France tourist visa
The visa for France is the Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) — the single uniform visa shared by all 29 Schengen countries. Indian passport holders need it in hand before they fly. It allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period and, once issued, opens the whole Schengen area rather than France alone. Apply through a French mission when France is your sole or main destination — the country where you will spend the most days — or, when your days fall equally across several Schengen states, when France is your first point of entry.
France does not take these applications directly in India; it has entrusted their reception to VFS Global. Treat VFS as a receiving desk, not a decision-maker: the French consular services — the visa section of the Embassy of France in New Delhi and the Consulates General in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Puducherry — examine every file and rule on the outcome. You start on the official France-Visas portal, then attend a VFS Global centre in person to hand over your documents and give biometrics: a photograph and ten fingerprints, required of everyone aged 12 and over.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian passport holders travelling to France and the Schengen area for tourism, sightseeing or visiting friends and family, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- ✓France is your sole or main destination, or — where you spend equal time in several Schengen states — your first point of entry, so the application is correctly lodged through a French mission
- ✓Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen area, with at least two blank pages
- ✓Travel medical insurance covering the entire Schengen stay, with a minimum of EUR 30,000 for medical expenses, hospitalisation and repatriation (a uniform Schengen requirement)
- ✓Proof of sufficient funds, confirmed accommodation and return travel to India
- ✓Applicants aged 12 and over must attend in person at a VFS Global centre to give biometric data (photograph and ten fingerprints)
Visa options for France
Short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) – tourism
The uniform Schengen visa for tourism and sightseeing, allowing up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.
Short-stay visa for a private or family visit
A Type C visa to visit friends or family in France, where the host provides an attestation d'accueil (certificate of accommodation) validated by their local town hall (mairie).
Multiple-entry short-stay visa
A Type C visa allowing several trips within its validity period, each capped at the 90-days-in-180 limit; longer validity may be granted to travellers with a good visa history.
Documents typically required
- ✓France-Visas application form completed on the official portal and signed, with the printed application summary and receipt
- ✓Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after your planned departure from the Schengen area, with at least two blank pages, plus copies of any previous visas
- ✓Two recent Schengen-format photographs (35x45 mm, white background)
- ✓Cover letter stating the purpose of travel, dates and a day-by-day itinerary
- ✓Flight tickets covering entry to and exit from the Schengen area
- ✓Proof of accommodation for the whole stay: hotel bookings, or for a family/private visit a validated attestation d'accueil (certificate of accommodation) from the host's town hall
- ✓Travel medical insurance covering the entire Schengen stay, with a minimum of EUR 30,000 for medical expenses, hospitalisation and repatriation
- ✓Personal bank statements for the last 6 months, stamped by the bank, showing sufficient funds for the trip
- ✓Income Tax Returns (ITR-V) for the last 2 assessment years
- ✓Employment proof: leave letter and recent salary slips; for the self-employed, business registration / GST documents and company bank statements
- ✓Proof of sufficient means of subsistence for the stay, plus the sponsor's documents where the trip is funded by someone else
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
In India, France's tourist visa applications are handled by VFS Global, which runs centres in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Puducherry and Pune. You may pick any of them, wherever in India you live. Always open the application on the official France-Visas portal (france-visas.gouv.fr) before booking your VFS appointment. The short-stay Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults (set by the EU), paid at the centre alongside VFS's separate service fee. Apply no more than six months ahead, and at least two to three weeks before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Where in India do I apply for a France tourist visa?
Through VFS Global, France's visa partner in India, which runs 14 centres: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Goa and Puducherry. Fill in the form on the official France-Visas portal first, then book a VFS appointment to submit documents and give biometrics. Keep in mind that VFS only receives the file — it is the visa section of the French Embassy in New Delhi, or the Consulates General in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata or Puducherry, that examines and decides it.
When should I apply to France rather than another Schengen country?
Choose the French mission when France is your sole or main destination — the country where you will spend the most days — or, if you split your time equally across several Schengen states, when France is your first point of entry. That France Schengen visa then lets you travel the entire Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
How long does a France Schengen visa take?
The French consulate usually decides within about 15 days of your appointment. Extra checks can stretch that to 45 days, and peak travel season pushes it longer still. The timeline and the outcome are always the consulate's to set, so lodge your file well before your dates. We give you a realistic estimate for your own profile.
Do you guarantee the visa?
No one can. The decision rests entirely with the French consulate. What we do is give you a frank read on your case and make your application as complete and strong as it can be. Over the last 2-3 years our applications have seen a 97% success rate.