France Visa Guide

From the romantic city of Paris to the seaside resorts of the Côte d'Azur, France conjures up images of a memorable vacation. France has some of the most beautiful places to visit in the world. Once you set foot in France, you will be delighted to see the plethora of attractions. Its sites are a delight, with fairy tale-like castles, impressive and intricately designed cathedrals, picture-perfect villages, and century-old monuments. Although France has its famous attractions like Eiffel tower and Louvre Museum, one of the most impressive places to see in France is none other than the stunning Palace of Versailles. The stunning images of the Versai is enough to excite travellers to book flights to France with IndiGo.

One of the best things about France is that it falls under the European Union, and a Schengen visa is the only type of visa needed to enter the country. In fact, there are different types of France visas for Indians, so let us read more about how to apply for a France visa and learn about their types below.

To begin your French visa application, you need to first know whether you require a visa. After that is clear, you need submit your application.

• Book an appointment for a Schengen visa to proceed with your application
• Download the application form from their website and fill it out correctly
• Submit all the required documents along with the form
• Once your documents are accepted, you will be called for an interview
• Wait for a response on your visa application; it may take up to 15 days or more

We have a comprehensive Schengen visa guide here which provides detailed information about the visa, how to apply, types of visa and more.

You can check your visa application on the official website by filling out your visa application number and travel document number. The France visa process is simple, and it has a user-friendly website to check the application status.

There are various types of France visas, each for different purposes like tourism, business, and transit.

1. Tourist visa
2. Business visa
3. Student visa
4. Transit visa

If you are planning a vacation in France, you need to apply for a tourist visa. By choosing this visa, you are eligible to explore the cities and attractions.

Eligibility for tourist visa

• Confirmed return tickets
• A passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of departure
• Proof of accommodation
• Copy of the first and last pages of the passport
• Passport-size photograph
• Proof of funds

Tourist visa validity

A France visa for tourism is valid for no more than 90 days. This visa will be issued under a short-stay visa, which is valid for this Schengen country.

Processing time for tourist visas

France visas can take up to ten working days to process. However, it can take up to a month if the information provided is not correct.

If you are planning to travel to France for business-related activities, then you will require a business visa. A business visa for France requires a local company or individual business to provide a copy of the invitation letter.

Eligibility for business visa

• Completed application form
• A passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of departure
• Confirmed return tickets
• Proof of accommodation
• Letter of invitation from the company
• Copy of the first and last pages of the passport
• At least two passport-size photographs
• Proof of funds like a bank statement

Business visa validity

A France visa for business is valid for a maximum of 90 days. This visa will be issued under a short-stay visa, which is valid for this Schengen country.

Processing time for business visas

France visas can take up to ten working days to process. However, it can take up to a month if the information provided is not correct.

To study in France, you need to apply for a student visa. This visa allows a student a short stay of a maximum of three months. However, it can be extended to a long-stay study visa at the embassy in your home country.

Eligibility for a student visa

• Completed application form
• A passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of departure
• Proof of accommodation or rent agreementInvitation/acceptance letter from the university
• Copy of the first and last pages of the passport
• At least two passport-size photographs
• Proof of payment of university fees and student visa fees
• Your bank statement

Student visa validity

The student visa is valid for up to three months within a six-month period. After you receive the passport with the visa, double check the validity period and duration of stay.

Processing time for student visa

The processing time for student visas may take up to 15 working days. However, based on the application and any corrections to be made, the processing time may be more or less than two months.

If you need to apply for a transit visa, while en route a non-Schengen country, here’s all the information you need.

There are three types of France airport transit visa (ATV):

• One-way ATV provides transit through a Schengen country
• Return ATV provides transit through one or more Schengen countries
• Multiple ATV provides several transits through one or more Schengen countries

Eligibility for transit visa

• Completed application form
• Conformed flight ticket for a third country
• A passport that is valid for at least of six months from the date of departure
• Copy of the first and last pages of the passport
• At least two passport-size photographs
• Proof of payment of the visa fee
  

Transit visa validity

The airport transit visa for France is valid for 24 hours.

Processing time for transit visas

The processing time for transit visas is around two weeks. But, for a specific transit visa or in extraordinary situations, it may take 30 to 60 days.