How to make an appointment for a France visa: instructions

You are planning to go to France and have checked that your nationality requires obtaining a France visa to make this trip. Before securing this valuable document, also known as the Schengen visa, you will need to go through the "administrative steps" phase. Among them: scheduling an appointment with a visa center to submit your France visa application file. This step is essential and requires some organization. Don't worry! We will guide you through each step.

Who should you schedule an appointment with for a France visa?

The ways to schedule a France visa appointment vary depending on your place of residence and the policies of the local consular services responsible for processing visa applications. To find the visa center where you need to schedule your appointment, just follow these steps:

1. Log in to France-Visas (france-visas.gouv.fr/web/france-visas/), the only official website for France visa applications
2. After creating your personal account, fill out the France visa application form online. After printing it, date and sign it, and attach it to the file you will present during your appointment at the visa service
3. Review the list of documents and supporting documents required for your specific situation. Add them to your application file in the requested order
4. You will receive a receipt of your registration by email, which you must print and attach to your file
5. You can then schedule an appointment with the visa center that corresponds to your place of residence. This could be the consular services of the Embassy of France, the Consulate General of France, or an external service provider (CAPAGO, VFS, TLScontact).

To find information about the visa center where you need to schedule an appointment, simply go to the France-Visas website, navigate to the page related to your country of application (france-visas.gouv.fr/web/france-visas/ma-page-pays?caller=depotVisas), and select the "Who to contact?" section. You will then obtain all the necessary information (website link, contact details, hours, processing times, etc.) to schedule an appointment. Depending on the center, it is usually done online after creating a personal account. However, some countries offer appointment scheduling by phone or by sending an email to the concerned visa service.
After scheduling the appointment, you will receive an email or personal confirmation reference that you must present on the day of your appointment.

When to schedule an appointment for a France visa application?

Before scheduling an appointment with the visa service, consider the time you will need to complete the France visa application file that you will submit and gather the necessary funds to pay the application and service fees.

Some required documents and supporting materials may take some time to gather. This includes a possible host certificate, proof of financial resources, or even French translations by a certified translator for certain documents.
In theory, you can submit a visa application file between 6 months and 15 business days before your departure.
However, the processing times for scheduling an appointment and the visa application processing vary depending on the country, the time of year, and certain situations (such as long-stay visa applications). During peak seasons (summer and school holidays), these times may be considerably extended.
Check the appointment processing times directly with the visa center.

How does a France visa appointment proceed?

On the day of your appointment, you must appear in person (unless exempted) at the visa center at the specified time.
If you arrive late, there is no guarantee you will be received, and you will be required to reschedule the appointment.

You must have with you:

• the confirmation of your appointment
• the printed receipt and visa application form. The form (CERFA) must be printed in its final version. It should not have the word "DRAFT" on it.
• your original passport + 1 copy (the passport number must match the one on your appointment confirmation letter and in your visa application form)
• the visa application file containing all required documents, arranged in the order specified in the document list. You may be asked to provide a duplicate of your supporting documents: one set of originals and one set of photocopies in A4 format
• payment methods to cover the visa application fees charged by the French authorities, as well as any service fees charged by the external service provider.
  Before going to the center, check with them to confirm the accepted payment methods (cash, credit card, etc.)

On-site
An agent will greet you and check that your file is complete (including the application form and receipt from France-Visas, among others) before passing it on to the decision-making authorities.
Important! If any required document listed on your receipt is missing, your visa application may be refused.
Unless exempted (children under 12 years old or visa applicants who have already obtained a visa marked "VIS" in the past 59 months), your biometric data (fingerprints and photo) will be collected.
You will then pay the required fees, and a receipt will be issued. Be sure to keep it to present when you pick up your passport.

IMPORTANT

• Follow the safety instructions imposed by the visa centers, as specified during your appointment booking or on their website. For example, some centers require that you not bring a third party, bring only a plastic bag containing the required documents, and not carry flammable items (matches, lighter) or electronic devices…
• Before submitting your documents to the visa center, consider making a photocopy of your passport if it is your only form of identification. You will need to present an ID or a copy to retrieve your passport after the consular authorities have made their decision
• The visa center is not responsible for making decisions about visa issuance.

