Who can ignore visiting the country which has 246 varieties of cheese? Of course, cheese is not the only thing that makes France worth visiting. France is a country of delicious cuisine, art, and romance. Charming cities of the country attract millions of people to the country per year. Being the most visited country in the world is not extraordinary for France. Every year more than 89 million people travel here to taste fascinating wines and enjoy all the beauties of this mesmerizing land. We are sure that some of our readers have a desire to visit France. So, here is the blog about France visitor visa. In this blog, you will get answers to these questions: how long visitor visa can stay in France, what are the France visitor visa requirements, how much are France visitor visa fees, how long does France visitor visa processing time take, and more.
France visa policy
Before starting to talk about more specific points, let's get some general information about the visa policy of France. Do I need a visa to visit France? Such as in other countries, if you are not from one of the visa-free countries, you must obtain a visa to realize your visit. Depending on the purpose of the visit and planned stay time, you can apply for various visas. In general, we can divide them into three categories: • Schengen Visa - it is a Short Stay Visa • Airport Transit Visa • National Visa – it is a Long Stay Visa People who want to make short visits can apply for a France Schengen Visa. As you know, France is a Schengen area country. There can be various reasons to travel to France: tourism, business activities, visiting family or friends, short-term education, exchange programs, etc. On the other hand, people who want to stay more than 90 days must obtain a national visa. Long-term work and study plans can be a reason to apply for this visa.
How to apply for a visitor visa?
The application procedure is long and sometimes annoying. But, if you want to be successful, you must follow all steps and fit the requirements. You will need to finish the five steps below: • Collect documents that you will need • Fill the online application • Book your appointment • Submit your documents and pay the fee • Wait for processing time
France visitor visa
As you know, only visa-exempt nationalities can travel to France without a visa. All other tourists must get a visa. How long visitor visa can stay in France? A visitor visa will give you a chance to stay in France for a maximum of 90 days every 180 days. Can I travel to other Schengen countries with it? If your visa is not limited territorial validity permission, then you can travel to the other Schengen countries within that period. Which countries are visa-exempt countries? There are 93 countries on the list of visa-free countries. As the list is so long, mentioning all of the countries here is impossible (check the visa policy section on our website for the full list). Some of those countries are: • Antigua and Barbuda • Bosnia and Herzegovina • Brunei Darussalam • Czech Republic • El Salvador • Hong Kong • Marshall Islands • New Zealand • North Macedonia • Saint Kitts and Nevis • Saint Lucia • San Marino • Solomon Islands • South Korea • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines • Timor-Leste (East Timor) • Trinidad and Tobago • United Arab Emirates • United Kingdom • United States of America
France visitor visa requirements
Collecting the required documents is one of the most crucial parts of the visa application process. Minor mistakes in this part may cause big problems. Even it may end with a rejection. To avoid such kinds of issues, all applicants must be so attentive. I recommend you prepare a France visitor visa checklist. France visitor visa checklist will help you plan all of your attempts, and you will see which documents are missing. • Application form. You have a chance to fill it electronically and print a copy. The form must be fully completed, dated, and signed. • Two Photos. Photos should not be older than six months. Other requirements are 3,5x4,5 size, on the white background, colored, the head should cover 70-80% of the photo with clear facial features and eyes. Furthermore, try not to match the background. • Passport. The passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the return date, and it must have at least two free pages. • Copies. You will have to provide a copy of the main page of the passport and copies of previous Schengen visas. • Copy of ID card. The validity of the document must be minimum of three months beyond the date of your travel to France. • Residence permit/visa copy. Such as in the ID card, validity must be a minimum of three months beyond the date of your travel to France. (if the applicant's residency and citizenship are different). • Travel insurance. It has to be valid for the whole duration of the stay (for all Schengen countries) with minimum coverage of 30,000 EURO and repatriation. • Flight ticket reservation. It must show the date of entry and the date of departure from the Schengen area accurately. • Proof of accommodation. It must include all details about the place that you plan to stay during the vacation in France. • Proof of civil status. It includes marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc. • Financial means. You must have a sufficient amount of money to cover all of your expenses during your trip. You will need to have 120 EURO for each day. If you have a prepaid hotel, this amount reduces to 65 EUR/daily for the period of covered hotel accommodation. • Evidence of professional status. It means work contract, certificate of employment, extract from the trade and companies' register, school participation certificate, proof of pension, etc. • Extra documents for minors. If you travel with the children, you must provide some documents related to children.
France visitor visa fees
After providing essential documents, you will need to pay the visa charge. How much does it cost? The fee for the Schengen visas is 80 EURO since 02 February 2020. Applicants may also need to pay other administrative charges such as the visa application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on their nationality and location of documents' submission. Is the payment the same for everyone? No, there are some nationalities that pay discount versions. According to the agreement between the EU and the below-mentioned countries, their citizens will pay 35 EURO to get the visa: • Albania • Armenia • Azerbaijan • Bosnia and Herzegovina • Georgia • Kosovo • North Macedonia • Moldova • Montenegro • Russia • Serbia • Ukraine Special cases Some people are entirely free from the visa charge. It is not only related to France but also to all Schengen area countries. • Children under six years • The spouses, same-sex partners in a civil union, and minor single children of France citizens • Parents of minor France citizens • Family members of EU/EEA nationals • School pupils, undergraduates, postgraduates, and accompanying teaching staff who undertake trips for the purpose of study or training • Representatives of non-profit organizations (25 years old or less) joining in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events arranged by non-profit organizations • Scientists (Researchers) from third countries traveling within the European Community for scientific research
France visitor visa processing time
After providing all required documents, details and paying the charge, you will wait for processing time. I guess such a question appeared in your head: How many days will I wait? Generally, the processing time for a tourist visa is 3-25 calendar days. Still, it may vary depending on the visa application country.
Where can I apply for France visa?
Applicants can realize their applications in visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in their country of residence. If none of them are available in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location, like a neighboring country. I hope the information that you read here will be beneficial during your application process. Follow the rules and try to fit all requirements. May the luck be with you!
