Guide to processing times and monitoring of a French visa application

You are considering traveling to France and your nationality requires obtaining a visa to enter and move within the Schengen Area, of which France is a part.

You have completed the entire procedure to apply for a visa for France: from registering on France-Visas to submitting your application at the embassy, consulate, or an external visa service, including filling out the application form and gathering all the necessary supporting documents.
Now, you are asking yourself a single question: has my visa application been accepted or not? And when will I receive a response? Relax; we will explain the entire procedure and answer all your questions.

What is the processing time for a visa application for France?

Time always seems interminable when waiting for a response. This is especially true when it comes to waiting for a visa application to travel!
The waiting time depends on the consular services of each country where the application has been submitted. Generally, the review time for a file does not exceed 72 hours, but you should expect to wait, on average, 10 to 15 business days before receiving a response.
However, this time can be longer if you apply during a busy period (before summer, school holidays, and year-end festivities). In some countries, visa applications for France can even multiply by four during high season.
Some files and situations may also require more in-depth examination, which can lead to a processing time of 1 to 2 months, especially for long-stay visa applications.

Our tips to avoid prolonging the waiting time :

Save time by purchasing our visa insurance for France online: you will immediately receive the certificate of proof to attach to your application.

How to track the progress of my visa application for France?

You can track the progress of your application for a visa for France by contacting the center where you submitted your application.
Warning! Keep in mind that you will learn the status of your application but will not receive any information regarding the issuance or non-issuance of the visa.

You submitted your application at an embassy or consulate

With the reference number given when you submitted your application and your date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy), you can log in to your "My applications" space on France-Visas to track the status of your application.

You submitted your application at an external service provider

  • At a CAPAGO center
    You can use the online tracking application from CAPAGO. After selecting your country of residence, go to the menu and choose the option "track my application." You then enter the application reference number that was provided when you submitted your visa application, as well as the email address you provided in your application.
     
  • At a VFS center
    Log in to the online tracking application from VFS. Select the country where you submitted your visa application for France, then choose the language (English or French) in which you want to see the information displayed. Fill in the requested fields: the reference number (provided when you submitted your application) and your last name (sometimes you may need to enter your first name if you are not recognized).
    Warning : remember to allow pop-up windows on your browser!
     
  • At a TLS center
    Log in to your TLS account to view the status of your application. To access it, you must enter the destination country (France), your last name, and your passport number (the same one that appears on your visa application form). You will then be able to see if your application has been submitted to the decision-making authorities and whether you can retrieve your passport.
     

Note : the methods to track your visa application for France may vary depending on the country where you submitted your application. To learn more in detail, visit the France-Visas.

How to log in to my France Visas account?

When you created your account for your online visa application, you should have received an email with a link to activate your France-Visas account, followed by a second email containing a temporary password, which you were prompted to change upon your first login. When you wish to log in again to your personal space on France Visas, simply go to this page and fill in the requested fields (email address and password). And that's it!
Don't remember your password? No worries! Just request a new one by clicking on "forgot password."

How to obtain a receipt from France Visas?

This question is indeed very important because this document proves that your visa application has been successfully registered on the official France Visas site. You will need this receipt when you attend your appointment to submit your application.
Where can you find it? At the final stage of the online application on France Visas, a final screen appears. An icon invites you to download and print the documents. By clicking on it, you will obtain both the application form and the receipt from France Visas.

How do I know if my visa application for France is accepted?

You are wondering how you will be informed about the decision regarding your France visa application?
You will need to be (once again!) a bit patient.
When the relevant authorities have made their decision regarding your visa application, they will send your passport to the visa service where you submitted your application (embassy, consulate, external service provider). Once this center receives your passport, they will notify you by email, SMS, or by phone call (if you opted for this option) and/or through a message in your personal space.
You are then invited to come collect your passport at this center: in person or through a representative. You can also have it delivered to your home if you subscribed to the "strong>home delivery of the passport" option when it was offered.
The procedures for collecting your passport are specified by the visa center. It is only once you have your passport in hand that you know whether or not you have obtained the requested visa. The visa takes the form of a secure sticker affixed in the passport that details the terms of your France visa (type of visa, validity period of your visa, duration of stay, etc.).

Was your visa application accepted? Congratulations! You can prepare your luggage by bringing with you a copy of the file containing all the supporting documents that may be requested upon your arrival in France. Remember that a visa is a document that does not grant an irrevocable right of entry.
Was your visa application not accepted? This decision of visa refusal to enter France must be justified. You have the option to appeal this decision.

Who issues the visa for France?

The decision to grant or refuse a visa solely depends on the French consular authorities (consulates or embassies) of the country where you submitted your application.
Visa centers, which are external service providers, do not make decisions in this regard.

What is the cost of a visa to go to France?

 

How much does a short-stay visa for France (less than 90 days) cost?

1. Price list for a Schengen visa for France (type C) and airport transit visa (type A)

  • Adult and child over 12 years old: €80
  • Child aged 6 to under 12 years: €40
  • Child under 6 years: free
  • Spouses of French nationals and family members of EU-EEA-Swiss nationals: free

Special cases: for nationals holding non-biometric passports from Albania, Bosnia, Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Ukraine and for nationals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus: €35

2. For a short-stay visa for Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Réunion, Saint-Martin, and Saint-Barthélemy:

  • Adult and child over 12 years: €60
  • Child aged 6 to under 12 years: €35
  • Child under 6 years: free
  • Spouses of French nationals and family members of EU-EEA-Swiss nationals: free

3. For a short-stay visa for New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte, and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands:

  • €9
  • Spouses of French nationals and family members of EU-EEA-Swiss nationals: free

How much does a long-stay visa (more than 90 days) for France (national visa or type D) cost?

  • Adult and child: €99
  • Students whose file has been reviewed by a Center for Studies in France: €50
  • Spouses of French nationals: free

We wish you a very good trip and support you throughout your stay with our 3 Schengen visa insurances

For more information

Frequently Asked Questions about the Acceptance of Your France Visa

My short-stay France visa application has been denied. What can I do?

According to the provisions of French and European law, the decisions to deny a visa to enter France and the Schengen area must be justified. You have the option to submit a new visa application, taking into account the reasons why your visa was denied (missing documents, for example). In the case of a short-stay visa denial, you also have a period of 30 days to appeal to the deputy director of visas (BP 83609 44036 Nantes Cedex 1). 

Can I call the visa center to find out if my France visa application has been accepted?

No. However, you can check the status of your visa application by logging into the personal account you created on the website/app of the center where you submitted your application.

My visa application has been denied. Will I be reimbursed for the fees I have already paid?

No. The visa application fees collected by the French administration and any service fees charged by the external provider are non-refundable. 

Where can I find the VFS reference number?

This number is indicated on the invoice/receipt issued by the visa application center when you submitted your application and paid the visa and service fees.

How can I contact a France Visa administrator?

Simply refer to the Legal Notices page of the official France-Visas website to find the electronic contact details you need, or consult the "Assistance" section for your place of residence.

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