France Visa – Applying for a Schengen Visa to France

If you’re planning a trip to France, you might need either a short-stay visa (C-type visa, known as a Schengen visa) or a long-stay visa (D-type visa).

Our team of visa experts, with over 10 years of experience, has created a straightforward guide. It breaks down the different visas and eligibility criteria, helping you get ready for your time in France.

How to Apply for a France Visa?

To apply for a Schengen visa to France, follow these steps:

Check if You Need a Visa

Not everyone traveling to France needs a visa. Whether you require a French visa depends on your nationality. Refer to the information below to find out if you need to apply for a visa.

Who Needs a Visa?

You will have to apply for a visa when travelling to France if you are:

Exemptions from Visa Requirements

You are exempt from applying for a visa to enter France if you fall into any of the following categories:

For those exempt from a visa, check out the required documents for entry into France. It’s always good to be prepared!

Understand the Type of Visa You Need

If you’re planning a short visit to France, lasting up to 90 days for tourism, visiting friends and family, or business, you should opt for a short-stay visa, often called a C-type or Schengen Visa.

For visits to non-European territories (DROM-COM), France provides a short-stay national visa.

On the other hand, if your visit has different purposes or extends beyond 90 days, you’ll require a long-stay visa, commonly referred to as a D-type visa.

Short-Stay Visa – Schengen Visa

A France Schengen visa is a standardized visa with a uniform application process. While there is only one type of visa, it can be granted for the purposes as listed below:

Short-Stay National Visa

If you plan to visit France’s non-European territories (DROM-COM), you need to apply for a Short-stay national visa.

It’s important to note that none of France’s territories outside Europe are part of the Schengen Area. These territories include:

1. The overseas départements and regions of France (DROM):
  - Reunion
  - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, and Martinique (three départements in the Americas)
  - Mayotte
  - Saint-Barthélemy
  - Saint-Martin
2. Other local municipalities and territories of the French Republic located overseas (COM):
  - French Polynesia
  - New Caledonia
  - Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
  - Wallis-et-Futuna
  - The French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Long-Stay Visa

If your intended stay in France or in French non-European territories (DROM-COM), exceeds 90 days, you’ll need to obtain a French long-stay visa.

The visa duration should fall within the range of three months to one year. To prolong your stay beyond the visa’s validity, you must request a residence permit at a French prefecture.

Long-stay visas in France are categorized based on the duration of the intended stay.

Temporary Long-Stay Visa: 4 to 6 Months Duration

This visa allows you to stay in France for a maximum period of 4 to 6 months. It is a temporary authorization granted for specific purposes, including:

Short courses,
Engaging in artistic activities,
Visiting (provided you can sustain yourself financially).

While your visa is valid, there is no need to apply for a residence card at the prefecture. However, upon expiration, you must return to your country of origin.

Long-Stay Visa Equivalent to Residence Permit (VLS-TS)

The VLS-TS, or a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit, not only grants entry into France but also allows individuals to reside in the country for a period ranging from 3 to 12 months, eliminating the need for a separate residence permit application.

Various types of VLS-TS are available, including:

Employee VLS-TS: Designed for foreign nationals hired by companies based in France for a duration of one year or more.
Temporary Worker VLS-TS: Intended for employees permitted to work in France for 3 to 12 months, such as those dispatched by a foreign company to provide services at a client company’s site in France.
Research Scientist VLS-TS: Issued to foreigners engaged in research work or teaching at the university level.
Student VLS-TS: Specifically for students.
ICT (Intra-Company Transferees) VLS-TS: For intra-company transferees and their families staying less than 12 months.
Talent Passport VLS-TS: Applicable for stays less than 12 months in the following categories:
- Business investors
- Company directors
- Employees on assignment
- Highly skilled workers (European Union Blue Card)
- Skilled young graduate employees or employees of an innovative new company (jeune entreprise innovante – JEI)
- Researchers
- Founders of a startup business
- Owners of innovative business projects recognized by a public agency
- Performing artists
- Foreigners nationally or internationally recognized as experts in their field (scientific, literary, artistic, intellectual, educational, or sporting fields)

To learn more about long-stay visas, please visit the official website of the French government.

You must specify the reason for your visit during the application process when you complete the application form online; see section 1 below under ‘Details about your plans’.

Remember, having a visa doesn’t guarantee entry; you must meet specific entry requirements outlined by French border officials. Ensure you fulfil these requirements before planning your journey to France.

Determine Where to Lodge Your Application

You can determine where to lodge your French visa application through the official French government website. Simply select your country of residence, and it will direct you to the relevant embassy, consulate or visa center which will accept your application.

You can then book an appointment for your visa application while you are completing the online visa application form. Please see below.

Complete the Application Form

You must complete the online application form and then print it to submit it with the other documents. You must create an online account to start the application process. During this process, you also have to book an appointment to submit your application.

