Visa Information for France

This section gives you all details on visa rules and information. Here, you will find detailed information on all kinds of Visa, rules on visitor policies, visa forms and visa fees.
France is a Schengen State and has some specific visa guidelines. Kindly go through the following note:
Schengen Territory: The citizens of India can get short stay visa for a period that ranges from one to ninety days, which will be valid for all countries of the Schengen Territory i.e. Austria, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), Denmark, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden & Switzerland. The Schengen Convention is an innovative initiative taken for freedom of circulation of people. According to the same, foreigners having a valid stay permit delivered by one of the Schengen states can leave and later re-enter the Schengen Territory without taking visa again, but with a condition that they have a valid passport along with relevant travel document and a multiple entry visa. However, application for visas have to be submitted with the relevant Consular authorities, which are to be determined according to the following criteria
1. If the applicant intends to stay in one country only, the application should be submitted at the Representation of the same country.
2. If the applicant intends to travel to more than a few member States, the application should be submitted at the Representation of the country where the main point of travel lies mentioning the duration of stay.
3. If the main destination cannot be determined, the competent Consular office for processing the application will be one of the countries of the first port of entry into the Schengen Territory.
4. The long term visas are still subject to the Law of the country of destination. They must be applied for at the Consular Authorities of the concerned member of the states.
Note: The French Embassy in India, also issues visas for French Overseas Territories i.e. French Guyana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, New Caledonia, Mayotte, Reunion Islands, Tahiti (French Polynesia), Wallis, St Pierre et Miquelon, and Futuna Islands. The visa applications for these countries are referred to the relevant countries for approbation and it takes about 4 to 6 weeks for the approval to come. The visa fee will be similar in France, only the sticker endorsement on the passport will vary. A significant relaxation for Indian travelers holding a Schengen Visa and flying directly to France with NO stopovers can use the same visa, for the above mentioned territories BUT the entry is restricted directly from FRANCE only. In the absence of the Representation of some African countries, the French Embassy issues visa for them as well. These countries are Central African Republic, Gabon, Mauritania, Monaco and Togo. Visas for these countries are issued by the French Embassy without any reference to the authorities, Only Gabon is forwarded for approval. Visa can also be obtained for Kerguelen the Arctic territory but mainly used by scientist or research.

Tourist Visa

Note: For the visa submission, an Applicant / Agent is required to take prior appointment through VFS site: http://www.vfs-france.co.in/scheduleanappointment.html
 

• The Applicant's original passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of application for the visa. One photocopy of the first and last page of the passport and photocopies of valid visa are required. Passports valid for over 10 years will not be accepted as the main required travel document. The passport should mandatorily have two blank pages opposite to each other.

• Photocopies of valid US, U.K. and previous Schengen visas (only if the case implies)

• Two latest passport size photographs (35 x 40 mm) with white / light background, 70-80% face coverage, photographs taken with a digital camera should be high quality colour and printed on photo quality paper. Photograph shouldn't have any stapler or pin marks that may disfigure the face or background of the photo. Moreover, the photo should be pasted in the specified space.

One duly filled in visa application form with all columns filled.
 

• Mobile number should be mentioned by Applicants on the visa application form. It should be noted that Travel Agents authorized by the Embassy of France should mention the applicant's mobile number on the visa application form and not their own mobile number or travel agency's number.

• Application should be enclosed with a covering letter IN ORIGINAL duly signed by the applicant. In case of self employed / businessman applicants who are going on tourist visa, the covering letter should preferably be given on company's letterhead.

• Application should be enclosed with copy of CONFIRMED prepaid hotel reservation OR sponsorship certificate (attestation d'accueil*) IN ORIGINAL.

• A covering letter signed by the Applicant. For self employed / businessman, traveling on tourist visa, a Covering Letter preferably on Company's Letterhead will be needed (in original).

• A photocopy of ITINERARY prepared by the travel agency (for travelers who are going on tour).

• A photocopy of Applicant's PAN Card should be enclosed with application form.

• Copy of income tax papers of last one year, along with last THREE months bank statement and last 3 months' salary slips.

