France Travel FAQs: Ultimate Comprehensive Guide

The service is being launched now and will gradually be available online in all countries.

You can find general visa information in French, English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and Russian. As the France-Visas platform launches, more country-specific information will be available in about 40 additional languages.

Your internet program might not work with the France-Visas website. Look at the "Browser compatibility" page to see if your browser is okay or if you need to update it. If the issue still happens and your browser is okay, you should erase your browsing history and try again. To do this, go to your browser's settings and find the privacy part.

To fix the issue, you should go to your browser's settings and clear the cache in the privacy section.

To start your online visa application, go to the "My Account" section and provide your last name, first name, and a valid email address. Choose your preferred language. You'll get an email with an activation link and a temporary password. Click on the link to validate your email, then change your password when you log in. Answer a secret question in case you forget your password. Your account will be activated and you'll have access to all France-Visas services.

Some email programs may not recognize links that span multiple lines, causing them to break and not work properly. If you encounter this issue, try copying and pasting the entire link into your browser's address bar.

To reset your password, click on "Forgot your password?" in the login area and enter the email address associated with your account. Within a few minutes, you'll receive an activation link that will allow you to reset your password.

If you've made too many unsuccessful login attempts, your account will be locked for one hour. After that, you can try logging in again. Alternatively, you can follow the "forgotten password" procedure to reset your password and regain access to your account.

 

If you've deleted your account, you can create a new one in one of two ways:

Within 48 hours of deleting your account, you can create a new account using the same email address.

Alternatively, you can create a new account using a different email address.

You can easily change the language of your account at any time by going to the "My account" section and selecting the option to "Change my account". From there, you can choose your preferred language and save your changes.

To enter the Schengen area, all foreign nationals are required to have a visa, unless they are exempted. The exemption depends on several factors, including the applicant's nationality, type of passport, possession of a residence permit or long-stay visa valid in France or a State that applies the Schengen accords, duration of stay, and the part of the French Republic the traveller plans to visit. However, it's important to note that not being required to obtain a visa or having a visa does not automatically grant the right of entry. Travellers still need to prove the purpose of their stay and their means of subsistence during border controls.

Short-stay visas are generally valid for all the 26 States in the Schengen area unless stated differently on the visa stamp. The Schengen area includes the following countries (in alphabetical order): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland. There are usually no border controls between Schengen countries, except in special circumstances.

It's important to note that the United Kingdom and Ireland are not part of the Schengen scheme. Furthermore, "Schengen" visas do not allow entry to France's non-European territories, as they are not part of the Schengen area. Similarly, visas for France's non-European territories do not allow entry to the Schengen area.

Yes, that is correct. When a foreign national needs a short-stay visa to enter Monaco and the main destination is Monaco, the consulate in France will issue a Schengen visa that is valid for both Monaco and the Schengen area. This means that the visa holder can enter and stay in both Monaco and any of the 26 countries in the Schengen area.

Yes, those are the basic requirements for a long-stay visa application for Monaco. In addition to these, the applicant may also need to provide other documents such as proof of accommodation, proof of financial means, criminal record check, medical certificate, etc., depending on the purpose of their stay and other individual circumstances. It is always best to consult with the Monegasque consulate or embassy for specific details and requirements related to your situation.

Yes, those are additional requirements for the long-stay visa application to Monaco. In summary, the supporting documents needed for the purpose of the trip may include an employment contract signed by the Principality's Employment Department, an application to set up a business or a company, a marriage license for spouses of French, Monegasque or foreign nationals residing in Monaco, and a bank statement showing sufficient means of subsistence. It is also required to submit a copy of the applicant's criminal record and a sworn statement indicating that they have not been sentenced in their country of origin or elsewhere, have not been declared bankrupt, and are not involved in any on-going legal or criminal proceedings.

Yes, proof of accommodation is required as part of the long-stay visa application for Monaco. Acceptable forms of proof of accommodation include a lease or pre-tenancy agreement, a property deed, a proof of residency letter, or a written undertaking by the applicant to produce one of these three documents within three months of their arrival in Monaco.

You should contact your visa place.

That is correct. It is important to strictly adhere to the validity and duration of stay specified on the visa. Overstaying can result in serious consequences, such as being barred from re-entering the Schengen area, fines, deportation, and even legal action. It is also important to note that the 90-day period in any 180-day period rule applies even if the visits are spread across different countries within the Schengen area. Therefore, it is advisable to plan your trips accordingly and keep track of your duration of stay to avoid any issues at the border.

