Technical Specifications & Standards
Official chronometric properties, ISO standards, and international database registry identifiers for French Guiana Time:
Daylight Saving Time (DST) Transitions
⬆️ Spring Forward (Clocks Advance)
None (Equatorial latitude)
⬇️ Fall Back (Clocks Return)
None
Observing Jurisdictions & Subdivisions
1 Sovereign NationsSovereign nations, administrative subdivisions, and regional territories officially operating under GFT:
Regional Subdivisions & Territory Details
Financial Markets & Trading Hours
Coordinates commercial satellite launches for Arianespace and the European Space Agency at the Kourou spaceport.
Local Hours: 08:30 - 17:00 GFT
UTC Window: 11:30 - 20:00 UTC
Major Cities in GFT
Primary metropolitan centers and financial hubs observing this time zone:
Adoption History & Astronomical Facts
Year Established: 1911
French Guiana established UTC-3 based on French colonial decrees, standardizing the territory on the western Atlantic time band.
The Guiana Space Centre at Kourou benefits enormously from its location just 5° north of the equator on GFT, where the Earth's rotational speed gives rockets an extra boost into orbit.
Frequently Asked Questions about GFT
What is French Guiana Time?
French Guiana Time (GFT) is UTC-3, observed in the French overseas department in South America.
Does French Guiana observe daylight saving like France?
No. While mainland France observes seasonal DST, French Guiana remains on UTC-3 all year.
What is the time difference between Paris and French Guiana?
French Guiana is 4 hours behind Paris in winter (CET) and 5 hours behind Paris in summer (CEST).