http://www.diplomatie.gouv.

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Getting a visa
General information for foreign nationals with ordinary passeports
All foreign nationals entering and staying on French territory must be in possession of a valid entry and stay visa, unless you are exempt from this requirement. The information below applies to foreign nationals who hold an ordinary passport. How do I apply for a visa for an ordinary passport ? Applying for a short-stay visa for an ordinary passport Applying for an entry and long-stay visa Which foreign nationals are exempt from this visa requirement ?

How do I apply for a visa for an ordinary passport ?

The procedure depends on the length of your intended stay : if your stay is equal to or shorter than 90 days in the Schengen Area : you must apply for a short-stay visa if your stay in France is longer than 90 days in France : you must apply for a long-stay visa

Applying for a short-stay visa for an ordinary passport

1. Where do I apply? The short-stay visa is a visa valid for all countries in the Schengen Area unless marked otherwise on the visa sticker. It is often called a Schengen visa. Frances consular authorities, except for a few offices (see decree of 29/12/08), and those of all the other states applying the Schengen Agreement issue Schengen visas valid for France. However, you cannot submit your visa application to the consular authority of any Schengen state - you must submit it to the consular authority of your main destination (the state where you intend to stay longest): if France is your main destination : you must apply to the French consular authority ; if another Schengen state is your main destination : you must apply to the consular authority of that country. If your stay in various Schengen states is of equal length, you must apply to the consular authority of the country through which you enter the Schengen Area. Link to the French embassies and consulates

2. How do I enter the visa department? An increasing number of visa departments receive applicants by appointment only. Please consult the website of the consular office where you intend to submit your application to see the procedures they use. 3. How do I complete my visa application? For a Schengen short-stay visa, you must submit one application for each visa applicant, comprising the following items : 3.1. Items verified before the application fee is charged a passport valid for 3 months beyond the expiry date of the visa requested; a short-stay visa application form completed and signed; photographs (maximum 3) to official standards ; the application fee. The visa application forms for a child under 18 must be signed by a parent or guardian. 3.2. Supporting documents evidence relating to the reason for your stay in the Schengen Area ; evidence of means of support during your stay and your accommodation ; evidence of repatriation insurance ; evidence of your return to your country of residence (return ticket or sufficient personal resources to buy it) ; for children under 18, specific documents ; documentary evidence to convince the consular authority of your intention to leave the Schengen Area when your visa expires. The websites of the diplomatic and consular offices authorised to issue visas for ordinary passports may contain more detailed information appropriate to local circumstances. If so, it is the supporting documents stated there that must be submitted to the consular authority. The consular authority will accept your application as you submit it and will make its decision on the basis of the guarantees and documentary evidence enclosed with your application. 3.3. Additional documents The consular authority may ask you to submit additional documents within a stated period of time in order to process your application. In that case, you do not need to submit a new application or pay a further application fee. 4. Acknowledgement of visa application When you submit your visa application, the official at the cash desk will give you a receipt for the exact amount of the application fee you have paid. This proof of payment is an official acknowledgement (rcpiss) of your application. 5. Collection of biometric data When you submit your application the consular authority will collect your biometric data. This data consists of a photograph and the fingerprints of both hands. Exempt from fingerprinting are children under 12.

6. Application processing and consular decision After you have submitted your application, the consular authority processes it and takes a decision. The consular authority provides an answer as soon as possible, depending on the checks it may have to carry out. There is no point in contacting the consular authority again during this processing period. If you have received no response within 2 months, you may consider that your visa application has been refused (implicit refusal). 7. If the visa is issued A sticker will be placed in your passport: what does the visa sticker mean? Possession of a short-stay visa is a necessary but not sufficient condition for entering the Schengen Area. When you cross the border of the Schengen Area, the border police may require you to show the supporting documents you submitted to obtain your visa. 8. If the visa is refused Your passport will be returned to you with no visa sticker. Your application fee will not be refunded. If your application is refused, you may submit a new visa application without waiting. You will need to complete and sign a new form, enclose identity photographs, pay the application fee and support your application with the required evidence and any new items you may have. 9. Appeal If you have been refused a visa, you may lodge an appeal with the Commission de Recours contre les Refus de Visa (CRRV) within two months of being notified of the refusal or of an implicit refusal: Secrtariat CRRV BP 83609 44036 NANTES CEDEX 1 France