That is correct. A Type D long-stay visa issued by a Schengen country allows the visa holder to travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. However, the visa holder must comply with the conditions of their visa, such as presenting supporting documents and maintaining sufficient means of subsistence. It is important to note that this 90-day limit applies to the total number of days spent in the Schengen area, not just in one specific country.

That's correct. It's important to check whether your nationality requires an airport transit visa (ATV) for transiting through France. The list of countries whose citizens are required to have an ATV can vary and may change from time to time, so it's best to check with the French embassy or consulate in your country of residence for the most up-to-date information.

If you are required to have an ATV, you must apply for it in advance at the French embassy or consulate in your country of residence. If you are transiting through several Schengen countries, you may need to apply for an ATV for each of those countries, depending on their specific requirements.

That is correct. It is important to ensure that you have all the necessary documents and insurance coverage before traveling to France, especially if you have been granted a short-stay visa or are exempt from obtaining one. This includes having a valid passport, supporting documents for your trip, means of subsistence, and the means to return to your country of origin. Additionally, having proper medical insurance coverage is essential to ensure that you are protected against unexpected medical expenses and emergencies during your stay in France.

Click "Submit your application page" before booking a visa appointment. Make sure you need a visa, fill out the application form, and prepare supporting documents.

You No. France specialists don't give visa at your appearance.

Except if excluded from having a visa, you should have a visa given before your appearance in France or inside the Schengen region. As an update, having a visa in your identification doesn't be guaranteed to ensure that the holder will be approved to enter the Schengen region. The boundary police might decline your entry. Must contact your visa place.

You need to complete a new form. You don't have to delete the previous form or your account. Just print out the correct version of the form and include it with the other necessary documents.

Go to this page, please.

The European Commission website made a calculator for the Schengen short-stay visa. You can use it to see how many days you have left on your visa. Remember, you can only stay for a total of 90 days in a 180-day period.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set specific rules for passport photos that must be followed. Here are the mandatory specifications:

To meet ICAO's mandatory specifications for passport photos, the picture must be a current and accurate representation of the person. The photo should be between 35 and 40 mm in width, and the face should be 32 to 36 mm (70 to 80% of the picture) from chin to forehead, excluding hair.

A biometric passport is a type of passport that has an electronic chip. This chip stores biometric information, which can be used to confirm the identity of the passport holder. It uses contactless smart card technology, and the passport information is printed on the data page and also stored in the chip. The biometric passport includes personal data, a digital photo ID, and fingerprints of the passport holder.

To apply for a visa, you need to submit your application to the French consulate or embassy in the country where you legally reside, or with a certified service provider (which may vary depending on the country).

If you are in a different country, you can still apply for a visa, but you must provide a valid explanation as to why you could not apply from your legal place of residence, such as unexpected circumstances. If your explanation is accepted, your visa application may be approved.

The Member State responsible for processing and deciding on visa applications is the one whose territory is the primary or sole destination of your trip.

The processing time for visas can vary depending on the applicant's nationality, the purpose of the visit, and local visa issuing conditions.

To apply for a short-stay visa, the application must be submitted at least two weeks before the planned visit, but no more than six months in advance. Applicants should take care to observe deadlines when appointments are required.

Certain types of visas may require additional checks, such as verifying civil status or consulting with different French authorities. This can result in longer processing times.

Visa applicants are responsible for paying the administrative costs associated with processing their applications, which are €80 for short-stay visas and €99 for long-stay visas. However, certain categories of applicants may be fully or partially exempt from paying these fees, such as children under six years old, children between six and twelve years old, spouses of French nationals, and students whose applications have been reviewed by a study centre in France.

It's important to note that visa fees are non-refundable, even if the application is denied or withdrawn.

 

When applying for travel, use the passport you will use and state your original and current nationality (as shown in your passport) on the application form.

The purpose you indicated for your trip determines which supporting documents you will have to provide to support your visa application. You must choose the purpose of your stay for which specific documents are requested (e.g. letter of invitation, employer attestation, etc.), so the “working” reason should take precedence.

Similarly, if you are coming to France to study and for tourism purposes, the “Studying” reason should take precedence.

If you've had a Schengen visa before and gave your fingerprints and photo, you don't need to do it again if it was less than 59 months ago. Just give a copy of your old visa. But don't forget to include a passport photo when you apply.

The biometric visa number can be in two formats:

XXX000000000, where XXX is the code of the country that issued the visa, and 000000000 is a 9-digit visa number.

D000000000, which is used only for visas issued by Germany, and consists of the letter "D" followed by a 9-digit visa number.

