Visa application for France from Benin: instructions

By Jean-Joseph Rivouchy
Date: 28/11/2023

Travel insurance is mandatory to obtain a visa for France
 

You wanted to attend a sporting event at the Stade de France, visit your family in Marseille, sign a contract in La Défense, find an industrial partner in Roubaix, complete your pastry training with an internship at one of the Best Craftsmen in France in the field, or simply visit Paris? In all cases, if you are Beninese, you will need to apply for a visa for France from Benin.

Explanation and procedure:

Why do Beninese citizens need a visa for France?

France is part of the Schengen Area, which has a common visa policy.
Since France and the European authorities have not, as with a hundred other countries, signed a visa exemption agreement with Benin, all Beninese citizens need a visa to travel to France.

Good to know:
In Benin, for short-stay visas, France represents the following European countries: Austria, Belgium, Spain, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
France also represents, for short-stay visas, the following African countries: Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Gabon, Mauritania, and Togo.
You can therefore contact the consular services of the French Embassy in Cotonou to obtain short-stay visas for all these countries.

Note: For all visas to France, it is essential to consult the site France-visas, which is the official and unique portal containing all the necessary information to guide applicants through their process and assist them at each step of their application.
It has a dedicated page for Benin.
The France-visas site also offers a tool that will tell you, after providing some information:

  • which visa you need,
  • what supporting documents are required (specific to your situation),
  • how much your visa will cost.

What are the different types of visas to come to France?

In general, the type of visa you need to come to France depends on the expected duration of your stay and its purpose.
The most requested visa is the short-stay visa (type C) or Schengen visa, for a stay of up to 3 months.
To stay for more than 3 months in France, regardless of the purpose of your stay, you will need to obtain a long-stay visa (type D).

The short-stay visa or Schengen visa

For a stay of less than 90 days and for most common reasons (tourism, visiting family or friends, business trip, internship, short training, participation in a sporting or cultural event), you will need to apply for a short-stay visa (type C) or Schengen visa.
The Schengen visa allows you to stay and travel for up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the 27 Schengen countries, including France.
A standard Schengen visa is valid for a limited number of entries into the Schengen Area (1 or 2). For regular entries and exits, you will need a multiple-entry visa, which can be valid for a period ranging from 6 months to 5 years.

Good to know:
Beninese nationals transiting through France are exempt from a Transit Airport Visa (TAV) as long as they do not leave the international transit area. However, if the traveler must change airports to continue their journey, they will need a short-stay Schengen visa.

The national long-stay visa (type D)

This is typically issued for studies, work, or family reasons. Several types of long-stay visas exist depending on the purpose of the stay, its duration, and the applicant’s intention to settle permanently in France.

  • The VLS-TS visa (4 to 12 months) is for students, employees with a permanent contract, and married spouses of French citizens.
  • The visa marked "residence permit to be applied for within 2 months of arrival" allows entry to France to apply for a residence permit (annual, multi-year, or 10-year depending on your situation).
  • The minor student visa (11 months) allows a minor to come to study in France.
  • The temporary long-stay visa is similar to a short-stay visa but has a validity of 4 to 6 months.

How to apply for a visa to France from Benin?

In Benin, France has delegated the reception and processing of visa applications to the Capago company.
It has an exclusive visa center in Cotonou where you must go in person to submit your application.
How does the process work in practice?

  • Check what type of visa you need by visiting the France-visas website
  • Prepare your application online
    You will need to create an account on France-visas and fill out the visa application form. A list of required supporting documents, tailored to your personal case, will be provided to you.
    Be aware that if you are applying for visas for multiple family members, the required documents may differ for each person. Be sure to refer to the list of documents that apply to each individual.
  • Make an appointment to submit your application Once you have completed all the steps on France-visas, you can proceed to schedule your appointment at Capago. A prepayment is mandatory (in CFA francs, online, and by credit card) to confirm your appointment. This must take place within 48 hours of creating your application.
  • Submit your visa application Go to Capago, whose contact information can be found on their website. You will be greeted by an agent who will check your original documents, collect the visa fees, and record your biometric data (photo and fingerprints). They will keep your passport and copies of all your supporting documents to forward them to the consulate.
    Note ! Capago will not issue your visa. The company only acts as an intermediary for processing the visa application and will forward your file to the consulate in Cotonou, which will review it and decide whether to approve it or not.
  • At any time, you can track the progress of your application online
  • Collect your passport
    Once the consular service has finished processing your visa application, your passport will be returned directly to the collection center where you submitted your application.

When should you apply for a visa to France from Benin?

For a short-stay visa, you can apply up to 6 months before your planned travel date. Since processing times can vary, especially during peak application periods (school holidays, festive seasons, etc.), it is recommended to submit your application 4 to 6 weeks before your intended departure date.
For a long-stay visa, you can apply up to 3 months before your planned travel date. It is recommended to submit your application 6 to 8 weeks before your planned departure date. Some visa types require specific checks (such as civil status) or consultations with various French authorities, which may extend processing times.

What documents are required for a visa to France?

