VR Team | Jul 4, 2022 | 0 comments

France Visa From India – How to Apply for French Schengen Visa Application Requirements Guide

France is one of the most exciting Schengen countries with cities, like Paris and Bordeaux, full of things to keep you busy from morning until night. Visit the Eiffel Tower, enjoy delicious food and drink or head to the Moulin Rouge, whatever you do, you will have a fabulous time! In this article, learn more about how to apply for a France visa from India, France visa appointment booking, processing time at the France visa application center, flight itinerary for a France visa, hotel bookings for a France visa, Schengen travel insurance for a France visa application, and France visa application process in India.
Apply For France Schengen Visa From India
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France Schengen Visas

In 2021, embassies around the world received 652,331 Schengen visas for France. 128,672 of this total amount were rejected. The Embassy of France in New Delhi received 15,492 applications and rejected 6,511.

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Statistics

Other missions across India received more applications:

Location	Applications received	Applications rejected
Bangalore	4,723	1,459
Kolkata	1,957	452
Mumbai	12,070	2,194
Puducherry	4,465	1,343

Applying for a France Schengen Visa from India

To apply for a France Schengen visa from India, you must be a citizen of India or have the legal right to reside there. You will submit a visa application along with supporting documents to VFS Global which has offices located across India (see below for contact details). VFS Global receives applications on behalf of the Embassy of France in New Delhi. The embassy will make the final decision about whether to grant the visa or not.

Types of Schengen visas offered at the Embassy of France in India

There are 3 types of visas available:

Short-stay visa for tourism, business and family trips etc., for up to 90 days
Airport transit visa if you will remain in the international zone of the airport while you wait for a connecting flight
Long-stay visa for tourism, to carry out a professional activity, education or to join family members for over 90 days

It is important that you apply for the correct type of visa, otherwise, your application could be rejected.

How Can I Apply for a Schengen Visa from VFS Global in India?

Visa processing times vary depending on the nationality of the applicant, the purpose of the stay and the local visa issuing conditions. To apply for a short-stay visa, the application must be submitted at least two weeks prior to your planned visit. You can apply up to 6 months before and it is your responsibility to apply in plenty of time.

There are 7 steps to follow when you are ready to apply for your visa.

Step 1 – Identify your visa type
Step 2 – Begin your application
Step 3 – Book an appointment
Step 4 – Pay your fees
Step 5 – Visit an application center
Step 6 – Track your application
Step 7 – Collect your passport

Step 1 – Identify your visa type

To begin your application, go to VFS Global’s website and click on “start now”:

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Online Application 1

Under Step 1, click on the link for France Visas:

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Online Application 2

On France Visas website, click on: “Do you need a visa”:

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Online Application 3

Key in the requested information and the system will tell you which visa you need to apply for:

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Online Application 4

Step 2 – Begin your application

On the FRANCE-VISAS website, click on “2. Start your visa application”:

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Online Application 5

Read the instructions and click on: “Access the visa application”:

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Online Application 6

Create an account and then log in to complete your application:

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Online Application 7

Complete the online form and when you have finished, a list of supporting documents and the visa fees will be displayed.

Supporting documents

Before you start to get your supporting documents together, take a look at the document checklists on France Visas website because each type of visa has different requirements. You must provide everything that is required to have the best chance of your application being accepted.

You should also prepare photocopies as well as providing the original documents, so don’t forget to do that too.

Documents include:

Passport issued less than 10 years ago with at least two blank pages and valid for 3 months longer than the date of return. ALL PAGES containing visas, entry and exit stamps or any other inscription must be presented
Photograph x 1
Your residence permit from India – if you are not a citizen of India
Purpose of travel/stay – reservation of an organised trip or any other document describing the planned programme and a return airline ticket reservation / travel itinerary
Travel medical insurance – must cover at least 30,000 Euros for medical and hospitalisation expenses for the entire period of valid stay on Schengen territory as well as repatriation costs
Accommodation – reservation of a hotel or sufficient resources to cover hotel expenses (to the amount of €120/day) or a tenancy agreement or certificate of ownership. If staying with a private individual: proof of accommodation (Cerfa form)
Proof of financial income – 3 last bank accounts statements, pay slips, evidence of pension income
Socio-professional situation – employment contract, certificate of employment, extract from the trade and companies’ register, school attendance certificate, proof of pension and any documents demonstrating the applicant’s personal links to the country of residence (e.g. copy of marriage certificate, family record book etc)
Letter of invitation along with host’s ID and/or residence permit (if applicable)

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
Submit the travel details and make the payment online
Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 3 – Book an appointment

Making appointments with the embassy, consulate or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
Submit the appointment details, the visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below.

Go to VFS Global’s website and click on the link under “Step 3 – Book an appointment”
Click on the option that applies to you
If you have already filled in an application form on France-Visas website, click on the link (if not, follow the instructions that are relevant to you)
Register as a new user
Log in to make a convenient appointment

Step 4 – Pay your fees

The visa fees are:

Short-term visa – 80 EUR (€) / 6,678 INR
Long-term visa – 99 EUR (€) / 8,264 INR

Please note, the fees are subject to currency fluctuations and can change. You can pay by debit card, credit card or cash and the fees are not refundable.

VFS Global also charges a service fee of 32.20 EUR / 2,588 INR. In addition, a convenience fee of INR 165/- is also charged.

The return of your travel document by courier service is mandatory and included in the VFS service fees. The service fees must be paid online.

VFS Global also offers optional services. See their website for more information. Any optional services can be paid online or at the VFS center.

Step 5 – Visit an application center

You must appear in person to submit your application to VFS Global. On the day of your appointment remember the following things:

Aim to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment.
You must attend the appointment for your visa application in person

You will also submit biometric information which is a scan of your fingerprints and a photograph. Without biometrics information, your visa application will not be processed.

