Are you dreaming of strolling along the Seine, indulging in exquisite pastries, or exploring the historic landmarks of France while completing your degree? Well, you can certainly make it a reality, but before you embark on your French adventure, there’s one essential step: obtaining a visa.
Navigating the France visa application process can seem daunting, but fear not! To know more about the application requirements and how to tackle this process, you can contact experts in the field. At Western Overseas, you have access to the best visa consultants in the business. They will walk you through everything you need to know to make your visa application smooth and successful.
What kind of French visa should I apply for?
Every year, France hosts a huge influx of tourists and students. Some come here to spend a few days on the French Riviera soaking in the sun, while others explore the delicacies on offer. Some also come to complete their education and start their professional journey.
Now, considering the fact that France was among the first members of the Schengen Zone, bearers of Indian passports are not permitted to visit France without a Schengen Visa. So, you must choose which Schengen visa is most appropriate for visiting France. It will depend on the nature, goal, and duration of your journey.
You can apply for a Short-stay visa, which is also called the Type C (or “tourist”) visa. With a Type C visa, you can spend up to 90 days in France and all 27 Schengen countries.
But, if you plan to stay for more than 3 months, you need to apply for a Long-stay visa.
However, if you are travelling for education, then you need to apply for a dedicated France study visa. It will then come under the provision of a Long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS). With this visa, you can enter France and stay up to 12 months. After that, you need to apply for a resident permit separately, depending on your current situation.
Documents required for French visa application
Those who are eager to travel to France must provide the following paperwork in order to complete the France visa application process –
Original passport: The passport has to have at least two blank pages and be valid for at least three months after the trip
Two photocopies of the address and photo are present on the passport
Visa photocopies for the US, UK, or other Schengen countries, if any, are available
- Recent coloured passport-size photos
- A cover letter that is properly signed
- Photocopy of the hotel reservation document
- A photocopy of the itinerary for the trip
- Evidence of income: This can be provided through copies of IT returns and the most recent three months’ bank statements
- Photocopy of travel insurance policy
- Photocopy of return flight ticket
Apart from these, if you are applying for a France study visa, then you need to submit –
- Documentation of their enrolment
- A certificate of no objection (NOC) from the college
- Existing school or college ID card
How can I apply for a French visa?
The procedure for Indian applicants seeking a visa to France is as follows –
- Make an appointment
The online visa application process for France is available in India. You should make an appointment with the Visa Application Centre using their official website. Appointments are accepted on all weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bangalore are the cities where the visa application centres are located.
- Fill out the application form
You can fill out the application form available on the official France visa website. It is advisable that you create an account on the website. Make sure you enter the right information in this form.
- Verification of the documents
You will receive an interview date from the officials. During this interview, they will cross-reference all the documentation with the information you provided on the application to ensure you meet all the criteria. Make sure you have all the necessary paperwork with you for the interview.
Are you overwhelmed with the whole process? Well, don’t worry, the best study visa consultant, i.e. Western Overseas, is here to your rescue. The experts here will guide you through the visa application process and ensure you attain success.
Things to consider before applying for a visa to France
Here are some tips to help you apply for a France visa successfully –
- While completing your visa application, ensure you enter the details correctly. In case of any incorrect information, your visa approval will face delays and, even worse, may get rejected as well. Therefore, it is wise to double-check your application before submitting it.
- On the interview day, ensure you are at the designated place on time. Since visa interviews are conducted based on the appointment, being late will not send a good message. Also, the interview officials will probably cancel the appointment if you are running late.
- Make sure you dress professionally yet comfortably for the interview. It increases the likelihood that your visa application will be approved and conveys that you take it seriously.
- Be clear in your communication during the interview. Answer the questions clearly and honestly.
Final words
Are you planning to go to France? If yes, then the first step you must take is to apply for a visa to France. Now, depending on the purpose of your journey, you need to apply for the right category of visa.