France Tourist Visa for Indians
Don't know where to start with your France Visa application? Our ultimate guide has got you covered. Learn about the process, fees, and required documents.
15-May-2023
16 min read
Are you planning on visiting France but don't know where to start? Worry not! After reading this guide, you can easily apply for your France tourist visa from India.
Let's look at some important information first:
France Visa Fees: 80 euros or about 7061 INR for a tourist visa for one adult. Additional fees at the visa center must be paid.
Appointment Wait Time: This differs depending on the number of applications at the embassy. To get appointments faster, use atlysHome, visa at your doorstep. With atlysHome, you no longer have to struggle to get visa appointments.
Visa Processing Times: Generally, it takes 15 working days. However, in certain cases, it can take 45 days or longer.
Stay Period: Less than 90 days for a short-stay visa and more than 90 days for a long-stay visa.
Fastest Way To Get France Visa: Using Atlys
Yes. As an Indian citizen, you need a France tourist visa before entering France. However, France is part of the Schengen Area, meaning you can visit France if you have a valid visa for one of the Schengen countries with it.
As an Indian citizen, you need the visa mentioned above to visit France for tourism purposes or to visit friends and family in France.
The France tourist visa, or Schengen visa, allows Indian passport holders to enter France for tourism purposes such as vacation, site seeing, leisure, and so on.
You can apply for a short-stay visa or long-stay visa for various purposes such as tourism, visiting friends, or short business trips. However, you can't work in the country with these visas. Acceptable business purposes include attending meetings, functions, meeting clients, etc.
Depending on your purpose of visit, you can choose a suitable tourist visa for France from India. You can apply for a short-stay visa for single, double, and multiple entries, an airport transit visa, and a long-stay visa for 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years.
In this post, we will mainly focus on the France tourist visas for Indians.
Applying for visas takes time and effort. Sadly, not all of us have ample time on our hands. So if you wish to save time and effort, I highly recommend using Atlys when applying for your France visa for Indians.
Atlys is here to make your visa application process a breeze!
With the Atlys app, you can now apply for your France visa right from your phone! Say goodbye to the hassle of standing in long queues and waiting for your turn at the visa application center.
With just a few taps on your phone, you can fill out the visa application form, upload the required documents, and track the progress of your application, all from the comfort of your home.
And getting visa appointments has never been easier. With atlysHome, you can simply choose the date and location on the app, and we come to you and take care of everything.
With Atlys, you'll be able to complete the entire application process within 10 minutes. Don't believe me? Try it yourself!
First, let's look at the requirements and application process when applying for a tourist visa for France from India.
One of the first things you would need to do before you begin the application process is to ensure that you have all the necessary documents ready.
Here are the documents you'll need to submit to the France embassy:
ID Documents:
Travel Itinerary:
Travel Insurance:
Financial Proof:
Situational Documents:
When submitting your visa application, make sure your visa photo meets the requirements:
It must meet the France visa photo specifications set out by France.
You'll find that all Schengen Member States have their own minimum financial requirements when visiting. This requirement has been put in place to ensure that visitors have the financial means to support themselves during their stay.
If you plan to visit France, the minimum financial requirement is to show EUR 120 per day for the duration of your travel. So, for instance, if your visit is for 30 days, you have to show a minimum of €120 x 30 days = €3,600 in total.
Remember, this is only the minimum amount. Your visa application will look much more compelling if you prove you have more finances.
You now know the documents you must submit for a successful Schengen Visa application. Next, I'll walk you through the steps you need to take when you start your application.
Start collecting the required documents first.
It's the most time-consuming part of the process. However, doing this first will allow you to leave enough time for unexpected delays, such as collecting an incorrect document, finding accommodation, etc.
When gathering all your required documents, create a list of what you need to get and add collected documents to a file. It's the easiest way to keep track of the documents you've collected.
Worried about gathering all the documents? Try using Atlys. You can fill out the information directly on your phone in less than 10 minutes.
Okay, so you've got all the required documents. You can start applying for the visa.
To apply, first, you must create your account on the visa application site.
Click on “Start your visa application” on the home page of the website. This will take you to the following page:
Here clicks on "Access the visa application," which will ask you to either create an account or log into an existing account.
After creating an account, you will have to verify your email address and then start filling out the application form.
Now start filling in the France visa application form. Remember, all the information you provide must be correct and accurate.
Once the form is filled, it will show you a detailed list of documents you would have to submit during your appointment.
At the last screen, you will be prompted to submit your application and book a France tourist visa appointment at the nearest center.
