Procedure

HOW TO APPLY FOR A VISA TO FRANCE
Step 1: consult our website, ring our call center or come to the France Visa Application Center (FVAC) to get full details about the visa procedure
Step 2: schedule an appointment through our call center or through our website
Step 3: submit your application in the FVAC

The presence of the applicant is mandatory at least once on submission of the visa application file, at the exception of holders of official passports (diplomatic and service passports) and of Public Affairs passports (PAP)

Step 4: track your visa application status on our website or through our call center
Step 5: pick up your passport in FVAC (or sent by courier if previously requested)

1) Visa to go to France

The Schengen visa is issued by the consular representation of the country of the main destination.

For tourism, the competent consulate for issuing the visa is the consulate of the country where the tourist has the longest stay. In case of equal length of stay, the competent consulate is the consulate of the country of the first entry.

In case the trip involves business and tourism, the competent consulate for issuing the visa is the consulate of the country where the business will take place, even if the length of the tourist stay is longer than the length of the business stay.

A Schengen visa allows its holder to enter the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Island, Italy, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland

Since December the 12th 2008, Switzerland is fully part of the Schengen Area countries.The Schengen short stay visas delivered by the Swiss authorities since the 15th of December 2008, give a full access to the other entire Schengen Area countries.

A unique Schengen short stay visa allows his bearer to move freely in 25 European countries.


2) Visa to go to French Overseas Departments and Regions, French Overseas Territories and French Overseas Territorial Communities

The visa applications must be submitted at least 15 days before the date of departure for French Overseas Regions/Departments and at least 17 days before the departure for French Overseas Territories and Overseas Territorial Communities. The documents required are the same as those needed for a visa valid to go to Mainland France.