France is considered a major international power. In addition to this rank, the country is also viewed as an idyllic destination, offering a host of activities to travellers. Also, it has always been a country of historical importance. France is renowned as a country of high knowledge and education. It consists of several intellectuals considering it to be a paradise for art and artists alike. Because of all these, France is on the bucket list of most people along with some selected countries of Europe. But visiting France is not an easy task, for a French Visa is necessary to experience all that it offers. Read this blog to know about all the required documents to apply for a France visa for Indians.
How To Get A France Visa For Indians?
Individuals keen to visit France need to follow these simple steps to get a visa:
- Appointment – The first step is to schedule an appointment with the visa office. For this, you need to go through the official website of the visa application centre, where you can do pre-booking. Appointments are taken from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm, in either New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai.
- Application form – Once you have booked an appointment, make sure that the application form is duly filled. You can download the form from the VFS website.
- Verification – You will be able to sit for the interview on the date provided by officials. Approval of the visa will take place only if all documents are in place and other requirements are met.
France Visa Application
You can get two different visas from the French Embassy/Consulate in the country, namely short-term and long-term visas. If you are a tourist or an individual who wishes to visit the country on business, a short-term visa is the best for you. However, if you are an individual looking to stay in France for an extended period, you should get a long-term visa.
You will have to provide details like your name, nationality, date of birth, the purpose of visit, duration of stay, occupation, employment details etc. After this is done successfully, the Embassy/Consulate will process an application. There will be a direct submission of the form when you go for your appointment.
Documents Required For France Visa For Indians
If you are looking forward to visiting France, you will need to submit the following documents to process the visa application:
- Original Passport – Your passport should be valid for a minimum of 3 months after the trip. Also, it should have a minimum of 2 blank pages.
- You should submit photocopies of the address and photo in the passport (2 copies).
- You will have to submit photocopies of visas for US, UK or Schengen nations, if available.
- Your application form should be duly filled.
- You need to have at least 2 of the latest passport size photographs.
- You should have one duly signed cover letter.
- Carry a photocopy of the hotel booking/sponsorship certificate.
- Also, carry a photocopy of your travel itinerary.
- Proof of income – It should be through copies of IT returns, and updated bank statements of the last 3 months.
- Have a photocopy of the insurance policy (international insurance). Also, have an original as it will be required for verification.
- You have to have a photocopy of the air tickets.
- One duly filled and signed visa insurance form.
- If you are a minor travelling alone, your parents/guardians should authorise the same through relevant authorities. With this, it is required to submit a copy of the ID of the parent.
- If you are a student applying for a student visa, you should provide proof of enrollment.
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required from the employer/college.
- If you are a married couple wishing to travel to France, you should provide your marriage certificate.
- A birth certificate is necessary for children under the age of 18 years.
The documents may vary depending on the type of visa applied. Also, know you could require to bring additional documents on a case to case basis.