Applying for a French visa from Madagascar: instructions

Malagasy citizens and residents in Madagascar, whose third-country nationality requires it, must apply for a Schengen visa if they wish to travel to France. The most common type is the short-stay visa (also called a type C visa). It allows its holder to enter and stay in this area, which consists of 29 countries, for less than 90 days within any 180-day period. However, several steps need to be followed before obtaining this permit. Don’t worry, we provide you with a step-by-step guide to apply for a France visa in Madagascar.

Where should I apply for a France visa in Madagascar?

Any France visa application submitted by a resident in Madagascar is processed by the Consulate General of France in Tananarive/Antananarivo, which is solely authorized to make visa decisions. The consulate has outsourced part of the process to a service provider. The TLS Contact center in Antananarivo/Tananarive is responsible for welcoming visa applicants during an appointment, collecting biometric data, collecting visa and service fees, and receiving application files before sending them to the consulate.

What are the steps to apply for a France visa?

The procedure to apply for a France visa in Madagascar is as follows:

1. You must log in to France-Visas (france-visas.gouv.fr), the official visa website for France, to create a personal account.
2. You choose the desired type of visa and complete an online visa application form for France. You must print and sign it. This form should be added to the application file you will present during your appointment at the visa service.
3. You review the list of documents and supporting documents corresponding to your situation. You will add them (originals and copies) to your application file.
4. You receive a registration receipt, which you must print to include with your application file.
5. You then need to log in to the TLSContact site (fr.tlscontact.com/mg/tnr/index.php) to create your personal account. You register your personal details and an email address. You can then make a free, online appointment with the visa center.
6. You receive a confirmation of your appointment, which you must print to present at your appointment.

Special case: applicants for a France visa holding official passports (diplomatic or service) must make an appointment, after filling out the form on France-Visas, by calling the VIP number 087 007.
They can then go to the Embassy of France on the appointment date to submit their application.
For a short-stay visa: allow a minimum processing time of 3 business days from the appointment date and the visa decision.
For a long-stay visa: allow a minimum processing time of 2 weeks. Visas issued to official passport holders for official purposes are free of charge.

What are the timelines for applying and obtaining a visa for France?

As often, applying for a visa requires advance planning.
The processing times for applications vary depending on several factors: the type of visa requested, the time of year you submit your application, and the purpose of your trip.

• For short-stay visa applications (type C): applications are processed within 72 hours (from January to the end of April and from October to the end of December), and the timeframe may be a minimum of 10 days during high season (from May to September).
  You can apply for your France short-stay visa as early as 3 to 6 months before your departure date and no later than 20 business days.
• For long-stay visa applications (type D): the processing time ranges from 2 weeks to several months, depending on the type of visa requested or if additional verifications are needed.

What documents do I need to provide for a France visa application?

You will review the list of documents and supporting documents to be included with your France visa application file during your registration on the France-Visas website. The required documents depend on several factors, including the type of visa requested and the purpose of your trip to France. They must be presented in the requested order.
Among the generally required documents are:

• your passport: issued less than 10 years ago with 2 blank pages. For a short-stay visa, it must be valid for more than 3 months after the date you are scheduled to leave the Schengen area. For a long-stay visa, it must be valid for at least three months beyond the visa expiry date requested.
• the latest version of the France visa application form (since February 2, 2020, it’s the Cerfa No. 14076*03). It must be correctly filled out, dated, and signed by you.
• the France-Visas receipt
• two identical, recent, and compliant ID photos
• proof of your legal residence (residence permit) in Madagascar if you hold third-country nationality
• proofs of the purpose of the trip: proof of a reservation of round-trip ticket, proof of relationship with the host (for family visit reasons, for example)...
• a commitment letter to return, written on plain paper
• proof of accommodation in France: hosting certificate, confirmed hotel reservation, proof of payment for stays longer than 1 month...
• proofs of your financial means: bank statements from the last 3 months, last 3 payslips or pension slips, an international bank card with account statement as evidence...
• proofs of settlement in your country of residence: these differ depending on your status (employee, civil servant, trader, freelancer, retiree, student...) and are specified when you apply online for a visa
• the proof of travel health insurance: it is mandatory and must meet several required criteria

Attention! The above list is not exhaustive.

How does the appointment at the visa center proceed?

