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French Tourist Schengen Visas

DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL FRENCH SCHENGEN VISAS:

  • PASSPORT ENDORSED WITH VALID LEAVE TO REMAIN IN THE UK

    • The applicant MUST be resident in the UK, e.g. Requires Leave To Remain in the UK as a student, working holiday maker, work permit holder, HSMP, Tier 1, Tier 2 etc...
    • The UK residency permit must be endorsed in the actual passport (or on a new biometric ID card). Home Office stamps/vignettes that are on separate documents will not be accepted by the embassy - If Visa Dependent, original marriage/birth certificate required + the primary resident's passport.
    • The applicant's UK Leave must exceed the validity of the requested visa by more than 3 months. The embassy no longer issues visas for travel during the last remaining 3 months validity of the UK residence permit.
    • The passport validity must exceed the validity of the requested visa by more than 3 months and must have a full blank page for the visa stamp and an additional spare page.

  • A SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION FORM

    • The Schengen application form is to be completed and signed by the applicant/guardian in box 48.

  • 2 PASSPORT SIZED PHOTOGRAPHS FOR EACH APPLICATION

    • The photographs are to be (45mm x 35mm), colour, taken against a white/pale grey background with good contrast clear/good quality image, printed on normal photographic paper, full face without sunglasses or head covering. Scanned images will be rejected by the French Embassy.

AND

Supporting Documents Requirements for a French Schengen Tourist Visa:

  1. Letter from UK Employer + last 3 payslips; or a letter from accountant (if self employed) or letter from university (if school trip/student - letter requires statement of responsibility for student while in France and full itinerary). The letter must be on official letter headed paper, be less than 1 month old, state your current work/course status, it must be signed and have full contact details;
  2. Dependant Husband/Wife are required to present their partner's original passport and an original marriage certificate. The marriage certificate must be in French or English. Marriage certificates in other languages must be translated and the translation must be authenticated by the respective embassy in the UK. Non UK marriage certificates should be legalised/authenticated at the respective embassy in the UK irrespective of the written language.
  3. Confirmed return ticket to France or confirmation from travel agent showing proof of payment (no open ticket itinerary);
  4. Proof of Hotel reservation confirmation required from the actual hotel in France showing the hotel's full contact details, proof of payment and applicant's name. If visiting friends/relatives; a French certificate of board and lodgings (Attestation d' Accueil) must be obtained from local French Town Hall or Police Station - It sould be noted that the embassy will only issue a visa valid for the duration of the stay with friends/family - Proof of accommodation is required thoughout the entire trip;
  5. Proof of financial means of support for the duration of the stay in France (a minimum of £30 per day). Evidence by way of original travellers cheques, signed by the applicant (ideally with purchase receipt) OR the most recent month's (original) bank statement where the closing balance date is less than ONE MONTH old at the time of the application submission date, otherwise and additional current balance printout must be provided to corroborate the accounts' current balance. Must be a personal account. Overdrafts are not accepted, nor are credit card statements;
  6. Travel Insurance - repatriation is compulsory. The documentation must show applicant name, their policy number and the amount of cover. The policy must cover the duration of the visit (An annual cover policy will improve the chances of being issued a longer term multiple entry French Schengen Visa);
    • Driving In France :
    • Proof of car insurance to drive in Europe must be provided along with copy of vehicle ownership(log book) or rental agreement;
  7. Minors - Require a full birth certificate, both parents' original passports (and original marriage certificate if married). Full Birth Certificates (showing both parents' names) must be in French or English. All certificates in other languages must be translated and the translation must be authenticated by the respective embassy (both documents required). Unless stated otherwise, all non UK registrar issued certificates will require authentication/legalisation at the respective country's embassy in London irrespective of the written language;


NATIONALITY APPLICATION RESTRICTIONS:

Nationals from the following countries are required to submit their French Schengen visa applications in person: Afghanistan . Algeria . Bangladesh . Belarussian . Burma . Burundi . Colombia . Congo(Zaire) . Egypt . Indonesia . Iran . Iraq . Jordan . Kuwait . North Korea . Lebanon . Libya . Myanmar . Nigeria . Oman . Pakistan . Palestine . Philippines . Qatar . Rwanda . Somalia . Sudan . Surinam . Syria . United Arab Emirates . Vietnam . Yemen . Zimbabwe

The French embassy does not allow us to lodge applications for the above passport holders, nor do they permit us to lodge French Schengen Visa applications for

  • holders of C-VISIT visas (foreign national visiting the UK on a visitor visa)
  • business visit visas
  • UK residents that have been issued with 6 month or less residency from date of UK entry (eg. Fiancé visa)
  • spouses of French Nationals
  • non UK residents. (Residents of Scotland must apply at embassy in Edinburgh)
  • applicants that have been previously turned down by the embassy in person.
  • applicants whose passport shows that they have in the past initially travelled on a new French Schengen visa without treating France as their main destination.