Step-by-step: applying for your French visa
- A New Life
- Aug 27
- 4 min read
Choose the right visa + check you actually need one
Go to the official France-Visas portal and run the “visa wizard.” It tells you if you need a visa, which category fits your plan (tourism, visitor/retiree, student, work, entrepreneur, family, talent-passport, au pair, etc.), fees, and documents.
Tip: Working in France usually needs either a prior work permit from the employer (for standard salaried hires) or a qualifying Talent-Passport route. Don’t book an appointment until you’ve checked this requirement for your case.
Check where to apply (jurisdiction & provider)
Applications are filed in your country of residence with the French consulate (often via an external visa centre like TLScontact or VFS). Use the “country of application” page on France-Visas to confirm the exact centre and instructions.
Create your France-Visas account & fill the form
Create an account, complete the online application, then print the CERFA form + receipt and your auto-generated document checklist. You’ll be guided screen-by-screen.
You’ll need at minimum:
Passport issued <10 years, with 2 blank pages and valid 3+ months past your planned exit (short-stay) or visa expiry (long-stay).
2 recent photos meeting ISO/IEC specs.
Purpose documents (invitation/enrolment/work contract, etc.), proof of funds, accommodation, travel/health insurance, and any translations required by your country page.
Book your biometrics appointment
From your country page, book at your assigned visa centre. Timing window: generally up to 6 months before travel for short-stay, and typically up to 3 months for long-stay (country pages may vary). Leave enough time for appointment availability.
Pay the fees (and know what they are)
You pay on submission at the centre:
Schengen (short-stay) visa: €90 for adults; €45 for ages 6–11; some nationalities have reduced fees under EU facilitation agreements.
Long-stay (national) visa: €99 (reduced €50 for some Campus France student routes).
Service centre fee: up to €45 per application (varies by country).These administrative fees aren’t refunded if refused.
Prepare your file like a pro (avoid refusals)
Bring originals + copies exactly as your checklist states. If your supporting documents aren’t in French or English, get sworn translations where required by the country page. Do not rely on screenshots for bank statements—print PDFs with your name and balances.
Insurance must:
Cover all medical & hospital expenses and medical repatriation for the entire stay;
For Schengen visas, it typically needs at least €30,000 coverage and be valid across the Schengen Area.
Attend your appointment
Expect ~20 minutes at the centre. They will: review your file, take biometrics (photo + ten fingerprints) and keep your passport. If your fingerprints were taken for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months, they can often be reused.
Track your application
You’ll track via the visa centre portal. Typical processing is about 15 days, but it can extend to 45 days in specific cases (background checks, complex files, busy seasons).
Collect your passport & check the sticker
Verify: your name, passport number, visa type, validity dates, number of entries, and remarks (e.g., “VLS-TS visiteur”, “passeport talent”). Report any typo immediately to the centre/consulate.
Border entry: bring what officers can ask for
Even with a visa, border police can ask for supporting docs: purpose of trip, funds, accommodation, and insurance. For France, the proof of means guidance is €65/day with hotel booking, or €120/day without a hotel booking (pro-rated if partially booked).
If your visa is long-stay (VLS or VLS-TS), complete arrival formalities
A) VLS-TS (most common for stays ≤12 months: visitor/retiree, student, salaried ≤12 months, many Talent-Passport cases)Within 3 months of arrival, you must validate online at the ANEF portal. You’ll enter your visa details, arrival date/address, and pay an online tax stamp (timbre). Skipping this makes you not legally present and can block re-entry.
The tax you pay for validation/residency rights commonly totals €200 tax + €25 stamp = €225, paid as timbres fiscaux (amounts can vary by status). You can buy them online at timbres.impots.gouv.fr if you don’t pay by card during validation. Keep the receipt.
B) Long-stay visa (VLS) for stays over 12 monthsYou’ll apply for a residence permit at your prefecture (often within 2 months of arrival). Check your prefecture’s site for documents and whether to bring tax stamps when you pick up the card (commonly €225).
Some categories (students, researchers, certain talent-passports) may receive convocations for a medical exam or other checks after validation—watch your email. (The ANEF/France-Visas pages explain when this applies.)
Renew or switch status on time
Apply before your current status expires (usually 2–4 months early). Many categories move to multi-year residence cards after the first year (e.g., “passeport talent” up to 4 years).
Quick checklists
Documents most people need
Passport (validity per Step 3) + copies
Printed application (CERFA) & receipt from France-Visas
Photos (ISO/IEC spec)
Purpose evidence (e.g., visitor undertaking & proof of retirement income; university enrolment; employment contract & work permit; business plan/registration for self-employed; family documents, etc.)
Accommodation (hotel, lease, property deed, or attestation d’accueil if applicable)
Proof of funds (bank statements, payslips, pension)
Insurance (as per your visa type—see Step 6)
Translations/apostilles if required on your country page
Visa fee + possible service fee (cash/card rules vary by centre)
Timing & fees at a glance
Book: up to 6 months ahead (short-stay); typically 3 months (long-stay), country-specific rules apply.
Processing: usually ~15 days, up to 45 days.
Fees: Schengen €90 (6–11 yrs: €45); long-stay €99 (some student cases €50); centre fee ≤€45.
After arrival (VLS-TS): validate online within 3 months, budget €225 in timbres fiscaux for residency taxes.
Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
Wrong visa type (e.g., applying “visitor” but planning to work): check work-permit/Talent-Passport routes first.
Insurance mismatch: travel insurance that doesn’t cover the full stay or lacks repatriation—get a policy that matches your visa length and Schengen rules.
Funds/itinerary gaps at the border: carry printed bookings and bank statements; know the €65/€120 per-daythresholds.
Late VLS-TS validation: do it online as soon as you have your address; keep the confirmation PDF.
We have some great FREE guides on this topic to give you some more practical advice on getting started on your journey - click here
And check out our FAQs blog on Visas - click here
And find out what visa is the right one for you with this recent blog - click here