free for tourism, you still need legal authorization to work and live there permanently.
But that doesn’t stop many Brazilians from crossing the border in search of better salaries paid in euros. The difference in purchasing power is significant, especially for those living in Northern Brazil.
A Piece of Europe Over Here
French Guiana is, in practice, a little piece of Europe in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. There are supermarkets with French products, police in French uniforms, schools with European curricula, and a minimum wage that makes Brazilians daydream.
So, next time someone says that France is far away, remember that there are French people just across the bush — and that the border is in our backyard.
Did You Already Know That Brazil Shares a Border with France?
Que loucura! Eu não sabia