A French visa is a legal document allowing entry and stay in France, issued based on purpose and duration. Types include short-stay Schengen visas (up to 90 days within 180 days for tourism, business, or visits) and long-stay visas (over 90 days for work, study, or family reunification), valid up to 1 year. The Carte de Séjour (residence permit) differs as it’s required for long-stay visa holders to validate their stay after arrival (within 3 months) or for stays beyond the visa’s validity, granting residency rights and renewable annually. Apply for visas via france-visas.gouv.fr; Carte de Séjour via prefectures.
1. Documents You Need to Prepare
- Valid passport (issued <10 years ago, 2 blank pages, valid 3 months after leaving Schengen Area)
- Completed visa application form (CERFA)
- Recent passport-sized photos
- Proof of travel insurance
- Proof of accommodation (e.g., hotel booking or host’s invitation letter)
- Proof of financial means (e.g., bank statements)
- Travel itinerary (e.g., flight bookings)
- Documents specific to visa type (e.g., admission letter for students, work contract for workers)
- Translations of non-French/English documents into French
- Receipt of visa fee payment
2. Criteria to Check Your Qualification
- Purpose of travel (tourism, study, work, etc.)
- Main destination in Schengen Area is France (duration-based)
- Valid travel document meeting passport requirements
- No prior overstays in Schengen Area (check via Visa Calculator if stayed in last 6 months)
- Sufficient financial resources for stay
- Compliance with visa-specific requirements (e.g., admission for students, job offer for workers)
3. Websites for Submission and Appointment
- Submission: France-Visas (france-visas.gouv.fr)
- Appointment: VFS Global (visa.vfsglobal.com) or TLScontact (tlscontact.com) depending on your country
4. Processing Time
- Short-stay visa: 2 weeks to 6 months
- Long-stay visa: 2 weeks to 3 months
- Varies by nationality, season, and visa type
- Apply 15 days to 6 months before departure (short-stay) or 3 months (long-stay)
5. Next Steps
- Attend appointment with all documents and biometric data (photo, fingerprints)
- Track application status on France-Visas account
- Collect passport from visa center or consulate
- For long-stay visas marked “carte de séjour à solliciter” or “CESEDA R.311-3”:
- Contact prefecture or OFII within 2–3 months of arrival to validate residence permit
- Prepare for travel to France