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France

FRANCE VISA
REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS

France visa is called a Schengen visa, an official document mandatory for non-Europeans and other national citizens that allows them to travel to all  29 countries in the Schengen area. To obtain a visa to France there are specific requirements that can vary depending on the type of travel purpose and the applicant's nationality. However, some general requirements are typically mandatory to apply for most visa types. Here are the general requirements for obtaining a visa to France, along with common types of visas and their specific requirements:

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General Requirements: 

  1. Purpose of Visit and its valid proof:
    Provide documents that clearly state the Purpose of your visit and the duration of travel to France, such as a letter of invitation, hotel reservation, proof of enrollment, with a French institution, or a Work Permit Contract with a French Organization. 
     

  2. Valid Passport: (Travel Document)

  • It should issued by your residence Country authority/Government.

  • Must hold a validity of 10 years for adults and 5 years for children below 12 years.

  • It should have enough blank pages for visa and immigration stamps.

  • It should not have any ECR ( 'Emigration Check Required') stamp by the authority and any physical damage.
     

  1. Visa Application Form:
    Need to fill out an individual online visa application form accurately and honestly for each applicant and have to sign the same.
     

  2. Photographs:
    Need to provide recent passport-sized photographs that meet specific requirements, such as size, background color, and other specifications.
     

  3. Travel Itinerary (Tickets)/accommodation:
    Provide a detailed travel day-to-day itinerary, Return flight bookings, accommodation proof or hotel reservations, and planned activities in France.
     

  4. Proof of Financial or  Means of Support: 
    Demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay in France. This can be shown through bank statements, ITR,  sponsorship letters, or other financial documents. 
     

  5. Health Insurance /Travel Insurance:
    Obtain travel health insurance that covers medical expenses, hospitalization, and repatriation for the duration of your stay in France. It should be done from authorized listed companies. 
     

  6. Criminal Record Check: 
    Provide a criminal record check from your country of residence, showing that you do not have a criminal record. 

 

Main Types of Visas and their Specific Requirements: 

  • Short-term Visa (C Type: Upto 90 Days). 

  • Long Term Visa (D Type: More than 90 Days). 

SHORT-TERM (C-TYPE) VISA
UPTO 90 DAYS

It is issued to persons entering France with different purposes and stay (whatever the form), not exceeding 90 days.

 

A) Business:

Purpose: For conducting business activities such as meetings, negotiations, or exploring business opportunities in France. 

 

B) Tourist:

Purpose: To explore the esteemed country as a Tourist.

C) Visiting family or friends:

Purpose: To visit a family member or friend who holds a valid residence permit in France.. 

LONG TERM (D-TYPE) VISA
MORE THAN 90 DAYS

For any stay in France exceeding 90 days, you are required to apply in advance for a long-stay visa. In this instance, your nationality does not exempt you from the requirements. This visa allows individuals to stay in France for more than 90 days for various purposes, such as work, study, family reunion, or retirement. Depending on the purpose of stay, different subcategories of long-stay visas are available. 

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Who can Apply: 

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France offers several long-term visa categories for individuals wishing to live, work, study, reunite with family, or invest in the country. Here are some of the long-term visa sub-categories: 

 

  1. Work Visa (Visa de travail): This visa is for individuals who have a job offer from a French employer and intend to work in France. The visa may be granted for specific employment purposes, such as highly skilled workers, seasonal workers, or intra-company transfers. 
     

  2. Student Visa (Visa étudiant): This visa is for individuals who wish to pursue higher education in France. It allows students to study full-time at a French university or educational institution. Students may also be allowed to work part-time during their studies. 
     

  3. Family Reunion Visa (Visa de regroupement familial): This visa is for individuals who wish to join their family members who are already residing in France. It includes spouses, children, parents, and other dependent family members. 
     

  4. Entrepreneur Visa (Visa entrepreneur): This visa is for individuals who want to start a business or invest in France. It requires applicants to present a viable business plan and sufficient financial resources to support the business venture. 
     

  5. Retirement Visa (Visa retraite): This visa is for individuals who wish to retire in France. It requires applicants to demonstrate stable and sufficient financial resources to support themselves without the need to work in France. 
     

  6. Talent Passport Visa (Passeport Talent): This visa is for highly skilled professionals, researchers, artists, athletes, and other talented individuals who wish to work or pursue specific activities in France. It offers simplified procedures and residency rights. 
     

  7. Investor Visa (Visa investisseur): While France does not have a specific investor visa program, investors may apply for a residence permit based on investment under certain conditions, such as investing a significant amount of capital in a French business or creating jobs. 
     

  8. Visa for Scientific Researchers: This visa is for scientists and researchers who have been invited to work on research projects in France. It allows them to stay in France for the duration of their research activities. 
     

  9. Visa for Artists and Creatives: This visa is for artists, writers, musicians, and other creative professionals who wish to live and work in France. It is designed to promote cultural exchanges and artistic collaborations. 

 

Step 1: 

Please fill out the online application form print it out, sign it, and submit it along with the other documents. 

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Step 2:

Schedule an appointment for the submission of your visa application and submit it at the nearest Visa Application Centre. 

OTHER CONSULAR SERVICES

  • Attestation of documents, Notarization, Legalization and Apostille.

  • Police Clearance Certificate/PCC

IMPORTANT NOTE:- You can apply for said visa 180 days prior to your planned travel date. During the processing time of any Visa type application, respective Embassy/ Consulate holds a right to ask for any additional documents to justify the application purpose.

For detailed information on country-specific visa resources...
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