Keep your passport close to you when filling out your visa application form. Always refer to your passport when entering your personal details.
Did you know:
Most visa applications get denied because of incorrect information on a visa application form. Here's a guide highlighting the mistakes you should avoid when applying for your Schengen Visa.
As I mentioned, not all countries have a local France representative. Therefore, before submitting your application, you should always check where you need to apply.
In India, you can submit your visa application through Atlys or a visa application center such as VFS.
After you've determined where you need to apply, you must schedule a France visa appointment.
Please note that you might not find a VFS France appointment time suitable to your needs. However, you can keep your schedule open for the next few weeks or at least until you find an appointment. This is another reason you should start your visa application procedure soon to receive your France visa for Indians in time for your travel.
We will discuss the scheduling and how to get VFS France appointments for the France visa for Indians later in the blog.
On the day of your appointment, visit the visa application center at the scheduled time. Arrive at least half an hour early in case there's a rush at the center, and make sure you have all the documents.
Once the visa officer checks your document, they might interview you for a short while, but there is nothing to be nervous about. Answer each question honestly, and it should be okay.
You can use your required documents to support your answers. For example, you can present your proof of accommodation if they ask where you plan to stay in France.
After attending your interview and submitting your documents, you'll be requested to submit your biometric information.
What's that?
It's just your fingerprints and a digital photo of yourself. This is not required if you've been to the Schengen Area in the last 59 months.
After completing the above steps, you're basically done. The only thing left is to wait for your visa to be processed. As mentioned, this can take between 15 - 45 days or longer.
After it's processed, you'll receive feedback from the visa application center via email, a call, SMS, or your preferred contact method.
You can travel back to the visa application center to collect your passport if your France tourist visa is approved. You'll find your brand new France visa for Indians attached inside.
As mentioned earlier, scheduling a VFS France Appointment can be difficult due to the lack of appointments available. However, you might have several questions regarding the VFS France Appointments, which we'll look at in this section.
Atlys has launched the Visa At Your Doorstep service, known as atlysHome, to expedite the visa application process for you.
When applying on Atlys, you can simply:
With atlysHome you can have you visa appointment in no time and best of all, we come to you!
The first step to a France visa appointment is to fill out the visa application form. Once you do that, you must head to the VFS website to make your VFS France appointment.
The France VFS appointment page looks something like this:
Simply log in or create an account and choose your desired location and date to book your appointment.
You must pay INR 2,588.00 online on the VFS website to make your VFS France appointment. Once you have paid the fees, you will receive your appointment confirmation via email.
Depending on how busy the French Embassy is with the visa application, the time could be shorter or longer. Currently, the waiting period is 1 to 2 months.
The embassy advises that you apply for the France visa for Indians at least 3 months before your travel date but no longer than 6 months.
The peak seasons for visa applications are from April to July. And during these months, you should apply earlier for your France visa from India.
The France VFS appointment wait is long, mostly due to the number of visa applications they receive. Additionally, the embassy has a backlog of applications they must go through.
The VFS application center will contact you in case of a delay or should your appointment needs to be shifted to a different date. Additionally, you can follow the VFS webpage for any news on specific application centers in India.
Once you are ready to go for your France VFS appointment, you must have the following documents with you:
If you apply for your Schengen visa using Atlys, it eliminates the need for France visa tracking. You can track the application via your phone, and the app also provides an estimated time when you can expect your visa.
But Indian citizens that have applied for their France visa for Indians via VFS can track their application on the online France visa tracking portal.
Alternatively, you can also visit the France Government website to track the visa application, depending on how you apply for it.
As an Indian citizen traveling to France, here's what you need to know before applying for a France visa for Indians.
You can expect to pay the following visa application fees for your France tourist visa for Indians:
The amount is in the current exchange rate.
Please remember that you must pay an additional service fee of EUR 32.20 | INR 2,778 approx. at the VFS Application center and a convenience fee of INR 165.
But, if you apply for your visa using Atlys, you only pay a processing fee. You can do the entire France visa application process online.
The Schengen Visa will allow you to visit France for a maximum of 90 days within every 180 days. Always check the validity period on your visa sticker before traveling.
Remember, overstaying your welcome in France can lead to heavy fines, jail time, and even a ban.
The usual processing time for a tourist visa for France from India is between 15 to 45 days. Still, it is best to apply earlier in case there are delays or you can't find France appointments in India.
At the latest, you can start your visa application 15 days before your planned trip. But, I don't suggest starting your application this late as you may have to provide additional documents or appear for interviews.