If you're traveling to the Schengen area for tourism or business and will be staying for 90 days or less (unless you're exempt), you need to have valid travel insurance. This insurance must cover the costs of medical repatriation, emergency treatment, and hospital treatment. It's mandatory, and it must be valid throughout the Schengen area for the duration of your stay. The insurance should provide at least €30,000 coverage, including medical repatriation and emergency/hospital treatment.

If you're applying for a Schengen visa for a school group, it's recommended that you contact the consulate for assistance. They'll schedule an appointment for you and let you know where to submit the applications (either through an external service provider or the consulate itself). The visa application is free of charge for school trips.

The visa number is made up of a 3-letter code that represents the country where the visa was issued, followed by a 9-digit number.

If you're being hosted by someone in France, your host must obtain the proof of accommodation document from their local town hall on your behalf. To find out which documents are required, visit the servicepublic.gouv.fr website (available in French only).

The proof of accommodation document is required for people staying with private individuals in France.

When you apply for your visa, you need to have the original document, which must be stamped by the consulate. You'll also need to present it when you enter France.

To show that you have the financial means to travel and cover your expenses during your stay in the Schengen area, you need to provide an acceptable proof of funds. This can include personal bank statements for the last 3 months, the last 3 pay slips, credit/debit card statements, travelers' checks, and other similar documents.

If you have a long-stay visa that serves as a residence permit, you need to validate it within 3 months of arriving in France. This is a simple and quick process that establishes your legal residency in the country. To complete this process, you'll need a valid email address, your visa information, the date you arrived in France, your address in France, and your payment information for the online fee for issuing your residence permit (other payment methods are available, check the website for details).

If you fail to complete this step within three months, you won't be considered a legal resident of France, and you won't be able to re-enter the Schengen Area.

If your long-stay visa indicates "carte de SEJOUR à SOLLICITER" (request residence permit), you must apply for a residence permit at the Prefecture of your place of residence within two months of arriving in France, unless you are a minor (under 18). Minors between the ages of 16 and 18 who work must also apply for a residence permit.

If your residence permit has expired, the consulate cannot renew it. You must go to the Prefecture of your place of residence in France to renew it. However, if you have applied for a renewal, you can still travel with your expired residence permit as long as it is accompanied by a certificate of renewal application.

A return visa is a special type of long-stay visa issued in France under specific circumstances. It is granted to individuals who can prove that they have a French residence permit. However, the granting of this visa is subject to authorization from the relevant police station.

If someone is refused a long-stay visa to enter France, the decision must be justifiable under French and European law. The applicant has 30 days to contest the decision by appealing to the Commission for Appeals against Visa Refusal Decisions (CRRV) located at BP 83609 – 44036 NANTES CEDEX 1. A prior appeal is mandatory and must be justifiable, written in French, and signed before any further appeal to the administrative judge.

For a short-stay visa that has been refused from 1 January 2023, the applicant can contest the decision by appealing before the Deputy Director of Visas at BP 83609 44036 Nantes CEDEX 01. Similar to the long-stay visa appeal, a prior appeal is mandatory, which must be justifiable, written in French, and signed before any further appeal to the administrative judge.

If the applicant has not received any decision within two months after submitting the visa application, it is considered an implicit decision of refusal. In this case, the applicant can appeal before either the CRRV or the Deputy Director of Visas, depending on the type of visa applied for.

If you have a valid residence permit that allows you to reside in France, you do not need an entry visa to enter the Schengen area. However, if your family members do not have residence permits, they must apply for a visa to enter the Schengen area, unless they are exempted.

Foreign nationals who hold a residence permit in France and have reported it as lost or stolen to the local authorities must apply for a return visa from the consulate to enter France again. It is highly recommended that foreign nationals who hold a French residence permit keep the document safe at all times while travelling overseas to avoid any inconvenience or difficulty when returning to France.

If you plan to visit multiple countries in the European Union, the "competent Member State" for processing your visa application is the country where you plan to spend the longest amount of time during your trip. If it is not possible to determine the main destination, then the competent Member State is the country where you plan to enter the EU first.

When someone is visiting multiple countries, the competent Member State responsible for issuing the visa is determined based on the main destination of the journey in terms of duration. This means that the authorized Member State is the one whose territory constitutes the main destination of the journey.

As France is the main destination of your journey in terms of duration, you must apply for your visa at the French consulate, even though you are entering the Schengen area via another Member State. However, it is important to note that you may need to provide additional documentation to demonstrate the purpose of your trip to France and the duration of your stay. It is recommended that you consult with the French consulate or a qualified immigration attorney for further guidance.