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Located in the Western Europe, France is one of the most influential countries in the politics of the European Union and the world. Aside of the French European Territory, the Republic of France also consists of two overseas territories, which are:
The metropolitan France has been part of the Schengen Zone since 1997, when it signed the Schengen Agreement. With an area of 551,695 km2 only in the continent of Europe, France is the top European destination for travellers around the world. With its sea, mountains, historical sites, amazing museums and monuments, food and fine wine, France attracts millions of tourists. A permission to enter France, also allows you to enter the city-state of Monaco and the microstate of Andorra.
Depending on the purpose of your travel to France, there are different types of visas that will apply to the occasion. Whether you are planning to go on a visit, study or work and reside in France permanently, you will have to apply for a different France Schengen Visa, accordingly.
Because of the Schengen zone common travel area, part of which France is, the following will need to obtain a visa when travelling to the French territory in the continent of Europe for short-stays:
Please note that visa policies of French Overseas Territories, Departments or Regions are a bit different from those of the Metropolitan France. Depending on your nationality, you may have to obtain a visa to visit these countries as well.
If you need a visa, then you will have to apply for a French long-stay National Visa. Apply for the long stay French visa type that best corresponds to your purpose of entry to the French DROM or CTOM.
Before starting your France Schengen Visa application, you should check what type of French visa for short-stays you need. According to the reason why you want to enter and stay in France for up to 90 days, you can apply for one of the following Schengen visa types for France:
Holding a French visa is not a guarantee that you will be allowed into France. There are specific entry requirements that you need to fullfill before the French border official allows you into the country.
Remember that these visas permit you to stay in France for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. If you need a visa to stay in France for a longer period, apply for a French National Visa instead.
The statutory documents when applying for a short-term French visa are as follows:
On the other hand, if you have already arranged your accommodation and you do not need to pay anything upon your arrival in France, this amount reduces to €65. Moreover, in case the applicant has cheaper forms of accommodation, the amount decreases to €32.25 per day.
Based on your occupational status, you will need to submit some additional documents when applying for a visa to France, as follows:
If employed:
If self-employed:
If a student:
Minors applying to get a short-stay visa to France or parents applying for their minor child to get a visa will need to add the following documents to their application file:
*Note: When applying at the French embassy/consulate in the home country, the guardian or parent should accompany their underage children.
Depending on your purpose for entry to France, you will need to provide some additional documents. Following, find the extra required documents based on your purpose of travelling to France.
If you need to land in one of the French airports, in order to take a flight to your non-Schengen destination country, you need to submit the following additional documents:
If you are reaching France by sea, in order to catch another vessel to another country, you will need to provide the following additional documents:
When applying to obtain a French Business visa, you must provide the following additional documents:
When applying to get a French Student visa, you must provide the following additional documents:
When applying to get a visa to receive medical care in France, you must provide the following additional documents:
Required Documents for a Schengen Visa to France for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes
When applying to get a French visa for the purpose of attending a Cultural/Sports/Religious Event in France, you must provide the following additional documents:
When applying to get a French visa as the spouse of a French national/citizen, you must provide the following additional documents:
When applying to get a French visa as a member of an official delegation, you must provide the following additional documents:
The French authorities have regulated visa admission and processing differently in countries around the world. According to how the French authorities have regulated visa admission in your country of residence, you may have to apply at one of the following:
Submit your Schengen visa for France at the French embassy/consulate / VAC in your country of residence, only in case:
In any other case, you will have to submit your application at the embassy/consulate / VAC of another Schengen member.
Be aware that to be eligible to apply for a French short stay visa, you must be:
You cannot apply for a short-stay French visa from a country where you are currently on a visa.
The processing time for a French Schengen visa may take up to 15 days. Still, depending on your application for a French visa, this period may be extended up to 30 days or even up to 60 days in exceptional cases.
This is why we strongly advise you to lodge your French short-stay visa application as soon as possible, though not earlier than three months prior to your trip to France.
Passport holders of France visa-exempt countries are allowed to remain in France and the other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within a 180 days period. Please make sure you understand the 90/180 Schengen Visa Rule.
Do not violate this rule, not even for one day. No matter your circumstances, you are not allowed to overstay the 90-day permitted stay per 180-day rolling period. Each situation has applicable penalties for overstaying if you do not comply with the rules.
As for the nationals of countries that still have not signed a visa-free agreement with France and the other Schengen members, they must obtain a visa before heading to France or any other Schengen member country.
Yes, you can extend your French Schengen visa, but only in exceptional cases where new facts and special reasons arise after entry to France. Depending on the type of visa that you hold, you should submit the application for extension with the following authorities:
Yes, your France visa can be revoked in case the competent French authorities conclude that the conditions for issuing the visa are no longer met.
Failure of the visa holder to provide the border officer with the entry requirements may also lead to a decision to annul or revoke the visa, though not automatically.
Due to Monaco-France agreements on visa policies, a France visa entitles you to enter Monaco as well. Besides, no border control is performed between France and Monaco. All of this is regulated by the Franco-Monegasque Neighborhood agreement of 18 May 1963.
The microstate of Andorra performs border controls with France and Spain. Still, it permits travellers to enter its borders with a France short-stay visa only when they hold a multiple-entry visa.
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