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Applying for a French visa in the United States

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For general information and for preparing, submitting and tracking your application, log on to France-visas , the official website for visa application to France.

France-visas is a single portal with all the information you need to guide you through the process and help you every step of the way (preparing the application, entering details, submitting and tracking the application).

We are currently experiencing unusually high application volumes due to a combination of lifted Covid restrictions and seasonal demand. As a result, the wait time for an appointment at VFS Global is currently much longer than usual. New appointments become available each week. We thank you for your understanding.

The main steps in applying for a visa

Do i need a visa.

Complete your application online and book an appointment with VFS Global

Track your visa application

Waiting times for appointments and for processing applications will vary depending on your nationality and the time of year.

Users are therefore asked to submit their visa applications well in advance of their departure date.

Last modified on 21/06/2023

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All foreign nationals wishing to enter France must be able to submit statutory documents at the border concerning the reasons for their stay, their means of support and accommodation arrangements.

A visa is generally required, in the absence of a waiver. For general information and for preparing, submitting and tracking your visa application, log on to France-Visas , France’s official visa site.

France-Visas is a single portal with all the information you need to guide you through the process and help you every step of the way (preparing the application, entering details, submitting and tracking the application).

The main steps in applying for a visa

Do I need a visa?

First, use “Visa Wizard” on the France-Visas site to check, based on your situation, whether you need a visa and if so, what type. The wizard will also tell you what documents must be enclosed with your application, along with the relevant fee.

Complete your application online

Once you have checked that you need a visa, you can complete your application on our online portal . You will be asked to create an account and France-Visas will support you in each step of the process.

Submit your application to the visa centre.

Once you have completed your online application, all you have to do is submit it to your local visa centre. France-Visas will provide you with all necessary information on how and where to submit your application.

Track your visa application.

Once your application has been submitted, track its progress and find out how and when you can collect your passport and how to prepare for your trip to France.

Waiting times for appointments and for processing applications will vary depending on your nationality and the time of year. Users are therefore asked to submit their visa applications well in advance of their departure date .

Applying for a French residence permit

Holders of an entry and long-stay visa marked “carte de séjour à solliciter à l’arrivée en France” (residence permit to be applied for upon arrival in France) are required to contact the French prefectural authority in their place of residence, in order to apply for a residence permit within two months of entering the French territory.

Family members of a national of an EU Member State, the EEE or Switzerland who wish to submit a request for a “family member of a union citizen” residence permit must contact the competent French prefectural authority, in order to apply for a residence permit within three months of entering the French territory.

Holders of a long-stay visa marked “CESEDA R.311-3” are required to contact the French Immigration and Integration Office (OFII) immediately on arrival in France.

For more informations

Update: March 2020

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Urgent Schengen Visa Procedure

Did you know, 2017 was the strongest year for international tourism to Europe ? Approximately 51 million more people visited Europe that year than in 2016, says an article by Skift Global Forum . The major reason for this massive surge is the smooth visa application procedure to visit 27 different nations, all with a single Schengen visa .

Apply Online

Traveling to Schengen Countries

The Schengen visa application procedure begins with filling up the Uniform Schengen Visa Application Form. This visa takes a minimum of 10-15 working days to be processed. A lot of it also depends on the consulate you are applying at. Countries like Lithuania process applications much faster, within 4-5 working days, as compared to France or Spain , since it received significantly fewer applications. So, if you need your visa processed quickly, choose the nation where you will enter the Schengen Area from and apply for a visa accordingly. There is no rush processing option for this visa.

However, the good news is that, business visas are usually issued faster than tourist visas.

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How to Get Your Schengen Visa Fast 

There are some regions that do not have embassies of their own. They are represented via the embassies of other countries. For instance, Iceland does not have many consulates of its own. Therefore, if you are planning to apply for a Schengen visa from Iceland, you will need to apply at the representative consulate. 

The advantage is that applying to these countries could save you time. Apart from that, make sure you carry all the mandatory documents and fill the application form clearly and accurately to avoid any unnecessary delays.

Documents Needed for Urgent Schengen Visa Application

The mandatory documents required for a Schengen visa include: 

• Filled Application Form : Make sure you fill the correct application form, since the forms for long stays and short stays are different. Filling it up with accurate and complete information is important. Incorrect data might result in visa denial. 
• Photographs : 2 identical photos in passport format are required. The photos should be of high quality and not older than six months.
• A Valid Passport : Your passport should be issued within the last 10 years and have validity of at least 3 months beyond you intended period of stay in the Schengen Area. Other than this, the passport must have two blank pages for the visa stamp. 
• Travel Itinerary : This must include all that you are planning to do in the Schengen zone, along with details of how you are reaching the zone. Supporting documents like round trip tickets or documents of a booked organized tour, etc., are required. 
• Travel Insurance : This must ensure that you have cover of €30,000 within the entire Schengen Area. A confirmation coverage letter should be submitted with the application. 
• A Cover Letter : A cover letter, mentioning all details of your visit, including purpose, duration of stay and so on, is needed. 
• Proof of Financial Means : You will need to prove that you have financial capacity of at least €120 per day through your stay in the area. 
• Accommodation Proof : You need to submit proofs of hotel bookings or anywhere else you will be staying in the area.

