Get all the details on visa rules and visa information. From details on Business visas to Tourist visas, rules on visitor policies, visa fees and visa forms, find all the information you're looking for right here.
SCHENGEN STATE Please read this note for all Schengen Countries.
Schengen Territory Indian Nationals can obtain short stay visa for a period ranging from one to ninety days, valid for all countries of the Schengen Territory i.e. Austria, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden & Switzerland. The Schengen Convention is a great step towards freedom of circulation of people. Foreigners bearing a valid stay permit delivered by one of the Schengen states can leave and later re-enter the Schengen Territory without having to ask for a visa again, on condition that they have a valid passport and relevant travel document and a multiple entry visa. Application for visas have to be submitted with the competent Consular authorities, which are to be determined according to the following criter
• If the Applicant intends to stay in one Country only, the application should be submitted at the Representation of the same Country.
• If the Applicant wishes to travel to several Member States, the application should be submitted at the Representation of the Country where the main purpose of travel lies, determined by the duration of the stay.
• If the main destination cannot be ascertained, the Country of the first port of entry into Schengen Territory is regarded as the competent Consular office for processing the application.
• Long term visas are still subject to the laws of the Country of Destination. They must be applied for at the Consular Authorities of the concerned Member States.
Note: The French Embassy, in India, also issues visas for French Overseas Territories i.e. French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Tahiti (French Polynesia), Reunion Islands, St Pierre et Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna Islands. The visa applications for these countries are forwarded to the respective countries for approbation and it takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks for the approval to come. The visa fee is same as in France , only the sticker endorsement on the passport varies. A significant relaxation for Indian travellers holding a Schengen Visa and flying directly to France with NO stopovers can use the same visa, for the above mentioned territories BUT the entry is restricted directly from FRANCE only. In the absence of the Representation of some African countries, the French Embassy issues visa for them also. These countries are Central African Republic , Gabon , Mauritania , Monaco and Togo . Visas for these countries are issued by the French Embassy without any reference to the authorities, Only Gabon is forwarded for approbation. Visa can also be obtained for Kerguelen the Arctic territory but mainly used by scientist or research.
Tourist
Note: For candidates applying at the Consulate General of France in Mumbai, BIOMETRIC process is mandatory. [Once the Logistics fees and courier fees (optional) have been paid at the France Visa Application Centre, applicants will get a bar coded envelope which they need to hand over to the Consulate General of France, along with other documents as per their appointment timings, where they have to appear IN PERSON for the collection of biometrics data (fingerprints and photography). ]
• The Applicant should have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of application for the visa. One photocopy of the first and last page of the passport and photocopies of valid visa are required.
• Photocopies of valid US, U.K. and previous Schengen visas.
• One application form with all columns filled in and 2 recent photographs in the size of 3.5 cms x 4.5 cms with white / light background.
• ALL APPLICANTS SHOULD MENTION THEIR MOBILE NUMBER ON THE VISA APPLICATION FORM.
• TRAVEL AGENTS AUTHORIZED BY THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE MUST MENTION THE APPLICANTS MOBILE NUMBER ON THE VISA APPLICATION FORM AND NOT THEIR OWN MOBILE NUMBER OR TRAVEL AGENCY NUMBER.
• Covering letter IN ORIGINAL signed by the applicant. For self employed/ businessman, going on tourist visa, covering letter preferably on company's letterhead is required.
• Copy of CONFIRMED prepaid hotel reservation OR sponsorship certificate (attestation d'accueil*) IN ORIGINAL.
• Covering Letter signed by the Applicant. For self employed/ businessman, traveling on tourist visa, a Covering Letter preferably on Company's Letterhead is required (in original).
• Copy of ITINERARY prepared by the travel agency (for those going on tour).
• Copy of income tax papers of last one year, last THREE month bank statement, last 3 months salary slips.
• Photocopy of OVERSEAS medical insurance policy + REPATRIATION, evacuation cover (equivalent to 30,000 euros). Please carry your original insurance for verification at the time of submission of visa application form.
• Copy of air ticket or PNR (booking printout).
• All applicants except first time traveler (traveling first time to a Schengen country) while applying for a French visa will be required to fill visa insurance undertaking form in addition to the visa application form.
• For minor travelling alone the visa application must include an authorization from both his/her parents to travel alone. The authorization has to be certified by an entitled Indian authority and enclose copy of the parents' identity. /// If the minor is travelling with an adult other than his/her parents, this adult has to be legally authorized by the minor's parents to accompany him/her and take any measure that be needed in case of illness, accident,etc. /// If the minor is accompanied by only one of his/her parents, the other one should give his/her legal authorization to let her/his child travelling with his/her spouse.
• For any student under 18, applicants are requested by the French authorities to provide with either a photocopy of certificate from their school or university or any other document as a proof of their enrollment as a student or apprentice.
• The photocopy of certificate from school or university or any other proof of professional or educative occupation is also requested whenever a young person over 18 is depending on his parents for his/her living expenses.
