The passionate and happening places in all the 26 Schengen countries have been bagged by France, as vastly beautiful. Ahead of both Spain and USA, France secured its place as the top tourist destination in the world with about 89 million transnational excursionists. Being a transcontinental country France has a confluence package of frugality, culture, trades, literature, galleries, fashions, cookery, and a lot more for a perfect holiday spot not only for couples but also for family fun.

Home to everyone’s loving spot Eiffel tower, Paris came the megacity in France soliciting utmost of France’s visitors towards it. This place is a heaven for honeymoon traveling couples but also proves to be the stylish place for family and friends to explore its inner beauty in the famed galleries, vestiges, literal glories, and many more.

The most popular hitting spots in France are: Eiffel Tower, Château de Versailles, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Pont du Gard, Arc de Triomphe, Mont Saint-Michel, Sainte-Chapelle, Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, Puy de Dôme, Musée Picasso, and Carcassonne attracting tourists from all over the world. But the best part for Indians in visiting France is that they can travel anywhere in the entire Schengen zone with a single Schengen country’s visa. 

WHO CAN APPLY FOR A FRANCE VISA?

• For Citizens of India – Indian passport holders need to have a Schengen Visa as France is a member of the EU (European Union) along with the Schengen zone. So for citizens of India, it is necessary to have a Schengen visa which is valid to travel in all the 26 Schengen countries with a single Visa.

• For Non-Citizens of India – Other than citizens of India, i.e., EU or EEA citizens do not require any visa to enter and exit France; also the need for a Visa totally depends on your residing country.

TYPES OF VISAS TO VISIT FRANCE

Generally, the Visa for France Schengen zone is of two types based on the duration of 90 days and for more than 90 days which are further explained below: 

1. Short-stay Visa: – Travelers for vacation, sightseeing, short-business trip, family outing, or for any other reason traveling to France for up to 90 days need to apply for Schengen Short-stay Visa. The short-stay visa applies to all the Schengen countries.
2. Long-term Visa: – Long-term Visas are for any Schengen trip of more than 90 days. These Visa purposes include study programs, business tours, seminars lasting for 90 days, and more. 
3. Business Visa: – The Business Visa is strictly for work professionals wanting to visit France with intentions of work and are advised to opt for this visa type.
4. Visitor Visa: – Most of the time the only purpose of travelers is to hop in and just enjoy the world outside their daily life. For them, there is this Visa called Visitor Visa.
5. Study Visa: – Students willing to study in their dream country of France are suited best for this Study Visa to France which is a long-term Visa till they achieve their education.

FRANCE EMBASSY/CONSULATE/VACs/VFSs INFORMATION IN INDIA 

1. France Embassy in New Delhi

Address: 2/50-E Shantipath – Chanakyapuri, 110 021, New Delhi, India.

Phone: +91-11-43-19-6100

Website: http://ambafrance-in.org

Email: webmaster@ambafrance-in.org

Hours: 

1. Monday 8:30am–6pm
2. Tuesday 8:30am–6pm
3. Wednesday 8:30am–6pm
4. Thursday 8:30am–6pm
5. Friday 8:30am–6pm
6. Saturday Closed
7. Sunday Closed

2. France Consulate in Bangalore

Address: 21, Palace Rd, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560052.

Phone: 080 2214 1200

Website: https://in.ambafrance.org/-Consulate-in-Bangalore-

Email: visas.bangalore-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr

Hours: 

1. Monday 9am–1pm, 2–5pm
2. Tuesday 9am–1pm, 2–5pm
3. Wednesday 9am–1pm, 2–5pm
4. Thursday 9am–1pm, 2–5pm
5. Friday 9am–2pm
6. Saturday Closed
7. Sunday Closed

3. France Consulate in Bombay

Address: Wockhardt Towers East Wing, 5e étage, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400051.

Phone: 022 6669 4000

Website: https://in.ambafrance.org/-Consulat-de-Bombay

Email: mail@consulfrance-bombay.org

Hours: 

1. Monday 9am–5pm
2. Tuesday 9am–5pm
3. Wednesday 9am–5pm
4. Thursday 9am–5pm
5. Friday 9am–5pm
6. Saturday Closed
7. Sunday Closed

4. France Consulate in Kolkata

Address: 21C, Raja Santosh Rd, Mangalam, Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700027.

Phone: 033 4016 3200

Website:  https://in.ambafrance.org/-Consulate-in-Calcutta-

Hours: 

1. Monday 9am–5:30pm
2. Tuesday 9am–5:30pm
3. Wednesday 9am–5:30pm
4. Thursday 9am–5:30pm
5. Friday 9am–4:15pm
6. Saturday Closed
7. Sunday Closed

5. France Consulate in Pondichéry

Address: 2, Marine Street, White Town, Puducherry, 605001.

