France Consulate Shanghai- Get Your Schengen Visa

France is the most popular vacation spot and holds record for the highest number of tourists visits in a calendar year. In China, France consulate Shanghai, China receives record number of Schengen visa tourist applications and acceptance is high as well. Chinese residents can apply for a Schengen visa at France consulate Shanghai and once the Schengen visa is approved, they can visit 26 Schengen countries freely for the cost of single visa. France consulate Shanghai chose TLS Contact as the partner to receive visa applications on behalf of France embassy and direct to embassy authority. Getting your visa is a piece of cake if you follow the steps in this blog and apply for a Schengen visa.

France Consulate Shanghai- Schengen Visa Stats

Year: 2019

Total Uniform visas applied for: 221,700

Total Uniform visas Issued: 202,133

Multiple entry uniform visas issued: 28,151

Total LTV Visas issued: 10

Visa acceptance %: 92%

When to Apply Schengen Visa at France Consulate Shanghai

Visa applicants who need visa should plan well from the beginning. It’s always recommended to apply 3- 4 weeks in advance before your departure to the destination country.

France Consulate Shanghai Location and TLS Contact Office Info

Address:

Consulate General of France

Soho Zhongshan Plaza,
Building A, 18th floor,
1055 Zhongshan Xi Lu

200051 Shanghai 

Telephone: (+86 21) 60 10 63 00

Email: presse.pekin-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr

Consulate hours: 8:30 am -5 pm (Monday to Friday by appointment only)

Website: https://cn.ambafrance.org/-Consulat-Shanghai-

Google Maps: France Consulate Shanghai on Google Maps

Shanghai TLS Contact Visa Application Center

Address:

2F, JINGSH Lawyers Plaza, No. 299 Hengfeng Road,
Jing’an District 200070, Shanghai

Telephone: +86 (021) 60168668 

Email:

Office Hours: Monday to Friday, from 08:30 – 16:30

Website: TLScontact Visa Application Center – Shanghai

Google Maps: TLS Contact Shanghai on google maps

France Consulate Shanghai- Visa applicant’s Eligibility

Chinese citizens from cities (Shanghai, Tianjin, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Tibet, Xingjian, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi and Shanxi) are eligible to file visa application at France consulate Shanghai. Chinese Tourists with Visit visas are not eligible to apply and they need to apply from their home country. As France Consulate Shanghai has outsourced all visa processing to TLS Contact eligible Schengen visa applicants can submit visa application to TLS Contact.

Schengen Visa Fee Details:

Application fee is collected on behalf of the Embassy of France. Refer the below details

Tourism Visa: 80 Euro

Business Visa: 80 Euro

Transit Visa: 80 Euro

Medical Treatment Visa: 80 Euro

Study Visa: No fee

Sports and Cultural Events Visa: 80 Euro

Transport Visa: 80 Euro

TLS Contact Service Fee:

Schengen Visa Applicants who submit application at the France Visa Application Centre also need to pay a service fee of renminbi 265 RMB as this fee is used for TLS contact services.

Which Schengen Visa Type You Can Apply At France Consulate Shanghai

Short stay Schengen visas for less than 90-day stay are classified into different categories and depending on the reason of visit. Visa applicants can choose the right type of visa.

Sightseeing and private tour: If the purpose of travel is to meet family/friend/private/tourism visits, you can apply for tourist

Business & Work related: If the purpose of travel is related to business/work related you can choose this category. Employee and Employee’s spouse of an organization are eligible. Examples- internship, visiting scholar, filming, sport, domestic staff, medical observation internship fall under this category.

Student and Student Spouse Visas: Students who want to study for less than 6 months can apply for these visas. Depending on length of study short stay (less than 90 days) and long stay (more than 90 days) should be applied.

Transit Visas: This is a airport transit visa which travelers need if they are staying in Schengen country with airport layover less than 24 hours.

FAQ’s on Schengen Visas

Should I apply for a Schengen Visa and a National Visa?

Schengen visa (type c) is issued for short stay (limited to 90 days) by the Schengen member countries and you can visit any Schengen country falling under Schengen area.

National visa is a long stay visa (type D) which is issued by the Schengen member country. It is valid for more than 90 days in the same country which issued this visa.

Is Biometrics needed at the Visa Application center?

Yes, all Schengen visa applicants should provide biometrics which includes taking your photo and fingerprints. There are few exceptions where heads of state and members of the national government with members of their official delegation and spouses will also be exempted, if travelling for official purposes. Biometric data is used by Visa Information System (VIS). 

