Documents Required for French Schengen Visa

Documents Required for French Schengen Visa

The statutory documents when applying for a short-term French visa are as follows:

• French visa application form. Fulfil the form with your computer, print it and then sign it at the end.
• Two passport photos. The photos should be identical and taken according to the photograph requirements & specifications for the French Schengen visa application.
• Your valid passport. Make sure your passport is not older than 10 years and that it has a validity of at least three more months beyond the date you plan to leave France and the whole territory of Schengen.
• Copies of your previous visas. If you have ever held a visa to France, the Schengen territory or another country in the world, provide the embassy/consulate with copies of those visas.
• France Travel Health Insurance. Purchase travel health insurance valid for the territory of metropolitan France and all of the other Schengen countries. Provide a document that confirms your insurance covers medical emergencies in this zone with a minimum coverage of 30,000€.
• A cover letter. Explain clearly and truthfully in this letter why you wish to enter France, what you will be doing here during your permitted stay and other details regarding your trip.
• Round-trip Flight Itinerary. If you plan to enter France by air, submit a flight reservation with the dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from France.
• Proof of accommodation. I.e. Hotel reservation for the whole duration of the intended stay in France. Find and Book Hotels in France!
• Proof of civil status. This could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.
• Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in France. You must show evidence you possess the daily money amount of 120€ if holding no proof of prepaid accommodation. On the other hand, if you have already arranged your accommodation and you do not need to pay anything upon your arrival in France, this amount reduces to 65€. Moreover, in case the applicant has cheaper forms of accommodation, the amount decreases to 32.25€ per day.

Additional French Visa Requirements Based on Your Employment Status

Based on your occupational status, you will need to submit some additional documents when applying for a visa to France, as follows:

If employed:

• Employment contract
• Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Leave permission from the employer
• Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary

If self-employed:

• A copy of your business license
• Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Income Tax Return (ITR)

If a student:

• Proof of enrollment
• No-objection certificate from school or university
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If retired:

• Pension statement of the latest 6 months

If applicable:

• Proof of regular income generated by a property for the last 6 months

>> No-objection certificate (NOC) from school or university or from your employer.

Additional French Visa Requirements for Minors

Minors applying to get a short-stay visa to France or parents applying for their minor child to get a visa will need to add the following documents to their application file:

• Birth certificate of the minor travelling to France.
• France application form signed by both parents.
• Family court order. In cases where only one parent has full custody over the child.
• Certified copies of ID/passport of both parents.
• A notarized parental authorization to travel to France, signed by both parents/guardians if the minor will be travelling alone.

*Note: When applying at the French embassy/consulate in the home country, the guardian or parent should accompany their underage children.

Additional Requirements Based on the Purpose of Entry to France

Depending on your purpose for entry to France, you will need to provide some additional documents. Following, find the extra required documents based on your purpose of travelling to France.

Required Documents for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa to France

If you need to land in one of the French airports, in order to take a flight to your non-Schengen destination country, you need to submit the following additional documents:

• A valid visa (if needed) for the final country one is travelling to.
• The flight ticket for the final country you are travelling to.

For more detailed France airport visa requirements, please read the article.

Required Documents for a Transit Schengen Visa to France

If you are reaching France by sea, in order to catch another vessel to another country, you will need to provide the following additional documents:

• A valid visa (if required) for the final country you are travelling to.
• The ticket for the final country you are travelling to.
• Original and photocopy of Seaman’s book (required only for seafarers).
• Letter from the inviting Shipping Company. Issued by the inviting Shipping Company in the Schengen country in which the seafarer will disembark (required only for seafarers).
• Employment contract. Contract with the navigation company/ship in order to board the ship (required only for seafarers).

Required Documents for a Tourist Schengen Visa to France

When applying to obtain a French Tourist visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

• Bank statement. Preferably for the last 6 months.
• Travel Itinerary. A detailed elaboration of your trip, which includes the purpose of travelling, the time frame, activities you will attend, as hotel reservations or proof of other forms of accommodation.
• Proof of how you will be financing your trip to France.

