Express French Schengen Visas
Applications filed on your behalf
- Ski Visa Special £105, Embassy Fees included BOOK NOW
- Business & Tourist visas for France arranged at short notice
- UK and EU Spouse Visas
- French Multiple entry, Transit and Circular visas obtained
- 3 - 4 day French visa turnaround service
- Central London - Post or hand deliver your documents to our office
- Corporate multiple application discount rates available
- Central London on site collection and return
Our agents are registered with the French Consulate General in London and are officially permitted to lodge visa applications on behalf of clients at the French Embassy.
For skiing, snow boarding, golf, camping, real estate or business...
If you are traveling to France on lastminute.holiday deals or crucial last minute business meetings, we can get your application processed within just 3 days of receiving your documentation.
The express service comes as standard
To apply... > Click Here
TRAVELLING WITH A SCHENGEN VISA
If you have a French visa, a Spanish visa, an Italian visa or any Schengen visa issued by one of the following country's consulates, you can travel to any of the 24 countries while your visa is valid. You should ensure that you get your passport stamped in the country of the Embassy that issued your visa - This should be your MAIN DESTINATION. See our FAQ page.
France; Austria; Belgium; Czech Rep; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; The Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland
APPLYING FOR A FRENCH SCHENGEN VISA
If applying for a Schengen visa through the French Embassy, France must be the main destination of the initial trip taken on the visa. 'Main Destination' is defined as the most time (nights) spent in a particular country. Hotel reservations must now be confirmed via Fax or email directly from the actual hotel in France. The French Embassy in London no longer accepts e-bookings. See French Visa FAQs
The French Embassy will not issue a new visa for France if your passport already holds an active Schengen visa issued by another country's consulate. The active visa has to be canceled first by the issuing consulate.
Any Schengen visa endorsed in your passport that has not yet expired is considered to be an active visa, even if it has a start date that is yet to commence.
French Schengen Visa Application Form: Download Form
For France Visa Bookings & Enquiries first see: Document Requirements
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the VIS, BIODEV Biometric Schengen Visa and how will it effect me?
The introduction of the Biometric visa is very likely to greatly increase the appointment booking time at the embassy.
In June 2004 the European Union decided to implement the Visa Information System (VIS) by the end of 2006.
VIS holds the biometric data contained in every visa issued by the Schengen States. The biometric data consists of fingerprints of both hands and a photograph of the applicant. The data is stored in an electronic chip attached to the passport upon issuance of the visa. The collection of biometric data has and will alter the processing of visas considerably as applicants will now be required to appear in person and applications by mail or via proxy will no longer be accepted, regardless of the applicants’ place of residence or status.
This new initiative was launched in 2005 and has already been experimented in 7 French Consulates around the world. A number of Belgium consulates are also carrying out, in parallel, the same experiment. It is anticipated that the French Consulate in London will be issuing biometric visas by the end of the first semester of 2007.
As many of you will already know it currently takes several weeks to obtain an appointment. The recent change in the processing rules requiring spouses of EU nationals to attend the consulate in person along with their partners is already set to increase the waiting time. Compulsory personal appearance of all visa applicants is highly likely to create further delays. Business visitors are therefore advised to apply or renew their existing visas as soon as possible.
I am going on a tour to Spain Germany and France, at which embassy should I apply for my Schengen visa?
You have to apply for a visa at the embassy of the country that is considered the Main Destination. This is defined as the country in which you intend to spend the most amount of time (nights) on the initial trip taken on your new visa. If an equal amount of (most) time is to be spent in France and another country, of these countries, the Main Destination will be the first encountered on the itinerary. You should note that you will be required to supply additional confirmed bookings documentation for all of the other countries that you are proposing to visit and evidence of the means of transport used to travel to them.
How do I get a multiple entry visa for France?
The French embassy decides on the type of visa to be issued according to various factors ranging from the travel insurance taken out; previous travel history; the length of resident Leave remaining on the passport; quality of supporting documentation etc.
The visa period issued is entirely at the discretion of the French Embassy's visa section and the ultimate decision to issue a visa at all rests with them.
However, there are some things that you can do to improve your chances of getting a longer term visa for France:
1. Submit good recent original documentation
2. Ensure that you have at least 6 months medical/travel insurance that includes repatriation (1yr is preferable) – provide the policy documentation
3. Sign the French Embassy issued Assurance form to assure the French Consulate that you will have travel insurance the next time that you travel to France or any of the other Schengen countries.
Why did I only get a Single entry French Schengen visa this time? I was given a 6 month multiple entry visa for France before!
Did you treat France as your Main Destination when you first travelled on your last visa? If you used it to go to a different Schengen state/country or spent more time there than in France, it is highly likely that you will be penalized for misusing the system. All of the Schengen participating Embassies are computer linked and the stamps in your passport show your travel activities - Some Embassies actually reject applications on such grounds.
Why is the documentation that you require different to that shown on the French Embassy web site?
This is the criteria that the French Consulate General have given us agents to work by. It is a little stricter because we have to have more evidence to prove that you are who you say you are and that you have going to return to the UK or your home country on completion of your trip. The French authorities also want to know where you are staying whilst in the country and may carry out checks to see if you have actually checked into the accommodation that you have stated on your application documents.
