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. If you receive a long-stay visa VLS-TS, you will get the residence permit (Carte de Séjour) after you validate it within 3 months of your arrival.
1. Criteria to Check Your Qualification
- 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 (at least €17K)
- Compliance with visa-specific requirements (e.g., admission for students, job offer for workers)
2. 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 rental contract)
- 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)
- A letter explaining the purpose of travel (tourism, study, work, etc.)
- Receipt of visa fee payment
3. Websites for Submission and Appointment
- Go to France-Visas to start your application. Following their step-by-step instructions.
- If you intend to renew your French visa next year, in the field “Expected length of stay in France (Durée prévue du séjour sur le territoire de la France)”, you should not select “Between 6 months and one year (Entre 6 mois et un an)”. Instead, please select “More than one year (Supérieure à un an)”, even if the visa you are applying for is valid for only one year.
- Make an appointment at: 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 the appointment with all documents and biometric data (photo, fingerprints)
- At the appointment, when you are asked, do not choose “Temporary permit” If you plan to renew your French visa next year. Selecting this option will require you to return to your home country to apply for a new visa next year.
- Track application status on France-Visas account
- Collect passport and French visa from visa center or consulate
- Prepare for travel to France
- For a long-stay visa marked as VLS-TS, validate your visa within 2–3 months of arrival. At that time, you will receive your residence permit and pay the tax. Later (1~ 4 months) you will be contacted by the prefecture or OFII to have a health check.