Applying for an entry and long-stay visa

To apply for an entry and long-stay visa, you must : hold a travel document (passport) that is valid for the full duration of validity of the visa ; complete and sign a long-stay visa application form ; enclose with the form identity photographs to official standards. The number of photographs required depends on the consular office where you apply, your nationality and the reason for your stay in France : please consult the diplomatic or consular office ; pay an application fee ; submit supporting documents relating to the reason for your stay in France and your personal situation : please consult the diplomatic or consular office. Additional documents may be required by the relevant authority in order to process your visa application, such as one submitted for a child under 18. Print version

Application forms Visas application forms Visa Photograph Requirements Sticker visa FAQ Visas OFII application form (in French)

Useful links (in French) Ministre de l'Intrieur, de l'Outre-Mer, des Collectivits territoriales et de l'Immigration Service-public. fr : Etrangers en France Douane.gouv.fr OFPRA : Office franais de protection des rfugis et apatrides Office franaise de l'Immigration et de l'Intgration

France.fr

Email us | What's new ? | Subscriptions | Site map | About 2008 French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Entry and stay visas : Application fees Type of visa Airport transit visa or entry and short-stay visa (less than 90 days) valid for France and, except where marked otherwise on the visa sticker, the Schengen Area Airport transit visa or entry and short-stay visa (less than 90 days) valid for a French overseas dpartement or region (DROM): Guadeloupe (including Saint-Barthlemy and Saint-Martin); Martinique; French Guiana; Reunion Island. Airport transit visa or entry and short-stay visa (less than 90 days) for New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte and the French Southern and Antarctic Territories Entry and long-stay visa (more than 90 days) valid for France (with no territorial restrictions) National long-stay visa (more than 90 days) issued to foreign children fully and legally adopted by French nationals as required by their country of origin, valid for Metropolitan France, overseas dpartements and collectivities (DROM, CTOM). Application fee 60 60

9 99 15

Reduced rate. Application fees for nationals of the following countries-Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine-are set at 35 euros for entry and short-stay visas. No charge. Visa fees are waived for the following foreign nationals : foreign members of families of nationals of other Member States of the EU/EEA and Switzerland (decree of 11 March 1994 modified) ; the foreign spouse of a French national (decree 98-839 of 18 September 1998) ; for easier movement of young people : children under 6 (EC decision of 1 June 2006) ; pupils of primary and secondary classes travelling as part of twinning arrangements between schools, or who undertake trips for the purposes of study or educational training (EC decision of 1 June 2006) ; students and postgraduate students who undertake trips for the purposes of study or educational training (EC decision of 1 June 2006) ; holders of French government study grants ; holders of study grants from foreign governments and foundations and beneficiaries of EU programmes ; beneficiaries of the France-Canada agreement on young peoples exchanges of 3 October 2003 (decree 2004-200 of 2 March 2004) ; beneficiaries of the France-Japan working holidays agreement of 8 January 1999 ; beneficiaries of the France-Korea working holidays agreement of 20 October 2008 ; persons gainfully employed : teachers accompanying groups who undertake trips for the purposes of study or educational training (EC decision of 1 June 2006) ; scientific researchers (EC decision of 1 June 2006) ; seasonal workers (order of 4 March 1994) ; employed workers and members of their families who are beneficiaries of family reunion, nationals of states that have signed a fee waiver agreement for these types of visa (Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey) ; foreign nationals teaching French (but not members of their families); foreign language assistants and lectors. When the visa application is being processed, certain formalities (appointments, application submission) may be carried out by external service providers. Additional fees may be charged. Find out more from the relevant French consulate.