Phone: 0413 223 1000

Website: https://in.ambafrance.org/-Consulate-in-Pondichery-

Email: consul@consulfrance-pondichery.org

Hours:

1. Monday 8am–12pm
2. Tuesday 8am–12pm
3. Wednesday 8am–12pm
4. Thursday 8am–12pm
5. Friday 8am–12pm
6. Saturday Closed
7. Sunday Closed

6. France Visa Application Centre

Address: trade centre, 3rd floor, G Block BKC, MMRDA Area, Kalina, Bandra East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400098.

Website: france-visas.gouv.fr

7. Institut français India

Address: 2, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Rd, Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi, Delhi 110011.

Phone: 011 3041 0000

Website: https://www.ifindia.in/

Hours: 

1. Monday 9:30am–5:30pm
2. Tuesday 9:30am–5:30pm
3. Wednesday 9:30am–5:30pm
4. Thursday 9:30am–5:30pm
5. Friday 9:30am–5:30pm
6. Saturday Closed
7. Sunday Closed

8. Bureau Of France In Chennai

Address: 6th Floor, Bannari Amman Towers, 29, Dr Radha Krishnan Salai, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600004.

Phone: 044 2847 9500

Website: https://in.ambafrance.org

Hours: 

1. Monday 9am–12pm
2. Tuesday 9am–12pm
3. Wednesday 9am–12pm
4. Thursday 9am–12pm
5. Friday 9am–12pm
6. Saturday Closed
7. Sunday Closed

THE OVER-ALL LIST OF DOCUMENTS FOR FRANCE VISAS FROM INDIA

1. Fill France Schengen Online Visa application form, filled and signed properly by hands of the applicant.
2. 02 Passport size photos recently clicked, clean and valid.
3. The Valid Passport and other trip-related documents of up to 10 years old with 03 months of validity after arriving in France. Also, duplicates of previously obtained visa travel documents.
4. Travel booking proof or the Flight Itinerary
5. Accommodation proof or Hotel Confirmation
6. Travel Insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000€ for the whole France trip

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS BASED ON THE PURPOSE OF THE FRANCE VISIT

1) For Employee

1. Employment agreement.
2. Indian employer’s NO-Objection letter.
3. Income Tax Return.
4. Current bank statement.

2) For Self-Employee

1. Company’s bank statement.
2. Income Tax Return.
3. Any Licenses.

3) For Retiree

1. Pension statement for last 06 months.
2. Proof of property or agricultural income.

4) For Student

1. Admission agreement.
2. NOC-No-Objection Certificate from Indian School/University.

5) Financial backing proofs 

1. Proof of your financial assistance sponsoring your entire France visit.
2. IT/Income Tax Returns.

WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR FRANCE SCHENGEN VISA?

The Visa application process for the France journey is explained in the following way;

1. To start with you must decide the purpose of your visit and fill out the application form accordingly.
2. Then accumulate all the necessary documents supporting your visa application legally.
3. Submit your form along with the documents at the appropriate VFS Global Centre near you.
4. Schedule a Visa interview at the VFS Global and attend it without fail. 
5. Lastly, linger for 15 days or more for processing your visa and receive it by email or courier. 

NOTE: You can apply for France Schengen Visa at the most 06 months before your journey or not less than 15 days prior to your departure to France.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

The officials of France outsourced their Visa application process to VFS Global Company. That means you need to submit your application at any of the VFS Global Centres of Mumbai, Pune, Puducherry, Chennai, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Goa, New Delhi, Kochi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Bengaluru near you where they will initially verify and begin with your visa application process and will forward to the responsible Visa centre. Your need to attend the visa interview at any one of these centres for a proper visa, so you must book an appointment beforehand via call or email at your nearest VFS Global Centre. It may take 15 days on a regular basis to process the France Schengen Visa can extend to 30 days or more in special cases.

Screenshots to know the process of Applying France Visa from India

Open the link: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/fra/apply-visa

WHAT TO DO, IF VISA IS REJECTED/APPROVED?

• Visa rejected: – If the given documents are invalid or warrant pieces of substantiation or any felonious record can reject your visa incontinently. At that time you need to cooperate with the officers by doing the needful and can apply again for your visa.
• Visa approved: – If everything goes impeccably your visa will be approved and it will be in your hands within 15 days of the regular waiting period after your application request. But may take more time in some rare cases. Once you have the visa in your hands you are all ready to go to France. Bon Voyage Amusant!!!