1. How do I renew/extend my visa?
You can only renew or extend your France, Schengen visa under exceptional cases. After you have entered France, there is a certain condition you have to meet for you to be allowed to extend your visa. You can read more here.
If you plan to stay for long in France, you need to plan before traveling to France. You need to contact the consular services or the competent France visa from the Indian provider.
2. Do I need a visa to enter the Schengen area?
Yes, you need a visa to enter the Schengen area unless you are a passport holder from the Schengen area visa-exempt. The visa exempted countries are based on the nationality, duration of stay, and type of passport.
3. I have a French residence permit. Do I need a visa?
No, you need to obtain an entry visa if you already hold a valid residence permit that allows you to live in France.
However, if your family members do not possess valid residence permits, they will be required to apply for a visa unless they are exempt.
4. I want to visit France and already have a valid short-stay Schengen visa issued by another Schengen State. Do I need a new visa?
If the visa stamp does not indicate otherwise, a Schengen visa issued by the embassy or consulate of one of the 26 countries that make up the Schengen area is valid throughout all of those countries.
5. How long is a short-stay visa valid? Can I leave the Schengen area and return on the same visa?
The visa stamp indicates how long the short stay France visa is valid. The validity of the visa and the maximum allowed length of stay are both indicated by the stamp on the visa.
You will need to apply for a Schengen multiple entries visa if you intend to travel outside the Schengen area and then come back in using the same visa.
How long you can stay with a short visa is specified on the visa, and this maximum length of stay varies based on the reason for the visitor's stay.
6. I hold a temporary long-stay “Residence permit exemption” visa. Can I travel within the Schengen area?
Yes, you are allowed to travel within the Schengen area for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180 days during the validity period of your visa if you have a Type D long-stay visa that was issued in France or by another Schengen country.
However, you must present supporting documents regarding the purpose of your visit and your means of subsistence.
When this is valid, it can be used for any long-stay visas with the letter 'D' in their designation.
7. My flight is making a stopover at an airport in France. Do I need to apply for an airport transit visa or a short-stay visa?
Yes, you need an entry visa and a short-stay France or Schengen area visa if you are on transit and will make a stopover at an airport in France.
However, you don't require an entry visa and a short-stay France or Schengen area visa if you are exempted from having a visa to enter France or the Schengen area.
While in transit and making a stopover in France, you must transit through a French airport to an airport located outside the Schengen area without leaving the international zone of this French airport.
With a few exceptions, foreign nationals are not expected to have an airport transit visa. But some nationalities, though, must get a visa to transit through French airports.
8. Must I present any documents other than my passport when I get to the border control in the Schengen area?
When you are entering the Schengen area, there are several documents you have to present, no matter if you are required to have a visa or not. When you arrive in France, the border authorities will require you to present these documents;
- Your passport and, if required, a visa
- Documentation to prove the reason for your journey to France, how you will support yourself while you are there, and how you will return to your home country after your time in France has concluded.
- You are required to have a certificate of insurance that pays for any medical and hospital charges that you may incur during the entirety of your time spent in France and any costs associated with medical repatriation and funeral expenditures if you pass away.
9. Where can I find all the forms related to my visa application (OFII, etc.)?
France visa from India application form is among the documents required to have, and you can get the form on this page.
10. Where should I submit my visa application?
After filling the France visa for India, your visa application must be submitted to the French consulate (or embassy) in the country where you legally reside, or it can be submitted to a certified service provider (which varies from country to country).
Which country is responsible for processing my visa?
The country whose territory comprises the sole (or main) destination of your trip is the one that is authorized to process and rule on visa applications.
11. How long does it take to get a visa?
The visa process for France from India time required differs according to the applicant's nationality, the reason for the stay, and the conditions under which visas are issued in the host country.
If you apply for a visa for a short stay, the application must be submitted at least two weeks before the intended visit; nevertheless, it cannot be submitted more than six months before the intended visit.
When there is a system of appointments in place, it is the responsibility of the applicant to take the required safeguards in terms of observing the deadlines that have been set.
The processing period for some types of visas may be lengthened because additional inspections (such as one's civil status, among other things) or consultations with multiple French agencies are necessary.
12. I have dual/triple nationality. Which passport should I use when applying for my visa?
You must use the passport you intend to use for travel. You must specify both your present nationality and your original nationality on the application form that you fill out (i.e., that is shown on your passport).
13. How should I respond if I visit for both work (a professional visit) and pleasure (tourism)?
Your stated reason for taking this trip will decide which supporting documents you must provide to get a visa for this trip.
You are required to choose the purpose of your stay. Since certain documents are required for that purpose (like a letter of invitation or attestation from your employer, for example), the "working" purpose should be given priority.
In a similar vein, if you are planning to visit France for the purposes of both studying and vacation, your "Studying" trip should take priority.
14. I’ve already got a one-year biometric visa. I am planning to apply for a short-stay visa soon. Will the consulate (or service provider) take my fingerprints?
Persons who have previously obtained a Schengen visa and have provided biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph) do not need to provide this biometric data again if they have a photocopy of their previous Schengen visa and the biometric data was provided less than 59 months ago.
The exemption applies only to individuals who have a photocopy of their previous Schengen visa, and the biometric data was provided less than 59 months ago. But, you are needed to include a photograph of yourself in your application for the passport.
15. How to enter your biometric visa number on France-Visas?
The biometric visa number to enter follows this format;
Legend:
- XXX: code of the issuing country
- D: This is the code for Germany only
- 000000000: 9 digit visa number
16. What sort of insurance must I have?
When traveling for tourism or business, you must have valid travel insurance that covers any potential costs associated with medical repatriation, emergency care, or hospital treatment for stays that do not exceed ninety days (unless you are excluded from this requirement).
The insurance policy must be valid throughout the entirety of the territory of all Member States in the Schengen area, all of which must completely apply the rules of the Schengen accord, as well as for the period of your stay. It is required to give you access to the services offered inside the Schengen area.
Additionally, this insurance must include coverage of at least 30,000 Euros, including medical repatriation and emergency or hospital treatment.
17. I want to apply for 30 visas for students on a school trip to France. Where should I submit the applications?
We highly recommend calling the consulate if your application is for a school group. The consulate will set up an appointment for you, and they will inform you of the location where you should present the applications (e.g., an external service provider or the consulate). The application fee for a visa to accompany a student on an educational excursion is waived.
18. I have to enter the number of my previous visa. What should I enter?
The visa number begins with the three-letter country code, which represents the country that issued the visa, followed by a nine-digit number.
COVID-19 Entry Restrictions for Third-Country Travellers are being extended until June 5 in Finland.