• Domestic help at the private service of a foreign national or a French national, accompanying his employer to France for a short stay needs to hold a working permit, like any foreigner going to work, full time or part time, in France .
• Submission of a contract established between the employee and the employer in accordance with the French Labour law, approved by the DDTEFP( Direction du travail, de l'emploiet de la formation professionnelle) center of the employer's place of vacation is compulsory for application for a visa.
• Visa issued is usually valid for 6 months with a stay of up to 90 days.
The French consulate Kolkata reserves the right to ask the applicant to produce original air ticket and insurance if required.
Employed applicants to submit a letter from the employer with details of employment and leave.
Self employed applicants to submit proof of business i.e. firm's registration or partnership deed.
Unemployed applicants and students can submit their spouse's / parent's financial papers AND a letter of employment or business.
All faxes must be photocopied and in A4 size paper.
Copy of marriage certificate wherever necessary for e.g. if wife's passport is in maiden name.
Each application must be supported by a copy of the requisite documents. If you have received a fax you must photocopy the same and attach it to your application.
No visa will be issued on additional pages.
Children must travel on their individual passports.
Note: No visa fee is charged for children below 6 years of age and students traveling on study tours.
For Short Stay visa applications: There is a service charge of Rs.607/- (inclusive of service tax) levied per application over and above the visa fees.
All fees are non-refundable.
The submission and collection of the visa application and passport from VFS can be done either by the Applicant himself or any person bearing an authorization Letter and a photo-identity.
Note: For Applicants applying in Delhi , Kolkata and Chennai: Please note the visa fee for Applicants applying to the France Visa Application Centre in New Delhi , Kolkata and Chennai is payable by a Bank Draft, payable in the respective cities and favouring 'VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd. A/C NO 24105037330'.
Business
Note: For candidates applying at the Consulate General of France in Mumbai, BIOMETRIC process is mandatory. [Once the Logistics fees and courier fees (optional) have been paid at the France Visa Application Centre, applicants will get a bar coded envelope which they need to hand over to the Consulate General of France, along with other documents as per their appointment timings, where they have to appear IN PERSON for the collection of biometrics data (fingerprints and photography). ]
• Original passport valid for at least six months + 1 photocopy of passport first page.
• The photocopy of Passport photo page and address page of the applicant.
• Photocopies of valid US, U.K. and previous Schengen visas.
• One application form with all columns filled in and 2 recent photographs in the size of 3.5 cms x 4.5 cms with white / light background:
• ALL APPLICANTS SHOULD MENTION THEIR MOBILE NUMBER ON THE VISA APPLICATION FORM.
• TRAVEL AGENTS AUTHORIZED BY THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE MUST MENTION THE APPLICANTS MOBILE NUMBER ON THE VISA APPLICATION FORM AND NOT THEIR OWN MOBILE NUMBER OR TRAVEL AGENCY NUMBER.
• Covering letter from the COMPANY mentioning name and designation of the applicant and that of the signatory of managerial or executive level giving brief sketch of applicant's itinerary, name, address and email of the company to be visited.
• A copy of the Invitation Letter from the French Company.
• Copy of income tax papers of last one year, last THREE month bank statement, last 3 months salary slips.
• Photocopy of OVERSEAS medical insurance policy + REPATRIATION, evacuation cover (equivalent to 30,000 euros). Please carry your original insurance for verification at the time of submission of visa application form.**
• Confirmed onward/ return air ticket (with photocopy enclosed).
• Copy of air ticket or PNR (booking printout).
• Confirmed prepaid hotel reservation.
• All applicants except first time traveler (traveling first time to a Schengen country) while applying for a French visa will be required to fill visa insurance undertaking form in addition to the visa application form.
• Domestic help at the private service of a foreign national or a French national, accompanying his employer to France for a short stay needs to hold a working permit, like any foreigner going to work, full time or part time, in France .
• Submission of a contract established between the employee and the employer in accordance with the French Labour law, approved by the DDTEFP( Direction du travail, de l'emploiet de la formation professionnelle) center of the employer's place of vacation is compulsory for application for a visa.
• The documents must be arranged in the order given above.
• Visa is usually valid for 6 months with a stay of 90 days.
• Processing time is 7 to 10 working days.
The French Consulate, kolkata reserves the right to ask the applicant to produce original air ticket and insurance if required. Frequent flyers can apply for a one-year visa (longer validity) with an overseas medical insurance policy of one year. The passport must be valid accordingly. For applicants going on training, the host organization has to get a clearance from the DDTEFP department of the French ministry in France and photocopy of the DDTEFP has to be attached with the covering letter from the host. All faxes must be photocopied and in A4 size paper. Each application must be supported by a copy of the requisite documents. If you have received a fax you must photocopy the same and attach it to your application. No visa will be issued on additional pages. ** Please note that original insurance will be seen by the submission officer at the time of submission of visa application form. Online insurance should be certified by the insurance company.Also from 01st November 2007 onwards insurance should cover minimum 30 days even if an applicant stay duration in France is less than 30 days. |
