Does an American citizen need a passport to visit France for 5 days?

About 3 people here I need to disagree with. One said if you are coming in from Mexico you don't need a passport or the one saying you need a visa, this only holds true for certain countries and anywhere in Europe isn't one of them. As LONG as you are a US Citizen, I can't account for other countrie. This is partly true. Starting Jan 8th 2007 it will be required for all US citizens to have a passport for Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico (yes Puerto Rico even), Bermuda, S. America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Etc.

Get your applications in NOW because the lines are starting to back up big time. If you apply to late, then you might end up expediting and trust me, that IS expensive.

Yes. You need a passport if you visit any country out of the US.

Yes. An American citizen needs a visa/passport to go anywhere overseas. It doesn't matter for how long either. Even if it's only one day.

Yes

it depends the commun you're planning to live in. But you would have to either get a student permit, a work permit or be under the charge of someone living in France. But usually if you call them or when you arrive there and you go to the commun (city hall) to do the necessary steps to live there they tell you the papers they need and they tell you your options. You will need to show your plane/ferry ticket to prove you entered legally and your passport.

Yes. you need a passport when you leave the US

yes, you need a passport to travel any where outside the United States.

us passport is needed to visit france even for one day

yes, its not for going out of the US, but if you wanna "come back" then you gotta have a valid US passport!!!

you need a passport everytime youleave the country and enter another...unless you are coming in from Mexico