Remember to take the following items:

Print out of the letter confirming your appointment
Valid passport
Printout of your completed France-Visas application form along with the receipt (the France-Visas form and receipt are obtained after successfully completing your application)
All supporting documents
If you have purchased additional services online, the printout of your receipt

Once you have handed over your completed application and supporting documents, you may be called to attend an interview where you may be questioned about your application. Typical questions include:

Have you been to France before?
What are you going to do in France?
Do you have children? If so, how old are they?
When are you returning to India?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

Step 6 – Track your application

Go to VFS Global’s step-by-step guide and click on the link under step 6:

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Online Application 8

There are several options to track applications depending on where you have submitted your application. Choose the option for VFS Global:

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Online Application 9

From the drop-down box, choose the country where your application has been lodged:

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Online Application 10

Then enter your reference number and last name:

Apply For France Schengen Visa From India Online Application 11

Step 7 – Collect your passport

After your passport has been returned to VFS Global, it will be sent to your home address via courier.

The decision will be either:

Approved – your visa will be inside your passport
Rejected – this would have been for a specific reason and you can appeal the decision within 2 months

Common rejection reasons include:

Missing documentation – you need to provide specific documents along with your visa application, so check what you need to submit before you submit your application
Passport was not issued within the last 10 years – this is a requirement of passports, so if it has not been issued within the last 10 years, you need to get a new one before applying for your visa
You already have a valid Schengen visa – bear in mind that visas are valid for a specific time, so if you have applied previously, the visa may still be valid, so check before applying
No invitation letter – if you are being invited to France by a person or company, you need to provide an invitation letter

Reasons For Schengen Visa Rejections

COVID Regulations

Since February 12, 2022, the following rules apply at borders:

For fully vaccinated travelers, no more tests are required on departure. Proof of a complete vaccination schedule is sufficient to arrive in France
For unvaccinated travellers, the obligation to present a negative test to travel to France remains, but the measures on arrival (test, isolation) are lifted when they come from countries on the “green” list, characterized by a moderate circulation of the virus.
When unvaccinated travelers come from a country on the “orange” list, they must continue to present a compelling reason justifying the need for them to come to mainland France and may still be subject to a random test on arrival. Travelers who test positive will have to isolate themselves, in accordance with the recommendations of the Health Insurance. India is on the green list currently, so this does not apply

COVID rules can change quickly, so always check the up-to-date guidance before you travel. For more information please go to website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for France.

Contact details for VFS Global in India

Email: info.francein@vfshelpline.com

VFS Global Office	Address	Hours
Ahmedabad	First Floor, Abhijit VI Near Parimal Garden Cross Road, Off C G Road 380 006 Ahmedabad	Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 15:00 (by appointment only)
Bangalore	22, Gopalan Innovation Mall, Bannerghatta Main Rd, Sarakki Industrial Layout, 3rd Phase, J. P. Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560076.	Monday to Friday, 09.00 – 16.00 (by appointment only)
Chandigarh	VFS Elante Offices, Gate No 3, Unit No B 209, Iind Floor Office Block B Plot No 178-178A Industrial & Business Park Phase 1 160002 Chandigarh	Tuesday and Thursday, 09.00 – 16.00 (by appointment only)
Chennai	Fagun Towers, III Floor, No 74 Ethiraj salai Egmore 600 008 Chennai	Monday to Friday, 08:00 – 15:00 (by appointment only)
Cochin	1st Floor, Manoj Tower (Coastal Chambers), Opposite to Mercy Hotel M G Road, Ravipuram 682015 Cochin Kerala	Monday to Friday, 08:00 – 15:00 (by appointment only)
Goa	Temporarily closed until further notice	N/A
Hyderabad	8-2-700, Srida Anushka Pride, Rd Number 12, Banjara Hills Hyderabad, Telangana 500034	Monday to Friday, 08:00 – 15:00 (by appointment only)
Jaipur	106, 1^st floor, Mangalam Ambition Tower, Malan Ka Chauraha 302001 Jaipur	Tuesday and Friday, 09.00 – 16.00 (by appointment only)
Jalandhar	Aman Plaza, 3rd Floor 310 Lajpat Nagar, Mahavir Marg. 144001 Jalandhar	Tuesday and Thursday, 09.00 – 16.00 (by appointment only)
Kolkata	5th Floor, Rene Tower, Plot No. AA-I, 1842, Rajdanga Main Road, Kasba (Landmark: Near Geetanjali Stadium), Kolkata 700107 India	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 09.00 – 14.00 (by appointment only)
Mumbai	Trade Center, First Floor, ‘G’ Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai – 400 051, India	Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 15:00 (by appointment only)
New Delhi	Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Mezzanine Level Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place 110001 New Delhi	Monday to Friday, 09.00 – 16.00 (by appointment only)
Puducherry	Good Shepherd Square, I Floor No.33, East Coast Road, Elaipillaichavady, (Opposite to Rajiv Gandhi Govt Hospital) 605 005 Puducherry	Monday to Friday, 08:00 – 15:00 (by appointment only)
Pune	93 Avenue Mall,4th Floor, Kalubai Chowk, Near Fatima Nagar Junction, Wanowarie, Pune-411022	Monday to Friday, 08:00 – 15:00 (by appointment only)

Conclusion

To apply for a France Schengen visa from India, follow these simple steps:

Step 1 – Identify your visa type
Step 2 – Begin your application
Step 3 – Book an appointment
Step 4 – Pay your fees
Step 5 – Visit an application center
Step 6 – Track your application
Step 7 – Collect your passport

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.