Required Documents for a Schengen Visitor Visa to France

When applying to obtain a visa to visit your friends or relatives in France, you must provide the following additional documents:

• Proof of financial means. Evidence that shows you have enough money to support yourself throughout your stay in France. This could be a:
  • Bank account statement.
  • Sponsorship Letter. When another person will be financially sponsoring your trip to France. It is also often called as an Affidavit of Support.
  • A combination of both.
• Travel Itinerary. Which is a description of your trip to France, including your purpose of travelling to France, entry and exit dates, as well as where you will be accommodated.
• Letter of Invitation. By the relative/friend residing in France, inviting you to visit.
• Proof of relationship with the host residing in France.
• Attestation d’accueil. This is an Accommodation Certificate/Hospitality Certificate issued by the relevant French authorities in your host’s city of residence in France. To obtain this certificate, your host in France must submit the following documents:
  • Proof of identity.
  • A document that proves their status as owner, tenant or occupant of the apartment in France in which they will host you.
  • Proof of last residence (water, electricity or telephone bill or rent receipt).
  • Any document that justifies their financial resources (the previous three pays lips, the last tax return) and its obligation to financially support the foreigner if it has a shortage.
  • Any document about their ability to accommodate you under French standard housing conditions (concerning space, safety, hygiene and comfort).
  • Issuance of Certificate costs 30€ paid with usual tax stamps.

Required Documents for a Business Schengen Visa to France

When applying to obtain a French Business visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

• Invitation letter from the French company you will be visiting and their detailed address accompanied with the dates of your visit.
• A certificate from your employer. In this letter should be stated why you will be travelling to France.
• Business bank statement. Preferably for the last 6 months.
• Memorandum and Article of Association. It should be submitted in original certified copy (registered with joint stock companies).
• Trade License (first issued and present renewal).
• Proof of trip financing. Regarding the applicant’s expenses during their stay in France, either the employer or the partner company must state coverage of expenses on the letter or invitation.

Required Documents for a Student Schengen Visa to France

When applying to get a French Student visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

• An enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses (school/university/language course / etc.) in France.
• No objection letter from the educational institution where you are currently enrolled (if applicable).
• Internship agreement signed between the company in France, the establishment of origin and the trainee.

Required Documents for a Medical Schengen Visa to France

When applying to get a visa to receive medical care in France, you must provide the following additional documents:

• A local medical report. Issued from a doctor/clinic/hospital in your home country, confirming that you need medical treatment in France.
• A medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in France confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation.
• Receipt of paid medical fees.
• Official confirmation of the treatment/appointment by the receiving medical institution (hospital/clinic) in
• Proof that you have sufficient financial means to pay the medical expenses and other related expenses throughout your treatment.

Required Documents for a Schengen Visa to France for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes

When applying to get a French visa for the purpose of attending a Cultural / Sports / Religious Event in France, you must provide the following additional documents:

• Event Information. As:
  • Invitation letter from the relevant body in France with details on the nature of events or activities that are to be held in France.
  • Entry tickets to the event.
  • Enrollment conditions.
  • Detailed programme of the event in France.
  • Other documents that present the Names of the applicants (crew members) and other relevant information about the event.
• Proof of previous performances. Participation in previous festivals and ceremonies (cultural, religious), sports competitions, winners certificates, proof of world/international ranking (sports).

Required Documents for a French Schengen Visa for the Wife/Husband of a French Citizen

When applying to get a French visa as the spouse of a French national/citizen, you must provide the following additional documents:

• Proof of French citizenship (ID card or consular card or certification of French nationality or naturalization order).
• French marriage certificate.
• French family record book.

French Schengen Visa for Members of Official Delegations

When applying to get a French visa as a member of an official delegation, you must provide the following additional documents:

• The official invitation copy.
• Evidence on the purpose of the journey (negotiations, meetings, events by intergovernmental organizations, consultations).

How Long Does It Take to Get a French Visa?

The processing time for a French Schengen visa may take up to 15 days. Still, depending on your application for a French visa, this period may be extended up to 30 days or even up to 60 days in exceptional cases.

This is why we strongly advise you to lodge your French short-stay visa application as soon as possible, though not earlier than three months prior to your trip to France.

How Much Does It Cost to Apply for a French Visa?

A French Schengen Visa fee is €80 for adults and €40 for children under the age of 12. Take the time to check the list of the French Schengen Visa fees since there are categories of applicants that are exempt from paying the fee and others that need to pay a lower amount as well.

If you belong to these categories or not, it all depends on your age, nationality and some other factors, such as the purpose of your entry, etc.