The application procedure for visas to France : how does it work?


Prepare a visa application

To obtain your visa to France, you should reach out to the visa service of the French consulate or embassy of your country of origin. You need to choose the type of visa you are applying for.

Short-stay visas

A short-stay visa applies to you if you are coming to France for less than 90 days, for one of the following reasons:

  • For tourism
  • To visit family members
  • For a business trip or a professional mission
  • For your studies or an internship
  • For medical care

A short-stay visa for France costs 60 euros (35 euros for some countries *); some applicants may apply for free, in particular the spouses of French citizens, students and teachers. This type of visa is common to all the states of the Schengen area. By obtaining this visa, you can move freely in the 26 countries of the Schengen area during the period covered by the visa.


Long-stay visas

This type of visa applies to you if you are coming to France for more than 90 days, for one of the following reasons:

  • To join one or more family members who live in France
  • To work or for a professional mission
  • PFor your studies or an internship

A long-stay visa for France coûte 99 euros, but may be free for some applicants (in particular spouses of French citizens and students). Unlike short-stay visas, long-stay visas are not valid for the Schengen area, but only for France.


Filing for a visa

You must file your application with all the supporting documents listed in the information notice, usually available on the website of the embassy or consulate you are reaching out to. Be careful not to forget any supporting document, because an incomplete application is automatically refused You must also pay the visa application fee at the time you submit your application.

Whatever the type of visa, you should wait at least 15 days for a response on your visa application, and a maximum of 2 months. If you do not have any answer within 2 months after your visa application, it means that your visa has been denied.. Do not panic! We have the solutions for you.

You applied for a visa and it was denied?

GetMyVisaToFrance can assist you in your appeal process to help you get your visa.

*Armenia Azebaïdjan, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and the owners of ordinary passports of Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia.