how to get a french visa

Is getting France visa easy?

The process of getting a French Visa is not easy, nor quick. You can complete the application process for a France visa by following the steps listed below: Choose the right Embassy. Compile the documents file.

How much does it cost to get a visa in France?

How Much Does a French Visa Cost?Visa typeFees in EuroFees in DollarsShort Stay8088.43Short stay visa for French Overseas Department or Region8088.43Short stay visa for French Overseas Territories1516.70Student Visa5055.605 more rows

How long does it take to get a visa to France?

The Campus France application for approval (step 1) process takes either 3 days with expedited processing or up to 3 weeks for regular processing. The visa application process may take a minimum of 2-3 weeks after you have had your in-person appointment at the Visa Application Center (VAC).

Can I stay in France for 6 months?

Reminder: The temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T) is valid for 4–6 months. It applies to foreign nationals who wish to stay in France to attend a short educational programme, work as an artist or stay in France without working.

How much money do I need in bank for Schengen visa?

Bank statement – this needs to show a minimum balance of €3000 over the last 6 months. If you do not have this amount in your bank, you could show a family member's/guardian's statement instead, with an accompanying letter stating that they are sponsoring your travel and stay.

How much bank balance is required for France visa?

The minimum balance required for France is Euro 65 / day (if you show hotel reservations for the entire stay) or Euro 120 / day (for the number of days you do not show proof of hotel reservation). You should provide the details of bank account which is your salary account.

What documents are required for France visa?

The visa application file must include the following documents:Three long-stay visa application forms;Three passport photographs;A valid passport;The long-stay visa fees;A letter explaining why you are applying for a return visa;Proof of address in France (utility bill, etc.)

Is France issuing visas now?

Diplomatic and consular posts are now once again issuing visas, with all posts processing applications based on the classification of the countries and in accordance with their ability to meet health conditions.

Which countries need visa for France?

Who needs a France DROM long-stay visa?European Union member countries.European Economic Area (EEA) member countries.Switzerland.Monaco.Andorra.

How can I move to France without a job?

Your opportunities for moving to France without a jobFreelancing. As a freelancer in France, you'll be working for different companies rather than being permanently employed. ... Teaching English. Armed with good grammar and an email address, you can teach English from the comfort of your home. ... Start a business. ... Find a job.

What happens if you overstay 90 days in France?

The Schengen law states that you can't stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days. If you do, you're subject to a fine and possibly deportation and being banned from re-entering the Schengen Area.

How long can I live in France without a visa?

90 daysU.S. citizens planning to enter and visit France as tourists do not require a visa. Citizens are permitted to remain in the country a maximum of 90 days.

How much does a 5 year Schengen visa cost?

Details of the costs involved are below. In January 2020, the fee for a standard Schengen Visa increased from €60 to €80 ($90), to ensure the Schengen Area's member countries can better cover the cost of processing applications.

How do I get a 5 year Schengen visa?

5-year MEV is granted to people that have obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for at least two years within the previous three years. This visa permits you to enter 26 countries in Europe as many times as you wish, within five years, as soon as you do not violate the 90/180 days rule.

How long is a long stay visa in France?

3 monthsLength of stay and validity Typically, long-stay visas are valid for 3 months. In any event, they may not be valid for more than one year (as in the case of a 'VLS-TS' long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit).

Do I need a visa for France from UK 2022?

British citizens do not require a visa if spending up to 90 days over a 180 days period in the Schengen area. You may however be asked like any other third country nationals to justify your travel by the Immigration Officer (means of living, address of stay, medical travel insurance…).

How to apply for a visa in France?

Download the France Visa Application form, fill it completely and with sincerity. You can also fill the France Schengen Visa application form electronically and then print a hard copy .

Who does and who doesn’t need a Visa to enter France?

Not every foreigner and not for every territory of France applies the same visa policy. As such, visa exemptions are greatly influenced by dissimilar factors, where the major ones are: foreigner’s nationality, the territory of France that the applicant seeks to visit, foreigner’s residence status in Schengen Area or specifically in France, the purpose of visit, as well as the duration of stay.

How long can a French citizen stay in Uruguay?

Uruguay. Nationals who can enter the French Overseas Territories WITHOUT a French Visa but CANNOT stay more than three (3) months or ninety (90) days there, come from the following countries: Schengen Area member countries, Andorra, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Monaco,

How much does it cost to get a short stay visa in France?

