What is a tourist visa for France?

The tourist visa for France is valid up to 90 days, from the day you arrive in the Schengen Area. It allows you to travel in France but also in the Schengen Area, under the same regulations. A sticker will be added on the traveler’s passport which proves the traveler is allowed to stay and travel in the country.

Here is everything you need to know about the France tourist visa.

What are the characteristics of a French tourist visa?

This visa allows you to visit France, Belgium, Switzerland or another Schengen country.

Being part of the Schengen Area, France follows the rules for getting a tourist visa as voted by the 29 member countries of the area. The tourist visa provided by France to citizens of non-Schengen countries is called a “Schengen Visa”. It might be a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa.

According to your visa, you can stay in one country or several, as long as you are not staying more than 90 days in the Schengen Area. In every case, the traveler has to leave the Schengen Area after 90 days.

Who needs a tourist visa for France?

You need a tourist visa for France if you are a foreign national from a country outside of the Schengen Area.

However, some countries signed agreements with the Schengen Area and their citizens do not need a visa. You should check your situation before applying for a visa, for example, EU citizens do not need a tourist visa to travel in France.

To find out if you need a tourist visa to travel to France, check the website assistant-visa ( https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas/ai-je-besoin-d-un-visa ).

How do I get a tourist visa?

You have to apply for a tourist visa at the consulate of your country of residence or your visa application center (e.g. TLS).

This is the case if you apply for a tourist visa for France from Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. If not, you have to book an appointment to hand in your visa application form at the French embassy’s consular district of your country of residence or in one of the French consulates.

How do I apply for a tourist visa for France from the U.K. or another country?

From the 1st of December 2018, visa applications for France are online only on France-Visas (http://france-visas.gouv.fr/fr_FR/web/france-visas ):

You fill in the application form online
You book an appointment online with TLS and prepay for it
During the appointment at TLS, you must give all the documents requested for a visa application
TLS will inform you when your passport will be sent back to you.

Check out our applying for a France visa from the U.K. page

Which documents do you need to apply for a tourist visa for France?

As every visa application for France or another Schengen Area country is individual, each traveler has to apply for a visa. If you are traveling with a minor, you have to apply for them too.

The following documents are required for a France tourist visa application:

A fully completed and signed visa application form
- France visa application form (French)
- France visa application (English)
An itinerary of your trip - including dates, flight numbers, and hotel reservations
Schengen Visa medical insurance covering you for medical costs and repatriation
The purpose of your stay – such as an invitation letter from the person you plan to visit or proof of booking with your holiday tour operator
Proof of means of subsistence (payslips, cash…)
Proof of accommodation.

You should apply no more than 6 months before your departure date to the French consulate.

How much does a tourist visa cost?

Rates depend on the traveler’s age: €80 for an adult, €60 for a child aged 12 to 18 years old, and €40 for a child aged six to 11. Children under six years old are exempt.

Visa fees are different for citizens from Eastern European countries but not members of the European Union or not a member of the Schengen Area.

Can I work in France with a tourist visa?

If you have been granted a tourist visa for France, you are not allowed to work in France nor any other country in the Schengen Area.

A tourist visa does not allow you to stay for a long period of time in France nor the Schengen Area.

If you want to work in France, you will need a long-term visa, called Type D.

How can AXA help?

AXA offers several Schengen Visa compliant insurance policies for travel in Europe, including France. A Europe Travel insurance provides the mandatory insurance certificate needed for a Schengen visa.