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Documents required / Visa Categories


For all visa applications:
  • The Consulate general of France has the right to ask an applicant any necessary complementary information or document.
  • Photographs : see section About photographs
  • Passport: a full national private passport issued less than 10 years ago, valid for at least more than 3 months beyond the validity of the requested visa, with a blank visa page to affix the visa sticker. If you're in possession of one or more previous passports, it is mandatory to bring it and make copies of the first 5 pages of the passport, including all the pages which contain visas or stamps. (see reminder regarding the validity of the passport when applying a short stay Schengen visa or a long term visa)
  • International Travel insurance for a stay in Schengen area (short stay visa), in France (long stay visa except for Students long term visa) or in the French Overseas Departments or Regions or French Overseas Territories, must cover medical fees and repatriation costs up to 300.000 RMB (30.000 euros). The insurance must cover the whole period of the stay.
  • For all short stay Schengen visa applications : Applicants are required to fill a Complementary questionnaire (to be completed in French or in English and to be joined to the application form) [see Download visa application forms]
  • For all the visa applications regarding an underage, the application form must be signed by the underage's legal representative.
  • For all applicants requesting a visa valid less than 12 months: presentation of a round trip air-ticket reservation(and not an open ticket), valid for the whole duration of stay in Schengen Space, is mandatory.

    Short stay Schengen visa (stay less than three months) :

    Long stay Schengen visa (over 3 months) :

    Long-term visa serving as resident permit (LTV-RP):

      The Decree n°2009-477 of April 27, 2009 has introduced new dispositions regarding long-term visa (valid for 91 days and up to 1 year), which will enter into effect on June 1st, 2009. From this date on, the following categories of visa applicants will be issued directly by the Consulate general of France a long-term visa serving as resident permit (LTV-RP):

    • foreign spouse of a French citizen willing to settle in France (LTV-RP valid one year);
    • study visa applicants except under age students willing to have higher education or minors willing to study in primary or secondary schools (LTV-RP valid from 91 days to 1 year);
    • employees and temporary employees (labour contract from 91 days to 1 year);
    • visitors willing to stay in France more than 91 days and less than 1 year.

      This new visa LTV-RP, issued to applicants willing to stay in France for at least 91 days, will have the following specifications:

    • free movement within France, French Overseas Departments and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon islands(but not other French overseas territoires);
    • serves as a resident permit and allows a duration of stay in France, French Overseas Departments and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon islands (but not in the other French Overseas territories) within the validity of the visa.

    • New procedure from June 1st, 2009 on

      Submission of a LTV-RP application in China:

      No major change in the procedure of LTV-RP submission is to be pointed out except that applicants, who belong to one of the above-mentioned categories of visa applicants and wish to stay in France more than 91 days, will have to provide the following mandatory document :

    • form OFII (Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Insertion – French Office for immigration and integration of immigrants).

      Applicants will have to fill in this form (information requested on the first part of the form) and give the original document when submitting their visa application. If the Consulate general of France issues the visa, the original form, stamped by the French Consulate, will be returned to the applicant.


      After the arrival in France:

      The French Office for immigration and integration of immigrants (OFII) becomes the main interlocutor of the foreigners arriving in France. Applicants who have been issued a long-term visa serving as a resident permit (LTV-RP) will have to keep all the documents issued by the OFII in order to prove, in case of control, that they are legally staying in France. Holder of a LTV-RP will have to send to the local OFII representation , within 3 months from the date of his arrival in France, by mail with notice of receipt (accusé de réception), the original OFII form stamped by the Consulate general of France, copies of the first page of the passport (mentioning identity of the person holding the LSV-RP), the visa sticker issued by the consulate and the stamp showing the date of entry in France. He/she will then receive by mail an official notification from the local OFII representation to complete his registration (give his address, pay a mandatory residence tax and, if necessary, have a medical examination).


      How to renew a resident permit

      At least 2 months before the end of the LTV-RP validity, the holder of such a visa will have to book an appointment at the relievant local prefecture – office for immigrants – to submit a file in order to renew his/her resident permit.
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