Welcome to your ultimate guide for the France tourist visa. Is the Euro-trip of your dreams still in its planning phase, or maybe you’ve already started to make your way through the vast historical heritage of the European countries?
Or perhaps France is your only destination, the country with something to suit everyone’s taste; real French baguettes, alluring sweet desserts, locally grown wines and locally grown lovers. The flavors of France leaves no one unsatisfied.
As France is a part of the Schengen member states, going to France means having to apply for a Schengen visa in advance; in other words a France tourist visa. This applies to most nationalities outside Europe, but not all. The countries issuing Schengen visas are: Austria*, Belgium*, the Czech Republic*, Denmark*, Estonia*, Finland*, France*, Germany*, Greece*, Hungary*, Iceland, Italy*, Latvia*, Liechtenstein, Lithuania*, Luxembourg*, Malta*, the Netherlands*, Norway, Poland*, Portugal*, Slovakia*, Slovenia*, Spain*, Sweden* and Switzerland. (* European Union Member States)
There are a few different visa-types to choose from; single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry visa. If you are just visiting one country, getting a single-visit is probably your best option (unless you wish to leave France and come back again, in which case you would apply for a double-entry visa). If you are on a Euro-trip, the multiple-entry Schengen visa is a must, and we cover the multiple-entry Schengen visa requirements in its own article here.
- If France is your only intended visit out of all the Schengen countries, you must apply for your Schengen visa, or France tourist visa, at the French Embassy.
- If you want to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply at the Embassy of the country of your main destination (meaning where you will be staying the longest).
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FRANCE TOURIST VISA:
- Passport, valid for 6 months after your intended date of departure, and with at least two blank pages left
- 2 passport photos; 2×2 inches (51 mm x 51 mm), bare head, light background
- Application form – fill it out in capital letters, neatly and no correcting by hand!
- Copy of your return ticket itinerary. It is generally not recommended to purchase any tickets before you’ve received your visa. Should there be any delays in your visa process, you might end up standing at the airport in your black striped shirt, waiving your flight good bye with a baguette in one hand, wiping your tears with your beret with the other. And this is exactly why we created schengen visa flight reservation. We’ve been in your situation, and we know what you need. Get your cancellable flight itinerary here, and make sure you get your France tourist visa.
- Copy of confirmed hotel bookings, if you don’t know where you want to stay yet (or maybe you won’t be staying in a hotel at all..) – use our same solution as above and make your refundable hotel bookings.
- Photocopies of all valid US, U.K. and previous Schengen visas.
- Travel insurance – some nationalities are required to obtain overseas medical insurance policy (covering 30,000 EUROS and valid for 30 days). Check with your embassy if this applies to you.
Et voilá; your list is complete! It really isn’t that difficult, just keep in mind that some factors will play a part in what you need to obtain for your application, especially nationality. Unfortunately it’s still more difficult for certain nationalities to apply for certain visas.
If we missed anything in our list of requirements, or you have any questions about our services; feel free to add a comment below, and if you got your France tourist visa.
Happy Travels!