After your appointment

With the reference indicated on the receipt for the application fee (provided when you submit your file) and other information (name, surname, date of birth, passport number...), you can track the status of your application online. To do so, log in to the visa center's portal where you submitted your application.
Note! Keep in mind that you will learn about the status of your application, but you will not receive any information regarding the issuance or denial of the visa.
You will be informed by email, SMS, or phone call (if you have selected this option) when the processing of your application is complete. You will then be invited to pick up your passport at the center where you submitted your file, and at that point, you will know whether the visa has been issued.

Covid: What are the health conditions for entering France?

In addition to the usual rules governing the right to stay (presentation of a valid passport along with the required documents: short-stay visa, long-stay visa, residence permit, etc.), all travelers coming to France must comply with the entry requirements during the health crisis.
These requirements differ depending on the traveler’s vaccination status and the country of departure.

As of February 12, 2022 

• For vaccinated travelers^₍₁₎ and regardless of the country of origin, no Covid-19 testing will be required upon departure, but they must present proof of full vaccination.
• For unvaccinated travelers from a "green list" country^₍₂₎, presentation of a negative result from a PCR test taken within 72 hours or an antigenic (TAG) test taken within 48 hours is required.
• For unvaccinated travelers from a "orange list" country, they must present an imperative reason justifying their need to travel to mainland France, present either a negative result from a PCR or antigenic test or a recovery certificate, and agree to undergo a screening test upon arrival. If the result is positive, they will be required to self-isolate, according to the recommendations of the French Health Insurance.

IMPORTANT: All travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, must have a sworn declaration stating that they do not present symptoms of a Covid-19 infection and that they are not aware of having been a contact case in the 14 days prior to their travel.

(1) According to European regulations, the vaccination schedule is considered complete based on the following criteria:

• 28 days after the administration of a dose for the Janssen vaccine
• 7 days after the administration of a second dose for other vaccines recognized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
  Pfizer/Comirnaty, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria/Covishield
• For people who received all required doses of a vaccine authorized by the WHO but not recognized by the EMA: 7 days after the administration of an additional dose of an mRNA vaccine recognized by the EMA

Note: Since February 1, 2022, for the vaccination schedule to remain recognized as complete, individuals aged 18 and over who wish to enter France must have received a complementary mRNA booster dose (booster shot) no later than 9 months after the last required dose.

(2) France has established a classification of countries and territories based on health indicators.

• Green list: countries or territories experiencing negligible or moderate virus circulation, without an emerging variant of concern.
• Orange list: all countries not included in the "green" list
• Red list countries: in the event of an emergency due to the appearance of a variant that may present an increased risk of transmissibility or immune escape

This color classification may be modified depending on the health situation and/or the appearance of concerning variants. That’s why we recommend you regularly check the updated list provided by the French government to know the classification of your country of origin.

For more information about the France visa

• How to obtain a visa for France from Morocco?
• How to obtain a visa for France from Algeria?
• How to obtain a visa for France from Tunisia?
• How to obtain a visa for France from Ivory Coast?
• How to obtain a visa for France from Cameroon?
• How to obtain a visa for France from the Democratic Republic of Congo?
• How to obtain a visa for France from Madagascar?
• How to obtain a visa for France from Gabon?
• How to obtain a visa for France from Senegal?
• Marriage in France: which visa should you apply for to come to France?
• France visa application: has it been accepted?
• What is a tourist visa for France?
• How to obtain a student visa for France?
• How to obtain a work visa for France?

Frequently Asked Questions about the visa appointment

Is booking an appointment for a France visa application chargeable?

Booking an appointment to submit a France visa application is free. However, you will need to pay visa application fees and possibly service fees if you submitted your application through an external provider. These fees are non-refundable.

Is it mandatory to make an appointment to submit a France visa application?

Generally: yes. However, some consular services may accept application submissions without prior appointments. This may be possible in certain countries and for certain categories of applicants (holders of official passports - spouses of French nationals).

How far in advance should I book an appointment for a France visa application?

You can submit your visa application at the earliest 6 months before your intended departure date and no later than 15 working days before. However, the processing time may be longer depending on the time of year, the type of visa requested, and the country where it was submitted.