Photocopy of overseas medical insurance policy + repatriation, evacuation cover (equivalent to 30,000 euros). Applicant need to carry your original insurance for verification at the time of submission of visa application form.
Some of the Approved Indian Travel Insurance Companies providing Travel Medical Insurance for Schengen Visa:
 

• Apollo Munich for the age group of 6 months to 70 years.

• Bajaj Allianz for the age group of 6 months to 70 years.

• Future Generali for the age group of 6 months to 55 years.

• HDFC Ergo for the age group of 3 months to 70 years.

• ICICI Lombard for the age group of 3 months to 51 years.

• IFFCO Tokio for the age group of 3 months to 70 years.

• National for the age group of 6 months to 80 years.

• Reliance for the age group of 3 months to 70 years.

• Royal Sundaram for the age group of 3 months to 70 years.

• Tata/AIG for the age group of 6 months to 55 years.

• Oriental Insurance Company for the age group of 6 months to 60 years.

• United India Insurance Company for the age group of 0 months to 65 years.

Other Requirements:
 

• Applicant need to attach a copy of air ticket or PNR (booking printout).

• All applicants [except first time traveler (traveling first time to a Schengen country) while applying for a French visa need to fill visa insurance undertaking form] with the visa application form.

• For minor travelling alone, the visa application must include an authorization from both his / her parents to travel alone. The authorization has to be attested by an entitled Indian authority and enclose copy of the parents' identity. On the other hand, if the minor is travelling with an adult, other than his / her parents, this adult need to be legally authorized by the minor's parents to accompany him / her and take any measure that would be required in case of illness, accident, etc. If the minor is accompanied by only one of his / her parents, the other one need to give his / her legal authorization to let her / his child travelling with his / her spouse

• For any student under 18, applicants are requested by the French authorities to submit with either a photocopy of certificate from their school or university or any other document as an evidence of their enrollment as a student or apprentice with the application form.

• The photocopy of certificate from school or university or any other evidence of professional or educative occupation is also required whenever a young person over 18 is depending on his parents for his/her living expenses.

• Domestic help at the personal service of a foreign national or a French national, accompanying his employer to France for a short stay needs to hold a working permit, like any foreigner going to work, full time or part time, in France. Submission of a contract established between the employee and the employer in accordance with the French Labour law, approved by the DDTEFP ( Direction du travail, de l'emploiet de la formation professionnelle) center of the employer's place of vacation is mandatory for application for a visa.

• Once issued, the visa is usually valid for 6 months with a maximum stay of up to 90 days.

It is to be noted that the French Consulate Kolkata reserves the right to ask the applicant to produce original air ticket and insurance (if required).
Employed applicants need to submit a letter from the employer with the details of employment and approved leave.
However, the self employed applicants need to submit the proof of business i.e. partnership deed or firm's registration.
Applicants without a job and students need to submit their spouse's / parent's financial papers AND a letter of employment or business.
All faxes must be photocopied and should be of A4 size (paper).
A copy of marriage certificate is needed to be attached with the application form e.g. if wife's passport is in maiden name.
Each application must be supported by a copy of all essential documents. If the applicant has received a fax, he or she must photocopy the same and attach it to the application form.
It should be noted that no visa will be issued on additional pages.
Children would need to travel on their respective passports.
Note: No visa fee is charged for children below 6 years of age and students traveling on study tours.
All fees are non-refundable.
The submission and collection of the visa application and passport from VFS office can be done either by the Applicant or any person with an authorization Letter and a photo-identity.
Note For Applicants applying in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai: One must note that the visa fee for Applicants applying to the France Visa Application Centre in New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai is to be paid by a Bank Draft, payable in the respective cities and favoring 'VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd. A/C No. 24105037330'. Otherwise, Applicants have the option of purchasing the Banking Instrument at the France Visa Application Centre for a nominal fee of Rs. 60/- (inclusive of service tax) per Applicant. Only one Bank Draft will be accepted per Applicant. The courier facility is also available at Rs. 250/- (inclusive of service tax 12.36%) per application (it is an optional facility)