During your visa application, based on your personal situation, a precise list of documents to be submitted will be provided to you.
In general, you will need at least the following documents (this list is general and not exhaustive, please refer to the list provided during your online visa application):

  • A travel document (original + copy) in good condition, issued within the last 10 years, with at least two blank pages, valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area, or, for a long stay, valid for at least 3 months after the expiration date of the requested visa.
  • Two recent passport-sized photos in ICAO format, which complies with the standardized criteria set by the International Civil Aviation Organization for visa photo specifications. You can consult these standards here.
  • Supporting documents (originals + copies) related to your situation and the purpose of your trip.
  • A means of payment for the fees to be paid when submitting your application.
  • Documents related to the purpose of the stay (personalized invitation, proof of relationship with the host, proof of commercial or professional relationship, confirmation of booking for an organized trip, ticket to a sporting or cultural event, etc.),
  • Documents related to your accommodation (hotel reservation, rental agreement, proof of accommodation by a resident of France, or, if not, documents explaining the planned accommodation arrangements in France, etc.)
  • Documents regarding your means of subsistence (personal income or financial support from a third party),
  • A travel insurance for the visa. This is mandatory and must meet several criteria to be accepted: a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros, coverage for medical care/hospitalization, and medical repatriation. It must cover you in all Schengen countries (not just France), be recognized by all 27 Schengen states, and be valid for the entire duration of your stay.
  • A parental authorization or tutor's consent for minors
  • Proof of return to your country of residence at the end of the authorized stay in the Schengen area.

Note : documents written in languages other than French or English may be required to be translated into French.

Good to know:
Upon entering France, you must carry and be able to present all the supporting documents provided during your visa application, especially the medical insurance certificate. Holders of multiple-entry visas must carry medical insurance certificates for each of their trips.
Therefore, having a visa in your passport does not necessarily mean you will be allowed entry into the Schengen area. Border police may refuse entry.

How much does a visa to France cost?

For a short-stay visa, the visa fees are 40 EUR (around 26,250 XOF) for children aged 6 to 12 years, and 80 EUR (around 52,500 XOF) for individuals over 12 years old.
For a long-stay visa, the visa fees are 50 EUR (around 32,800 XOF) for children aged 6 to 12 years, and 99 EUR (around 65,000 XOF) for individuals over 12 years old.
In addition to these fees, the French administration charges the service fees of the private provider to whom France has delegated the visa application processing, Capago in this case.
Children under 6 years old and spouses of French nationals are exempt from visa fees.

Good to know
In other than the most common cases, your situation may exempt you from visa fees, especially if you are a non-European family member of an EU (other than French) or Swiss national; seasonal worker; French teacher; foreign language assistant or lecturer; student on a scholarship from the French government, a foreign government, or a foreign foundation; invited by an intergovernmental organization based in France; or a veteran with a free healthcare booklet coming to France for medical treatment.
For details on visa fees, you can refer to this document.

How to know if my visa application for France has been approved?

You can track the progress of your application at any time on the visa center website where you submitted your application, in this case, Capago. When a decision has been made, you will receive a notification inviting you to come collect your passport at the center where you submitted it.

How to choose the right insurance for a visa to France?

  • AXA Schengen insurance meets all the requirements for obtaining a Schengen visa.
  • It is validated by the consulates and embassies of all Schengen Area member countries.
  • It is easy and quick to obtain online.
  • It ensures document certification with embassies and consulates, notably through a certificate sent immediately by email after your order.
  • You save time completing your Schengen visa application.
  • AXA Schengen travel insurance covers you for the entire duration of your stay. It covers medical expenses (consultations, surgeries, medications, tests), emergency hospitalization, search and rescue in case of an accident, and possible repatriation.
  • It is affordable (from €22 per week).
  • Its three distinct plans: Low Cost insurance, Europe Travel insurance, and Multi Trip insurance adapt to your needs and budget.
    Don’t hesitate to compare the 3 plans to find the one that suits you best.
  • You benefit from a particularly attractive rate, a completely secure payment method, and a simplified and fast online process.
  • Discover our France visa insurance
You can get a free quote with no obligation

These articles may also interest you:

Frequently asked questions about visas for France from Benin

What is the easiest visa to obtain for France?

Obtaining a visa for France depends on its purpose and duration. The most common is the short-stay visa, also known as the Schengen visa, which covers the most common reasons for a stay of less than 3 months. The more specific the reasons and the longer the duration, the more precise the requirements are. However, if you meet the necessary conditions, you will have no difficulty obtaining a visa.

Who issues visas for France?

Visas for France are always issued by the local French authorities, through the consular services of embassies and consulates abroad, who review the applications and either grant or deny the visas. However, as in Benin, France may delegate the handling of applications to private companies (Capago in Benin), but they do not make the decision to grant or refuse a visa.

Who can be my sponsor to study in France?

The closer your relationship with your sponsor, the easier it will be for them to be validated by the authorities. Ideally, your sponsor should be one of your parents, siblings, grandparents, or uncles/aunts. But in theory, anyone can be your sponsor.

AXA already looks after millions of people around the world

With our travel insurance we can take great care of you too

GET A QUOTE

AXA Schengen's Travel Insurances

AXA Schengen Low Cost

AXA Schengen Low Cost is perfect to obtain your Schengen visa. This travel insurance meets all the requirements demanded, covers you in all the countries of the Schengen Area as well as 4 European microstates (Andorra, Vatican City, Monaco and San Marino).

AXA Schengen Europe Travel

AXA Europe Travel is perfect to obtain your Schengen visa. It provides coverage in all the Schengen countries + the European microstates + all the EU countries (including UK, Cyprus and the Republic of Ireland). And you get additional guarantees compared to AXA Schengen Low Cost.

AXA Schengen Multi Trip

AXA Multi Trip is perfect to obtain your Schengen visa. This annual travel insurance is ideal for those who often travel to Europe as well as multiple-entry Schengen visa holders. You get the same guarantees as AXA Schengen Multi Trip for different countries during 90 days.