On the day of your appointment, you must go to the visa center with:

• the appointment confirmation letter you printed after receiving it at your email address
• your passport
• the file containing all required documents arranged in the order listed
• means of payment for visa fees and service fees.

An agent checks that your file is complete.
If your file is complete: it is sent to the consulate after biometric data collection (fingerprints and digital photo) and payment of visa and service fees. You are given a summary sheet, which you must keep to collect your passport later.

If your file is incomplete, you may choose to:

• you may request that it still be forwarded to the Consulate, after signing a document noting the missing documents. This risks that your France visa application may be refused and you may lose the paid visa fees
• withdraw your application and recover the paid application fees. You can reapply for a visa later, making sure to complete your application with the missing documents.

Note :

• A complete application forwarded to the Consulate does not guarantee the issuance of a France visa
• The TLScontact visa center does not make any decision regarding a visa application
• To find out the decision regarding your visa application, you need to wait for notification by SMS or email inviting you to pick up your passport at the visa center. You must bring the summary sheet and a form of ID or a copy of your passport.

What are the fees for a France visa application

When submitting your visa application, you must pay fees that include visa application fees, collected by the French administration, and service fees, collected by TLSContact. The rates are indicated in euros but must be paid only in Malagasy Ariary. The applicable consular exchange rate must be applied. These fees are non-refundable in case of visa refusal.

Rates for a France visa

• For a long-stay France visa : 99 €
  Reduced rate: 50 € for students whose applications were reviewed by a Center for Studies in France
  For spouses of French citizens: free of charge
   
• For a short-stay France visa :
  Adult: 80 €
  Child 12 to 18 years: 80 €
  Child 6 to under 12 years: 40 €
  Child under 6 years: free of charge
  Spouses of French citizens and family members of EU-EEE-Swiss nationals: free of charge
   
• For a short-stay visa for Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, La Réunion, Saint-Martin, and Saint-Barthélemy:
  Adult: 60 €
  Child 12 to 18 years: 60 €
  Child 6 to under 12 years: 35 €
  Child under 6 years: free of charge
  Spouses of French citizens and family members of EU-EEE-Swiss nationals: free of charge
   
• For a short-stay visa for New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Mayotte, and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands: 9 €
  Spouses of French citizens and family members of EU-EEE-Swiss nationals: free of charge

TLSContact Service Fees

The base service fee is approximately 90,000 MGA per submitted application.
These fees are non-refundable unless the applicant decides not to submit the application before biometric data collection.

Is travel insurance mandatory to visit France?

Yes. According to the Schengen Visa Code, Malagasy applicants for a short-stay visa must take out mandatory travel medical insurance and provide proof in their application. Without this certificate, your France visa application will be refused. This travel insurance must cover accidents, health issues, medical emergencies, and repatriation, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros.

Why choose AXA Schengen travel insurance?

It is validated by all consulates and embassies of Schengen member countries... including France! It’s the ideal solution. You can immediately obtain your travel insurance certificate by applying online. Its basic Low Cost package (22€ per week of stay) offers coverage for medical expenses up to 30,000 €, repatriation, and 24/7 assistance. Without delay, you can attach this certificate to your France visa application from Madagascar.

Learn More About the France Visa

• How to get a visa for France from Morocco?
• How to get a visa for France from Algeria?
• How to get a visa for France from Tunisia?
• How to get a visa for France from Côte d'Ivoire?
• How to get a visa for France from Cameroon?
• How to get a visa for France from the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
• How to get a visa for France from Gabon?
• How to get a visa for France from Senegal?
• Marriage in France: Which visa is needed to come to France?
• What is a tourist visa for France?
• How to get a student visa for France?
• How to get a work visa for France?

Frequently Asked Questions About the France Visa from Madagascar

Where to submit a France visa application from Madagascar?

France visa applications are processed by the Consulate General of France in Antananarivo. However, you must first submit your application at an external service provider - TLSContact - after pre-registering your application on France-Visas and scheduling an appointment with the visa center.

After applying for a France visa from Madagascar | do I need to collect my passport in person?

It is possible to authorize a third party to collect your passport on your behalf. They must have written authorization from you certified by the local mayor’s office, the summary sheet provided during your application submission, the original of their ID, and a copy of your ID.

Is applying for a France visa from Madagascar chargeable?

Yes. You will need to pay visa processing fees, collected by the French administration, which vary according to the applicant’s category and type of visa requested, as well as service fees, collected by TLSContact.