If required a short-stay or airport transit visa for France the application fee is 60€ (unless otherwise stated on the visa sticker)

What is a medical visa in France?

France Visa for Medical Purposes is destined for foreigners who need to enter and stay in a French territory temporarily to get medical treatment in a medical institution located in French territory . Typically this visa type is issued to foreigners who cannot get the appropriate healthcare in their home country.

What is a cover letter for a French embassy?

French embassy/consulate also requires the confirmation of coverage letter as the proof of coverage to be submitted along with other requested documents and France visa application. A cover letter stating the purpose of a visit to France and itinerary. Flight ticket reservations.

What age are children allowed in France?

Children of 6-11 age (not including French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte and French Southern and Antarctic Lands

How to Apply for a France Visa?

The process of getting a French Visa is not easy, nor quick. You can complete the application process for a France visa by following the steps listed below:

What Type of France Visa Should I Apply For?

Finding out what type of French visa you need to apply for is actually a pretty easy process. A France Schengen visa is issued to foreigners that wish to visit France, the French territories or another Schengen area country for less than 90 days within a 6-month period.

How Many Times Can I Enter France With a Schengen Visa?

Based on the times a person is allowed to enter Schengen and the number of countries a person is allowed to enter, the France Schengen visa is grouped as follows:

What Can I Do in Case of a French Schengen Visa Refusal?

In case of a refusal of a Schengen visa for France, you can submit a request for a re-evaluation of the application to the French embassy or consulate. Such a request should be done if you have strong reasons to believe that the visa refusal was unjust.

Can I Work on a French Visa?

Naturally, French short-stay visas are not meant for getting a paid job. Foreigners wishing to get a long-term visa for getting a paid job in the French territory, they need to first find a sponsoring employer who will provide for them an approved (stamped) work contract by the DIRECCTE, as this document is required for visa application.

What is a LTV visa?

Limited Territorial Validity Visas (LTV) – are the visas that do not allow their holder to visit any other Schengen country, aside of France when issued by the French embassy or consulate in their home country.

What is a temporary work permit in France?

France Temporary Work Permit. A France Temporary Permit is a must for people coming to France to engage in paid activity under a French Schengen visa. Only those coming to work in France under the following purposes are exempt from this requirement: sporting, cultural, artistic and scientific events.

How much does it cost to get a French visa?

The fee for a French tourist visa is €80.

Where Should I Lodge my Application for a France 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:

Who needs a France Tourist Visa?

Whether you need or you 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.

How long is a French tourist visa valid?

The validity of your visa depends on the French embassy that issued it to you. The maximal validity of a French tourist visa can be three months, within half a year.

What to see after getting a tourist visa in France?

After you receive your France tourist visa: Make a list of the places you want to see in France. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Arch of Triumph, these are of course things every person in France with a tourist visa wants to see. Yet, you should know that traveling from one place to the other will take time.

What is a French consulate?

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 neighboring country, to which French authorities in your country of residence have outsourced visa submission.

How long is a passport valid in France?

Your valid passport. It must have been issued within the last 10 years and valid for a minimum of 3 months after the end of your planned stay in France. The passport must have at least two blank pages in order to be able to put the visa sticker on it. Copies of older visas.

What to do before visiting the French diplomatic office?

Reservation of an appointment with the French Diplomatic Office is the first thing to do before visiting the diplomatic office, since in this appointment, you will be actually submitting your visa application package.

How long does a passport have to be valid in France?

A Valid Passport. The Passport of the visa applicant must be valid at least three months beyond the return date, as well as it needs to have at least two blank pages. *Note: Rules of entry and stay in France might change depending if you possess a regular, a diplomatic or an official duty passport.

What is a cover letter for a trip to France?

Covering Letter. A one or two-page document signed by the applicant, stating the purpose of your visit to France, including the travel program. This is a separate written or printed sheet, where you include information about the days of travel, about means of transportation, destinations, addresses and so on.

Do you need a copy of a French passport to get a visa?

The French diplomatic office will only require you to present a copy of a booked round-trip flight ticket, instead of buying the actual flight ticket before obtaining the visa. This document must involve information about the airline company, your name and identity details, destinations, flight number, days and hours.

How long does a humanitarian visa last in France?

This is a visa for people who wish to engage in humanitarian work in France, for up to one year and more than three months. If you are planning to obtain such a visa, keep in mind that you will have to start the visa application process through a French Foundation or Association recognized by the French authorities as registered charity / public utility.