Can I use Schengen Visa for Multiple Entry?

Yes, consulates offer multiple entry Schengen visa depending on the fees paid and purposes of travel. You can enter multiple times to Schengen countries until the visa is valid.

Can someone apply for a visa on my behalf?

No as appearance is mandatory for all visa applicants except for few cases where biometric data is not required.

Do I need Travel Medical Insurance for applying a Schengen Visa?

Yes, travel medical insurance is mandatory document for applying a Schengen Visa as per the regulation of the European Union (Decision 2004/17 / EC of 22 December 2003).

How To Get Schengen Visa from France Consulate in Shanghai

The answer is very simple. Plan well, understand visa requirements, gather all visa documents and then apply for a Schengen Visa before 3-4weeks from the planned departure. Refer steps listed below to simplify your visa process.

Step 1: Complete the Schengen Visa Application

France embassy Shanghai accepts Schengen Visa application if your main destination is France. Review the Schengen visa type and then complete the right visa application either online or by downloading and filling the application. Note you need printed filled in application along with your photo at embassy or visa center to get admission.

Step 2: Create a TLS account and make an appointment with the visa center

Go to TLS website and make an account by entering your email id and password. Complete the personal data which is asked by TLS website and provide details of group if going as a group. Book an appointment using the available dates which match your date and time to attend visa interview at Shanghai TLS Contact Visa application center. Note print appointment confirmation document as it will be needed at the entrance for admission

Step 3: Gather Required Visa Documents For The Selected Schengen Visa Type

Visa approval is completely dependent on supported documents you submit to prove your credibility that you can visit the destination country with no issues by covering yourself with insurance and sufficient funds. Below is the list of documents.

1. Printed Schengen Visa Application form
2. Passport size photo
3. Schengen Visa application form
4. Valid Passport with atleast 2 blank pages
5. Flight Reservation
6. Hotel Reservation Copy
7. Proof of Sufficient funds
8. Invitation letter
9. Travel Medical Insurance policy

Step 4: Attend Visa Interview at Shanghai TLS Contact Visa Application Center

Refer most important Schengen visa interview questions to give yourself enough confidence. Some of the questions are listed below.

• What is your travel purpose for visiting Schengen country?
• How long is your stay in Schengen country?
• Do you have enough funds to cover your trip?
• Where you will stay during your trip?
• Did you visit any Schengen country before?
• Can you provide proof of your bank statement?

Visa Interview Day Tips To Remember

Plan well to reach 30 minutes before to Shanghai TLS Contact Visa Application center so that you can adjust and relax. Bring photocopies of required documents in case if you need to submit. You will need to give biometrics and photo when you are called in depending on embassy requirements. Pay the required Schengen visa fee as directed by the visa center authority.

At Shanghai TLS Contact Visa Application center, representative will check all your documents present in file and provide you with a factsheet. If your file is complete then your case will be routed to Embassy. In case of missing documents, you still have the option to submit to embassy but you are at risk of losing the visa fee in case Schengen visa is rejected. If you want to hold off on submission then you can withdraw your application and recover the fee and file your application at a later date.

Receive Passport After The Embassy Authority Decision

Shanghai TLS visa application Centre has no authority to issue the visa and only the Consulate General of France has the authority to issue it. Once your application is approved by France embassy, your passport will be returned to the TLS visa application Centre. You will be notified to collect your passport either in person or through a representative. If you opted in for a courier service (if applicable) then the passport will be sent to your address.

In some cases, due to incomplete/insufficient supported documents provided, visa application can be rejected by the embassy.

Schengen Visa Rejection Reasons

• Travel purpose do not fit the visa type
• Fake documents
• Not enough funds to cover the trip
• Invalid passport or Passport expiring in 2 months
• Missing Travel medical insurance document
• Missing supported documents 

How to handle Schengen Visa Rejection? 

In some cases, embassy notifies visa applicants with rejection and provide reasons for it. If you think the reason is not justified you can appeal it by sending reply related to Schengen visa rejection letter.

Summary:

Getting Schengen Visa from France Consulate Shanghai, China is a piece of cake if you follow the blog and apply for a visa. Once your visa is approved you can enjoy your trip with family and friends. Note having a Schengen visa does not guarantee you entry to the destination country or Schengen territory and you must comply with all travel restrictions enforced due to Covid pandemic. We recommend tourists to check thoroughly the restrictions of destination country before your departure.