The French Tourist Visa for your Holiday or Visiting a Family
Applying for a French Tourist visa is necessary if you are travelling on vacation trip or to visit a family living in France.
Usually, you should be able to apply for the necessary French tourist visa online/ at the nearest French consulate in the country of your residence for a stay in France of up to 3 months.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of French Tourist Visa
Before applying for a tourist visa for France, it is advised you check whether you can apply for the French tourist visa.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when obtaining the tourist visa for France:
- You do not expect to perform volunteer work that can otherwise be carried out by a paid worker in France.
- You do not plan to participate in a work relationship in France.
- You do not mean to offer services to French organisations (this is permitted with a French work visa or business visa).
- You do not plan to supply or sell services or products to consumers in France.
- You and your family members are not in debt to the France Government.
- You do not present a risk to the health or safety of residents of France.
- You have the ability to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to finance your visit and return from France.
Do you require a French tourist visa?
It depends on your nationality as well as the type of travel document you are using to travel to France.Please go here to find out if you require a French visa.
Who can request a French tourist visa?
Anybody hoping to go on holiday to France can apply for a French tourist visa.
There are many types of visa for France which you can use as a visitor to France. If you are not exactly sure which sort of French tourist visa you need to apply, please contact the nearest French visa office to obtain additional information as purpose of this web page is to offer you general guide when requesting French tourist visa.
What kind of French visa do I need?
This depends on 3 things:
- The citizenship according to your passport – If the citizenship according to the passport is from a nation that is on visa free travel to France or eligible to make an application for a visa on arrival in France, then you may not require to get a French tourist visa before leaving from your home country. Please click here to confirm if you need a French visa.
- The timeframe of your visit in France – If you want to remain in France for a shorter period less than ninety days, then you can get the French tourist visa. If you wish to stay longer, then speak to the nearby French visa office to secure the appropriate visa for your travel.
- The activities you like to execute in France – If your main reason of taking a trip is for tourism, then you can make an application for all types of French tourist visas stated on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Make An Application For French Traveller Visa
- Visitor visa Form for France – Completed French visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport should be valid for at least six months before going into France and three months after leaving France. It needs to have at the very least 2 extra visa web pages and can not be older than 10 years.
- Passport type photo – Photo must be no older than 6 months and need to be 35 x 40mm in width.
- Previous passport – Supply a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous French visas information if you had any.
- Flight tickets to France – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some circumstances the French visa office may request pre-paid air travel tickets to France.
- Travel insurance coverage – Proof of travel insurance with a minimum cover set by the French embassy provided with the Certificate of Insurance and the table of benefits. The travel insurance coverage should cover the cost of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency should be issued by an insurance provider. If you are thinking about utilizing your credit card travel insurance for your travel to France, please call French consular office for more information and travel insurance coverage requirements for the French visa.
- Original bank declarations – Original bank statements for the last 3 months showing adequate funds to cover your trip in France. If statements are printed online then it has to be Validated (stamped) by the bank officials.
- Hotel Reservations in France – Copy of confirmed hotel reservations including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, duration of stay. In most scenarios, only bookings which are partly or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Employment letter – This letter must be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, confirming your ongoing employment, the status of employment, regular monthly income and yearly leave. Likewise, please offer your three most recent pay slips. If you are self-employed: provide certified copies of company registration, tax return.
- For students. Please give the following:
- Proof of present student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, affirming ongoing enrolment, verifying the payment of tuition fees or any type of scholarships, and confirming semester break.
- Insurance policy from Organisation/University – Offer a letter from the University specifying the purpose, period of travel and confirmation that you are going to be covered by the insurance coverage for the entire trip in addition to the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
In general, visa applications for French visa must be submitted for a maximum of 6 months, and no behind 15 days, before the journey.