Step-by-Step: Complete the French Visa Application Form

Completing the French visa application consists the following steps:

Details about your plans
Details of your personal information
Details of your last visa
Details of your stay
Details of your contacts in France
Supporting documents
Book the appointment
Download the Cerfa Form

All sections marked with an asterisk (*) are obligatory to be filled out. Please remember to click ‘Save’ after completing each step to ensure that your application progress is saved. Click ‘Next’ to proceed to the next step of the application process.

Section 1: Details about your plans

In the first section, you must provide information about your nationality (e.g., Indian), your place of residence and submission (where you will submit your documents), the type of visa you will apply for, and the main destination (e.g. Metropolitan France or French Territories).

Next, you have to provide information about your travel document, such as what type of document you have (e.g. ordinary passport), how long it is valid for, and which country issued it.

Section 2: Details of your personal information

In the second section, you have to provide information about your gender, marital status, as well as your name, birthday, and place of birth.

Next provide your contact details (residential address, phone number, and email address) and choose your profession.

Once you select your profession, you have to answer the following questions regarding your employer and workplace. If you are unemployed, select Unemployed and you will skip this section.

Section 3: Details of your last visa

In this section, you are required to indicate whether you have held a Schengen visa within the last 59 months and if you have previously provided your digital fingerprints for a Schengen visa.

Section 4: Details of your stay

In this part of the application, you must provide the specific dates when you will enter and leave France, the number of planned stays in France for the coming year, and the number of entries you want.

If there is another reason why you are planning to travel to France, you can select from the dropdown list in this section. If not, just skip it.

Section 6: Supporting documents

When you get to section 6, you will be informed about the documents you need to provide when you attend the appointment.

Submit your application form

Once you complete the application form, submit it and you will be shown the amount you have to pay when you go to the visa application centre or embassy/consulate in your local currency. For example, for India it is as follows.

Schedule Your French Visa Appointment

Once you submit your French visa application form, you will be redirected to the next page, through which you can make a visa appointment with a visa centre or embassy/consulate — you have to make an appointment so you can submit the downloaded application form along with all other required documents.

View Details How to Book the French Visa Appointment

When Should I Schedule My Appointment?

The recommended time for scheduling a visa appointment is at least 15 days before you intend to travel to France, but no more than six months before. Remember that sometimes, there are waiting times for an appointment.

Each French embassy or consulate will state on their website how early it is recommended to apply.

How Long Do I Have to Wait for an Appointment?

There is no specific time how long you may have to wait until an appointment slot opens up for your application. The available appointment times depend on:

The country in which you apply. Each French consulate or embassy has its own processing capacities and policies, which can lead to different waiting times.
Time of year. During peak travel seasons such as summer and holiday periods around Christmas and Easter, waiting times can be significantly longer due to increased demand.

Waiting time may range from a few days to a few weeks.

Prepare the Required Documents

In order to obtain a French Schengen visa, applicants need to follow a standardized set of documents specified in the Schengen visa code, though there may be some variations for each member country.

To meet the short-term stay visa requirements for France, applicants must submit the following documents to the French embassy or consulate or VAC:

Except for the documents mentioned above, you must provide the following documents for specific short-stay visas:

Business: Employed in the service of a foreign or French national – Employer commitment form to pay social contributions.
Cultural, artistic, scientific and sports events, including one-off assignments:
- For audit and expertise missions, certificate of the social security or sworn statement of your affiliation to the URSSAF.
- In the event of recruitment by a French modelling agency: Cerfa form regarding the cooperation agreement for a foreign model to provide one or more services in France, copies of the cooperation agreement and the decree granting a modelling licence.
- Professional work placement: Tripartite internship agreement (“convention de stage”) signed by the foreign employer, the hosting French company and the trainee.
Visiting family: Certificate of Reception (Attestation d’accueil) issued by your host, which must be officially stamped by the city hall.

Make sure you provide all the documents required by French authorities to avoid any chance of your application being refused.

How Much Money Do I Need to Visit France?

To obtain a French Schengen visa, you are required to have a minimum amount of money, depending on your situation:

€65 per day – if you provide a hotel booking.
€120 per day – if you do not provide a hotel booking.
€65 per day for the booked period and €120 per day for the remaining stay – if you provide partial hotel booking.
€32.50 per day – If you are staying with a host.

Attend Your Visa Appointment

You must attend your France visa appointment (that you booked during the online application) to submit your printed application form and required documents, pay the visa application fee, and provide your biometric data. It will take about 20 minutes to complete the application at the visa center or embassy.

Biometric Data

During the appointment you have to submit your visa photo and they will digitally scan your fingerprints. If you have provided these during the last five years, you may be exempt. Children may also be exempt.

The purpose of collecting and storing biometric data is to verify identities and prevent document fraud. This biometric information is stored in the Visa Information System (VIS).

Paying the Visa Fee

When you submit your French visa application, you need to pay the visa fee. The fee for a French Schengen visa is EUR 80.

If you apply through a visa application center, you might have to pay an extra EUR 30-40. Payment methods vary by location, so it’s a good idea to check which payments are accepted ahead of time to make sure you can pay.