How long is a passport valid in France?

Before you apply, check your passport for its validity and date of issuance. It must have been issued within the last 10 years and valid for a minimum of 3 months after the end of your planned stay in France. The passport must have at least two blank pages in order to be able to put the visa sticker on it.

What is a French tax clearance?

French tax clearance. Issued by the French Inland Revenue if the applicant has been a resident in France within the last 10 years.

How long can a sportsman stay in France?

Every sportsman or sportswoman that wish to enter and remain in France for up to one year have to follow some procedures in order to be permitted to engage in sports activities. If the applicant is employed and will receive a salary for the activity they are engaged in, they will have to apply as a “salaried employee”.

What professions are not allowed in France?

There are some professions, which are not authorized to the non-EU nationals as bailiffs, notaries, judicial administrators and insurance general agents, etc. Others as doctors, lawyers, architects, etc. will need authorization from the relevant professional body. Therefore make sure to check what you will need to do to engage in your profession in France, before applying for this type of visa.

When do you pay visa fee?

Pay the visa fee on the day of your interview and save the receipt you get, since you will need it after to present it to the consular officer as a proof for having paid the fee.

Who approves a work contract in France?

Work contract. The original work agreement alongside with a copy of it must be submitted, approved by the DIRECCTE. Once approved, the OFII will inform the employer, and then forward the approval to the competent French consulate.

Where can I get a French visa?

You can apply for a French Visa at the VFS Global Center in San Francisco if you are a permanent resident of any of the following: northern California, northern Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, or the islands of Pacific under American jurisdiction – Guam and Samoa.

How to submit a France visa application in the US and How to Book an appointment?

fill in your visa application on-line (your visa application form will be automatically filled in and available for printing);

Where can I apply for a French visa in Miami?

You can apply for a French Visa at the VFS Global Center in Miami if you are a permanent resident of any of the following: Florida, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands or the US Virgin Islands. Filing an application at VFS Global in Miami.

How long can a US citizen stay in France?

As a US citizen you can stay 90 days in any 180-day period in France and within the Schengen area. Please keep in mind that: The date of entry is considered as the first day of stay. The date of exit is considered as the last day of stay. For entry requirements, please read US citizens traveling to Schengen Countries.

How long is a passport valid in France?

Please make sure: your passport has been issued within the previous 10 years, your passport will be valid for at least three (3) months after the date you exit France or the Schengen Area.

How to prove financial sufficiency in France?

Generally, there are several recognized ways to prove your financial sufficiency: A personal bank statement indicating your financial movements (for at least 3 last months) Credit card. Cash.

Where to request an attestation d'accueil?

If you are invited by a friend or family member you must submit: a original and copy of “Attestation d’Accueil” that your host has to request at the City Hall (Mairie) in France

Visas Specific to Certain Circumstances

As a family member of a national of a European Union Member State, European Economic Space state, or Switzerland, subject to visa requirements, and holder of a short-stay visa, you will be able to apply for a residence permit once in France.

In which cases is a long stay authorised without a visa?

Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican may stay in the European territory of France without a visa for longer than 90 days.

When will France-Visas be available for students?

As of April 7, 2021, France-Visas will provide students with the possibility of sending digital copies of their supporting documents when completing their visa application online. This optional procedure will allow an accelerated process by the external service provider (ESP).

What is a long stay visa in France?

You will be issued with a long-stay visa, equivalent to a residence permit for studies, which you must validate following your arrival in France.

What do you need to include in an étudiant concours visa?

In your “étudiant-concours” (student examination) visa application file, you must include your invitation to the entrance examination and proof of the serious nature of your studies.

What is a student visa?

Students travelling under a European Union programme, a multilateral programme with mobility measures in one or several European Union Member States or under an agreement between at least two higher education institutions in at least two European Union Member States are issued a specific visa marked “Student - Mobility”.

How long do you have to provide a temporary address for a visa?

For your visa application, you must provide a temporary address for the first three months of your stay or your permanent address if you have already found accommodation. Important: conditions may vary depending on the country.

How much does a higher education institution cost in France?

These fees vary depending on the establishment i.e. from a few hundred Euros to over 10,000 Euros per annum for certain private establishments.

How many hours can a foreign student work in France?

The law authorises foreign students to work 964 hours, which corresponds to 60% of normal working hours in France (except for Algerian nationals whose working time is limited to 50% of normal working hours in France).