For every visitor wishing to visit France with the purpose of tourism for a period shorter than 90 days, Depending on your nationality, a visa is required when intending to travel to France. All visas must be applied for prior to departure at the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.
The French Tourist visa permits you to stay in France for 90 days at most per a period of 180 days. Aside from the cases when your visa is marked as a Limited Territorial Validity visa, in general, you are permitted to travel with this visa to the other Schengen countries within that period.
WHO NEEDS A FRANCE TOURIST VISA?
Whether you need or do not need a short-stay visa to visit European France or its overseas territories, collectivities, departments, and regions, it all depends on your nationality.
If you are a national of Andorra, Monaco Switzerland, or any of the European Union member states or the European Economic Area member states, then you do not need any type of visa to enter France as a tourist and remain there.
You will not need to obtain a French tourist visa either if you are a national of one of the countries listed on the French embassy website If you do not belong to any of the countries mentioned and listed above then you will probably have to obtain a visa in order to be allowed to enter France.
REQUIREMENT TO GET A FRENCH TOURIST VISA
Before one applies for a French tourist visa one should:
- Valid passport
- At least 2 blank pages
- With the applicant’s signature
- Not more than 10 years old
- Valid for at least 3 months after the expiration of the requested visa
- Previous passport, if applicable
- Passport-sized photos
- Size 3.5 x 4.5 cm
- Plain white background
- Taken within the past 6 months
- Forward-facing with facial features visible and clear
- Completed application form
- Travel Itinerary or plan
- Proof of return to the country of residence or forward ticket to another country
- Reason for travel to France
- Flight reservations
- Proof of financial means (bank statements over the last 3-month period, personal properties, and/or other assets)
- Proof of accommodations (with booking reference number, location, and contact number of the hotel)
- Travel Itinerary. This is a document that shows what you will be doing in France when you will arrive and when you will leave, and includes proof of arranged transportation
- Proof of Accommodation in FranceIt can be a hotel/ hostel booking, or a letter of invitation if you are planning to stay over at friends or relatives.
- Means of subsistence. Proof that you have the financial means to cover your whole stay in France and other Schengen countries if you are planning to. This could be: a bank statement no older than three days covering the last three months or a scholarship certificate stating how much you will be receiving during your whole stay.
WHEN CAN I SUBMIT THE APPLICATION
Submitting the application file at the right time is crucial for a positive outcome on your France Tourist Visa application. According to the France tourist visa rules the earliest that you can make the application is six months before your booked flight to France.
On the other hand, the latest you can do so is two weeks before the date of your intended trip.
WHERE TO APPLY FOR THE TOURIST VISA
According to the French authorities in your country of residence and how they have regulated visa admission, you may have to submit your application at:
- The consular section of the French embassy in your country.
- A French consulate in your country.
- A third-party visa-processing center, to which France has outsourced visa submission in your country.
- The French embassy/consulate/visa processing center in a neighbouring country, to which French authorities in your country of residence have outsourced visa submission.
COST OF GETTING A FRANCE TOURIST VISA.
- Short-Stay Visa (Schengen Visa): Approximately €80 for adults, €40 for children aged 6 to 12, and free for children under 6 years old.
- Long-Stay Visa: Typically ranges from €99 to €200, depending on the specific type of long-stay visa (e.g., student, work, family reunification).
- Other Fees: There may be additional fees for processing or services, depending on the consulate or visa application center.
It’s important to check the official French consulate or embassy website for the most current fees and any specific conditions that may apply, as these can change.
ON THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT
On the day of your appointment, show up on time at the France embassy, consulate or visa application center. Getting there late might result with the cancellation of your appointment, and then you will have to schedule another appointment and wait for your turn.
Wear something you will be comfortable with, but that looks a bit more official. Try not to be nervous. Arrange your documents prior to your meeting with the consular officer, so you will not have a mess in your hands during the meeting. The interviewer will ask some questions regarding your trip to France, the purpose of travel etc. In general, this interview lasts less than 10 minutes.
FRANCE TOURIST VISA VALIDITY
The validity of your visa depends on the French embassy that issued it to you. The maximum validity of a French tourist visa can be three months, within half a year.
Now the embassy may issue you a visa for the required period, i.e. ten days, three weeks, or even three or five days. On the other hand, you can still get a multiple entry 3 months valid visa, in particular, if you are a frequent traveller to the Schengen territory.