Can Someone Else Apply for a Schengen Visa on My Behalf?

Yes, generally someone else can apply on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself. You would have to provide them with an official letter of authorization. However, you may still have to appear to submit your biometric information.

This is not the same as when a visa application center or tourist agency, which is authorized to submit applications to French embassies on behalf of the applicants, applies for you.

Wait for the Visa to Process

Once you submit your application, you will need to wait at least 15 working days for your visa to be processed. Please keep in mind that this processing time can take up to 30 days or more.

Track Your France Visa Application

You can track the status of your France visa application through the official France visa website. Simply select the location in which you submitted your application, and you will be redirected to the relevant tracking tool.

If Your Visa Is Granted

If you receive your visa, you can travel to France within the dates specified in the visa sticker. Your visa can be issued for single, double, or multiple entries. The consular authorities which process your application will decide how long you can stay; visas are issued for a maximum of 90 days but may also be issued for a shorter period.

If Your Visa Is Refused

If your French visa is refused, the reason why it was refused will be stated on the decision letter. Afterward, you have two options on how to proceed:

You can appeal the decision within 30 days. If you believe the reason for refusal is not justifiable, you can submit a decision appeal to the French Deputy Director of Visas. The appeal must be signed and written in French. See how to write a visa appeal letter.
You can apply for a new visa. If the reasons for the refusal were justifiable, then all you can do is apply for a new visa and correct the mistake you made.

Can I Get a Refund of the Visa Fee If My Application Is Denied?

The visa fee is non-refundable, as it covers the costs associated with processing your application, regardless of whether your application is approved or denied.

Collect Your Passport

Depending on which location you submitted your France visa application, you will either be asked to collect your passport personally or they will courier the passport back to you. The French embassy, consulate or visa application center will let you know how to proceed. If your passport will be sent to you via courier, you will likely have to pay the courier fees yourself.

How to Enter France?

Once you have collected your passport, you will see the dates during which you are allowed to enter France on the visa sticker. You must enter and depart the Schengen Area within those dates. When you arrive in France, you must have the following documents with you, which you have to present to the Border Police:

A valid passport. The passport must be issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 more months after the planned departure date; it must contain the visa sticker.
Proof of accommodation. You need a hotel reservation or a certificate of staying with a relative, which has been validated in the town hall. It must cover the entire duration of your stay.
Sufficient financial means. You need to show proof you have enough financial means to cover your stay in France. See “How Much Money Do I Need to Visit France?” above.
Your return ticket or the proof you have the financial means to acquire one at the planned return date.
If you are on a business trip: Any document with details of your profession or capacity as well details about the establishments or organization located in France which are expecting you.
Valid Schengen insurance, valid for the entire duration of stay.
If you are in transit: Proof you meet the entry conditions in the final destination country (stay and accommodation during transit, onward ticket and visa for the destination country).

Entering French Overseas Territories

If you want to travel to French non-European territories, you will be issued a specific short-stay national visa because a Schengen visa will not allow you to enter these territories. The visa permits a stay of up to three months, indicating the territory of the intended stay.

However, if you belong to one of the categories listed below, you can enter without a visa:

European Economic Area (EEA), European Union (EU), or Swiss citizen.
Citizen of the country on the Ministerial orders belonging to each territory.
French or Schengen residence permit holder.
Long-stay Schengen visa holder.
Diplomatic and consular mission personnel holding a diplomatic card issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the validity of a Schengen France visa?

A Schengen France visa is typically valid for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. However, it can be issued for a shorter duration depending on the decision of the consular office. You can use the Schengen calculator to correctly count your days.

Can I extend my Schengen visa?

You can request an extension of your visa, but only for specific reasons. Please note that there is no guarantee that your visa will be extended.

What if I overstay my visa?

If you exceed your visa’s allowed stay in France, you could face serious repercussions such as fines, deportation, entry bans, or even arrest. You must follow your visa’s rules to avoid these consequences.

Can I visit other Schengen countries with a France Schengen visa?

Yes, you can visit other countries within the Schengen Area with a France visa (unless you have a Limited Territorial Validity Visa). However, your primary destination must be France, and the days spent in other Schengen countries will count towards your 90-day limit.

Can I work in France with a Schengen visa?

No, you cannot work in France with a Schengen visa. This visa is typically for short-term visits, tourism, business, or other non-employment purposes.

Can I use a Schengen Visa to travel to a French non-EU territory?

No, you cannot travel with a Schengen Visa to a French non-EU territory. While both are under French jurisdiction, French non-EU territories are not part of the Schengen Area. Therefore, a Schengen Visa issued by any Schengen member state does not automatically grant you entry to these territories.

Other information:

Data Protection

Your personal data during the visa application process is protected and stored in accordance with Articles 13 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation).

If you have any concerns about the security of your data, you can contact the Federal Foreign Office Data Protection Commissioner as follows:

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