So, the earliest you can apply is 3 months before your trip. However, I recommend starting your application as soon as possible so that you have enough time should something unexpected happen (like a longer visa processing time).
You're allowed to travel to any Schengen state with your France Schengen Visa. However, in your application, you must clearly state that you plan to travel to other countries.
You can visit the following Schengen Member States with your France tourist visa from India:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Now you know how to apply for your France tourist visa from India! If you have any more questions, feel free to check out the FAQ section.
Enjoy Your Travels!
Finding trustworthy information is difficult on the internet, so we make sure to only use government websites to fact-check and verify the information. All the information in this blog was gathered from the following sites:
Yes. The Schengen Visa and France tourist visa are the same visas. It all depends on what you like to call it. Nonetheless, this is the visa you'll need if you plan to visit France for tourism purposes.
It is not possible to apply for a France tourist visa at the Embassy and Consulate General of France in India.
The application process is now majorly handled only by Atlys and VFS application centers across the country.
VFS Application centers all across India widely accept cash and card (debit/credit) payments for your visa application. However, it is always recommended to call and check in advance.
Also, the card facility may sometimes not work at the center due to technical reasons. In such cases, you can carry cash with you.
You must make your France visa appointment to have your biometric information, fingerprints, and a photo taken at a Visa Application Centre in India.
There are many ways to apply for a France tourist visa in India. And depending on the way you applied, you can track the visa application.
Suppose you have any questions or troubles with your VFS France appointment, such as changing the date or can't attend the appointment. In that case, you must contact them soon as possible. Your France tourist visa application will be rejected if you miss your interview.
Additionally, suppose you need a visa appointment soon. Then, you can opt for the optional visa application services on the VFS website. This will speed up your France tourist visa application, and you will get your visa for Paris fast.
You will only make a VFS France appointment in India for your visa application and interview. There are several VFS visa application centers across India.
Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kolkata, France VFS Mumbai, New Delhi, Panjim, Pune, and Puducherry.
To make a VFS appointment for your visa interview, you must visit the France VFS webpage. Here you can click on 'Book Now' and continue.
First, minors need to present the same documents as those mentioned in this post. Furthermore, they need to submit the following additional documents:
Check this all-inclusive guide to learn the exact process of applying for a Schengen Visa for minors.
When visiting a friend in France, you must include an invitation letter alongside your required documents. The letter must include the host's (your friend's) contact details and your details, such as name, date of birth, address, passport number, and purpose and length of visit.
Not at all. As long as you meet the visa and entry requirements, you'll receive your visa. The only "difficult" part of the France Schengen Visa application is finding out where you need to apply for your visa. As mentioned, not all countries have local French representatives.
Although you can always re-apply after a few days of rejection, it may be better to appeal the initial decision within the given time, i.e., 30 days from the date of rejection. It is highly critical that you arrange for the missing documents or information that caused the rejection and write a compelling Appeal Letter.
For homemakers or those without proof of income, you need to have a sponsorship letter from your spouse/family member who is willing to sponsor your travel. The visa requires that you show proof of income, income tax returns, and bank statements to be eligible for the visa. In some cases, they may also ask for a marriage certificate if your spouse sponsors your visa.
A Schengen Tourist Visa for Indians requires you to present your Income Tax Returns for the past two years. In the absence of such documents, you need to produce an additional cover letter describing why you cannot produce the required documents. Also, in such cases, maintaining a good bank balance and an existing tourist visa from the US or UK or any such first-world country may help solidify your case.
For a retired person, pension documents accompanied by a bank statement showing an acceptable balance are required as proof of income.
There are no specific reasons for visa rejections as it varies from case to case; however, past criminal records, inability to show sufficient proof of funds, and an improper cover letter/itinerary could cause potential rejections for your France Visa For Indians.
Additionally, it has been observed at times that the French Embassy rejects a fresh passport, so it is always helpful to have an established travel history.
Even though most visa centers and information online would tell you that one embassy's decision does not affect the other, you should keep in mind that if you apply too soon after a rejection (say, a couple of days), it is highly likely to be rejected by the second embassy as well. In such cases, it is best to wait a couple of weeks before applying for a France visa for Indians and make sure that you keep in mind the initial reason for rejection to avoid repeating it.
You can show a copy of your return ticket reservation as proof of return flights, and it is recommended not to book a flight until you obtain your visa.
Since you cannot make appoint at the consular section at the French embassy, you would have to make an appointment with the VFS. There are several France Visa Application Centers in India located in major cities such as:
Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Panjim, and Puducherry.