Completing the visa application form with the correct data and furnishing the consulate with all the necessary documents can help prevent delays in visa processing.

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Get a France Visa

• When is the best time to apply for my France visa? The best time to apply for your France visa is 1-2 months before your travel date.
• Do I have to send you my passport to get a France visa? Is it safe to send a passport? You will need to send your actual passport, not a copy of it. The France visa is stamped on your passport and will become one of your passport pages. Visa requests cannot be processed without your original passport. Because of the importance of your passport, we strongly suggest that you send your application and passport to CIBTvisas in a secure way, using a traceable courier such as FedEx, UPS, Express Mail or Certified Mail.

Business Visa Application Requirements for a France Visa

Visa Exempt

• Hold a passport valid for at least six months beyond your date of country exit and with one blank visa page
• Hold proof of onward and return flights
• Hold all documents required for the next destination
• Hold documents showing proof of travel purpose (e.g. business cover or support letter, conference registrations, etc.)
• Hold proof of sufficient funds relative to your intended length of stay
• It is recommended that you confirm with your airline that boarding will be permitted without a visa

Tourist Application Requirements for a France Visa

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Have an urgent visa application that carries a tight deadline?   CIBTvisas can help you to save valuable time and avoid expensive delays.  A CIBTvisas expert will review all of your documents to confirm your application is accurate, complete and ready for submission. We will contact you personally to quickly handle any mistakes ensuring your application is submitted correctly.

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Applying for a French visa in the United Kingdom [fr]

Visa applications submitted in the United Kingdom are processed by the French Consulate in London.

For general information and for preparing, submitting and tracking your application, log on to France-visas , the official website for visa application to France : https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas .

Reminder : the French Consulate in London has outsourced the reception of visa applications to TLScontact . Please note that appointments with TLScontact are free of charge - be aware of fraudulent agencies/ websites promising earlier appointments for a fee.

France-visas is a single portal with all the information you need process and help you every step of the way (preparing the application, entering details, submitting and tracking the application).

The main steps in applying for a visa

Do i need a visa.

Complete your application online

Submit your application to the visa centre

Track your visa application

Published on 24/10/2023

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• Easy.   VisaCentral can help.  Our experts are available by phone or email.
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Have an urgent visa application that carries a tight deadline?   VisaCentral can help you to save valuable time and avoid expensive delays.  A VisaCentral expert will review all of your documents to confirm your application is accurate, complete and ready for submission. We will contact you personally to quickly handle any mistakes ensuring your application is submitted correctly.

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With one-on-one consultations, timely reminders, and step-by-step assistance, we’ll make sure every base is covered. You can trust our visa experts to personally manage your applications.

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Start Your France Visa Application Now

• Fast.   CIBTvisas specialises in securing France visas and can help you secure a France visa.
• Easy.   CIBTvisas is the easiest way to get a visa and can secure in as little as one day.  We process France visas at the France Embassy every day for residents of the UK.

France Visa FAQs

When is the best time to apply for my France visa? The best time to apply for your France visa is 1-2 months before your travel date. However, if you are running short on time, we may be able to process your visa on a faster service at the Embassy’s discretion.

Do I have to send you my passport to get a France visa? Is it safe to send a passport? Yes. You will need to send your actual passport, not a copy of it. The France visa is stamped on your passport and will become one of your passport pages. Visa request cannot be processed without your original passport. Because of the importance of your passport, we strongly suggest that you send your application by a secure method, such as a guaranteed postal service or courier.

Sample of the Business Travel Requirements for an France Visa for UK Citizens

If Compliant With Brexit, You May Enter As A Business Visitor

• Hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with two blank pages and issued in the previous 10 years
• Hold proof of sufficient funds
• Hold proof of onward/return travel
• Hold proof of valid travel insurance that includes medical cover
• Hold all documentation required for your next destination
• Carry with you a Support Letter issued by your company. To obtain such a letter, visit: https://cibtvisas.co.uk/business-support-letter
• Confirm with your means of transport (airline, train, etc.) that boarding will be permitted without a visa as these conditions are subject to change
• Meet the criteria for entry and return based on the most recent entry regulations and health requirements. Consult our Entry Guide at https://cibtvisas.co.uk/health-requirements for the latest guidance.

Sample of the Tourist Travel Requirements for an France Visa for UK Citizens

Visa Exempt

• Hold proof of onward/return airline tickets
• Hold documents showing proof of purpose of trip
• Hold all documents required for the next destination
• Confirm with their airline that boarding will be permitted without a visa as these conditions are subject to change
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