I already have a schengen visa that was issued by a different embassy but it expires next month, can you get me a French Schengen visa before it expires?
No, None of the embassies of the Schengen countries will issue a visa if there is already one active in your passport. The visa has to be formally canceled at the issuing embassy before a new one can be issued - they will not even issue a visa dated from after the expiry date of the current visa because this would still be regarded as having 2 active visas.
My UK residence visa runs out in 3 months time and I want to visit France before I return home. Can I still get a visa?
No it is no longer possible for us to lodge your visa application if you have less than 6 months valid UK Leave remainaing. You will have to get your UK Leave/Visa extended before the French Embassy will even consider your application.
I have a UK leave to remain endorsement but it is not actually in my passport, the Home Office endorsed a separate document called an Immigration Status Document - I have the Home Office letters to prove that it is genuine.
As agents, we are only permitted to submit French visa applications where the UK leave is physically endorsed in the actual passport or on the new UKBA issued biometric data card.
What is the VIS, BIODEV Biometric Schengen Visa and how will it effect me?
The introduction of the Biometric visa is very likely to greatly increase the appointment booking time at the embassy. In June 2004 the European Union decided to implement the Visa Information System (VIS) by the end of 2006. VIS holds the biometric data contained in every visa issued by the Schengen States. The biometric data consists of fingerprints of both hands and a photograph of the applicant. The data is stored in an electronic chip attached to the passport upon issuance of the visa. The collection of biometric data has and will alter the processing of visas considerably as applicants will now be required to appear in person and applications by mail or via proxy will no longer be accepted, regardless of the applicants’ place of residence or status. This new initiative was launched in 2005 and has already been experimented in 7 French Consulates around the world. A number of Belgium consulates are also carrying out, in parallel, the same experiment. It is anticipated that the French Consulate in London will be issuing biometric visas by the end of the first semester of 2007. As many of you will already know it currently takes several weeks to obtain an appointment. The recent change in the processing rules requiring spouses of EU nationals to attend the consulate in person along with their partners is already set to increase the waiting time. Compulsory personal appearance of all visa applicants is highly likely to create further delays. Business visitors are therefore advised to apply or renew their existing visas as soon as possible.
I am going on a tour to Spain Germany and France, at which embassy should I apply for my Schengen visa?
You have to apply for a visa at the embassy of the country that is considered the Main Destination. This is defined as the country in which you intend to spend the most amount of time (nights) on the initial trip taken on your new visa. If an equal amount of (most) time is to be spent in France and another country, of these countries, the Main Destination will be the first encountered on the itinerary. You should note that you will be required to supply additional confirmed bookings documentation for all of the other countries that you are proposing to visit and evidence of the means of transport used to travel to them.
How do I get a multiple entry visa for France?
The French embassy decides on the type of visa to be issued according to various factors ranging from the travel insurance taken out; previous travel history; the length of resident Leave remaining on the passport; quality of supporting documentation etc. The visa period issued is entirely at the discretion of the French Embassy's visa section and the ultimate decision to issue a visa at all rests with them.
However, there are some things that you can do to improve your chances of getting a longer term visa for France:
1. Submit good recent original documentation
2. Ensure that you have at least 6 months medical/travel insurance that includes repatriation (1yr is preferable) – provide the policy documentation
3. Sign the French Embassy issued Assurance form to assure the French Consulate that you will have travel insurance the next time that you travel to France or any of the other Schengen countries.
Why did I only get a Single entry French Schengen visa this time? I was given a 6 month multiple entry visa for France before!
Did you treat France as your Main Destination when you first travelled on your last visa? If you used it to go to a different Schengen state/country or spent more time there than in France, it is highly likely that you will be penalized for misusing the system. All of the Schengen participating Embassies are computer linked and the stamps in your passport show your travel activities - Some Embassies actually reject applications on such grounds.
Why is the documentation that you require different to that shown on the French Embassy web site?
This is the criteria that the French Consulate General have given us agents to work by. It is a little stricter because we have to have more evidence to prove that you are who you say you are and that you have going to return to the UK or your home country on completion of your trip. The French authorities also want to know where you are staying whilst in the country and may carry out checks to see if you have actually checked into the accommodation that you have stated on your application documents.
I already have a schengen visa that was issued by a different embassy but it expires next month, can you get me a French Schengen visa before it expires?
No, None of the embassies of the Schengen countries will issue a visa if there is already one active in your passport. The visa has to be formally canceled at the issuing embassy before a new one can be issued - they will not even issue a visa dated from after the expiry date of the current visa because this would still be regarded as having 2 active visas.
My UK residence visa runs out in 3 months time and I want to visit France before I return home. Can I still get a visa?
No it is no longer possible for us to lodge your visa application if you have less than 6 months valid UK Leave remainaing. You will have to get your UK Leave/Visa extended before the French Embassy will even consider your application.
I have a UK leave to remain endorsement but it is not actually in my passport, the Home Office endorsed a separate document called an Immigration Status Document - I have the Home Office letters to prove that it is genuine.
As agents, we are only permitted to submit French visa applications where the UK leave is physically endorsed in the actual passport or on the new UKBA issued biometric data card.
