France is Europe's second-largest country, with the fifth-largest population. France is the most popular tourist destination globally and has a massive influence on culture, food, and wine. With some of the world's most recognizable sites, world-class art and architecture, delicious gastronomy, lovely beaches, flashy ski resorts, lovely countryside, and an astonishing amount of history, France entices visitors of all ages.
Some people travel to France simply because it is one of the most beautiful countries globally, with delicious food and hundreds of cheeses. Others come to France for the shopping, tourist sites, beaches, or special seasonal events like Strasbourg's famous Christmas market.
To visit France and to see its monuments, environment, history, you need a cultural visa.
Enjoy French joys at any time of year, though many say spring is the greatest. Sun worshippers in the scorching south bake from June to early September (summer), while winter sports enthusiasts plunge snow-covered mountains from mid-December to late March (winter). Year-round, there are festivals and gastronomic temptations to organize a trip around.
The most expensive item is lodging: a double room in a mid-range hotel will set you back at least €60 per night, and a top-end hotel would set you back at least €140. Backpackers can get by on €60 a day if they stay in hostels and eat cheese and baguettes; those who choose midrange hotels, restaurants, and museums will spend more than €120.
Lonely Planet has encouraged its readers to walk softly, travel safely, and enjoy the romance of independent travel since 1973. International traveling is increasing at a breakneck pace, and we remain convinced of the benefits it can provide – however, as always, we urge you to think about how your visit will affect the global environment as well as local economies, cultures, and ecosystems.
Application for France visa
Various types of visas will apply to your trip to France, depending on the reason for your visit. You will need to apply for a different France visa depending on whether you plan to visit, study, work, or live in France permanently.
Since 1997, when France joined the Schengen Area as a European Union member state, you can apply for a France visa.
There are the most frequent purposes of the application for France visa:
- Tourist/visitor visa
- Visa for business purposes
- Visa for medical purposes
- Cultural visa, etc.
Suppose you are a citizen of a country that does not have a visa-free travel agreement with these nations. In this case, you will need to apply for a Schengen Visa because France is part of the Schengen Area of European countries that have eliminated border restrictions.
This can be done through French consulates or embassies or visa application centers working on their behalf, such as VFS Global or TLS in France.
How to get France visa?
If you'd like to know how to get France visa and to obtain a Schengen Visa for travel to France, you must provide the following documents for France cultural visa application:
- your travel document(passport)
- an itinerary that explains why you're going on this trip
- a confirmation of lodging
- evidence that you will be able to support yourself financially throughout your stay
- a recent photo
- travel and health insurance certificate proving you are covered for your trip for medical expenses up to €30,000 ($26,855)
Requirements for France visa
- Please fill out the application for France visa completely and honestly after downloading it. You can electronically fill out the application form for France Schengen Visa and then print a printed copy, too
- Two images must be attached; one must be in passport format, and the other must be a current whole-face photograph with a light backdrop. For additional information on the specifications and photo requirements for France visa, click here
- Your passport, as well as documents of any previous visas, must be valid for at least three months beyond the return date. At least two blank pages are necessary for your passport
- A copy of your reservation for your return flight. If not otherwise needed, purchasing a ticket before getting a visa is not recommended
- Confirmation of travel visa insurance coverage of at least 30,000 Euros within France and the whole Schengen area. The French embassy/consulate requires a Schengen travel insurance policy valid in all Schengen countries to apply for a French visa. The confirmation of coverage letter must be presented with the other needed documents and the France visa application to the French embassy or consulate
- A cover letter describing the purpose, a cultural event you are visiting in France
- Reservations for plane tickets. Learn how to secure a flight reservation for a France Visa Application without paying for the flight itself
- Proof of accommodation in France for the duration of your stay. Online hotel reservations in France!
- Validation of civil status (marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, ration card if applicable)
- Subsistence - Proof of sufficient financial resources for the duration of the stay. According to the European Commission, from June 19, 2014, any foreigner wishing to visit France must prove to the France Embassy or Consulate that they have the daily money amount of 120€ if they do not have proof of prepaid lodging when applying for a France Visa. If the applicant has a prepaid hotel, the daily fee is reduced to 65€ for the duration of the covered hotel stay, while the rest is 120€. In addition, if the applicant provides documentation of less expensive kinds of lodging, the fee is reduced to 32.25€ per day
If you are employed, the following documents are:
- Contract of employment
- Bank statement from the previous six months
- Employer's consent letter for leave
- Form ITR (Income Tax Return) or Certificate of Income Tax Deducted at Source (CITD)
If you are self-employed:
- A photocopy of your company's license
- The most recent six-month bank statement for the company
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
If you are a student:
- Proof of enrollment
No-objection certificate from school or university
If events organizers covering your costs:
- Invitation letter with the full address and name of the organization, as well as contact information (phone number, e-mail address), the name and position of the person signing the documents, the purpose of the event, and the role of participants from your country, the duration of stay, and the name of the person or institution who will cover the applicant's travel and accommodation costs
In addition, several required documents are for France's cultural visa application.
How much is France visa fee?
The cost of France visa must be paid at the time of submission. You will receive a receipt after completing the payment, which will demonstrate that the money was made and must be included with the other documents in the application dossier. If you want to learn how much is France visa fee, look through the following table:
Visa type
- Fees in Euro
- Fees in Dollars
- Fees in Rupee
Airport Transit
80
88.43
6301.75
Short Stay
80
88.43
6301.75
Short stay visa for French Overseas Department or Region
80
88.43
6301.75
Short stay visa for French Overseas Territories
15
16.70
1148.80
Student Visa
50
55.60
3829.45
Other Long Stay Visas
99
110.10
7582.30
Long-term visa for an adopted child by a French citizen
15
16.70
1148.80
Children who are applying for short-term visas
40
38.90
2680.60
For African citizens
80
88.43
6301.75
Candidates must pay a fee in addition to the standard cost of France visa for providing their biometric details.
Furthermore, if private subcontracted organizations are in charge of receiving visa applications, an additional administrative fee may be charged.
Those who qualify for a reduced cost of French visa are listed below:
- Short-stay visas are available for children aged 6 to 11 years old for entry into all other French territories, regardless of TAAF – 40 euros
- Short-stay visas for people of Georgia, Kosovo, Russia, and Ukraine, as part of a facilitation agreement with the European Union (EU) (holders of biometric passports only) 35 Euros for entry and stay in France and other Schengen countries
When applying for a French visa, specific categories are exempt from paying any fees:
- Members of a family who are citizens of another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland
- A French citizen's wife or husband
- Diplomatic or service passport holders
- Children under the age of six years old (not including New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte, and French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
- A primary or secondary school student on a study visit to a French school or a student traveling to a French territory for additional academic objectives or educational training
- Those who have received a study grant from the French government
- holders of research grants from foreign governments, foundations, or the EU
- A foreigner who has profited from a youth mobility agreement between France and Canada
- A foreigner who has taken a working holiday due to a France-Japan, France-Korea, France-Argentina, or France-Canada agreement. Columbia has reached an accord
- A teacher who leads groups of students on a study tour or educational training in a French region
- A scientist who does research
- A seasonal employee
- A family reunion for a foreign national of Montenegro, Turkey, or Serbia who is gainfully employed in French territory
- A foreigner who instructs in the French language (not including his family members)
- A teaching assistant and a language assistant
