Applying for a French Visa from the Philippines: instructions

To visit loved ones in Lyon, attend a surfing course in the Basque Country, spend a few days with a French partner in Bordeaux, take French language lessons in Dordogne, explore the Versailles Castle, share videos of the most beautiful Parisian cafés on TikTok and Instagram, or sign a contract at Euralille, the business district of Lille… Whatever the reason for visiting this country known as the Hexagon (due to its geometric shape!), Filipinos must apply for a visa to come to France.

Don’t worry; our guide explains everything:

• Why do Filipinos need a visa to France?
• What type of visa should be requested to come to France?
• When should Filipinos apply for a visa?
• How to apply for a visa to France?
• What documents are required for a visa to France?
• How much does a visa to France cost?
• How to check if my French visa application has been approved?
• How to choose the right insurance for a French visa?

Is a visa required to come to France?

It depends on the visitor’s nationality and the length of stay planned in this European country. But because the Philippines has not signed a visa exemption agreement with the European Union, which includes France, Philippine nationals are required to apply for a visa to France, regardless of the length of their stay in the land of Camembert!

Note: Filipinos are not the only ones subject to this visa requirement for France.
Over a hundred other nationalities must obtain this pass if they wish to visit this country that is part of the Schengen Area.

Among others:

• Algerians must apply for a visa to France
• Moroccans must apply for a visa to France
• Tunisians must apply for a visa to France
• Nationals of the Côte d'Ivoire must apply for a French visa
• Nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo must apply for a visa to France
• Nationals of Madagascar are required to have a visa for France
• Nationals of Gabon must also obtain a visa to come to France
• Senegalese are also subject to the visa requirement for France

What are the different types of visas for France?

There are several types of visas for coming to France.
The reason and duration of your stay in France determine which type of visa you need to apply for. Two main categories stand out: short stays and long stays in France.

Short Stay French Visas

These are for stays of 90 days or less (3 months) and are issued for the following reasons:

• tourism
• business
• family visits
• attending a short course (such as a language course to learn French, for example)
• attending or participating in a conference, seminar, sporting event, or artistic performance
• transiting through France, either by staying in the international zone of the French airport (this is a transit airport visa (VTA)) or being required to exit the airport

Note:

• The most requested French visa is the Visa C, also known as the Schengen visa or tourist visa for France.
  Learn more below about the steps to apply for a tourist visa to France from the Philippines.
• The Schengen visa allows you to travel/stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area, which includes 29 countries, including France

Long Stay French Visas

These are for stays longer than 90 days, and each is adapted to the length and purpose of your stay in France: tourism, private visits, medical treatment, working, studying, joining family/spouse, etc.

Note:

• For long-stay visas, all nationalities are treated the same! Nationals of countries (USA, Canada, Japan, etc.) previously exempt from short-stay visas are required to apply for a long-stay visa if they plan to stay in France for more than 90 days.
• Long-stay visas are not unlimited in validity. Their duration is limited (from 3 months to 1 year), and holders are required to apply for a residence permit from the local prefecture if they wish to extend their stay in France beyond the visa’s validity.

 To learn more about all types of visas for France, we invite you to read our article on the topic

When should I apply for a French visa from the Philippines?

You can submit your short-stay visa application up to 6 months before your planned departure and no later than 15 days before departure.
To maximize your chances and because there may be delays or additional information required for your file, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the last minute to apply and suggest submitting your application 6 weeks before your departure date.

What are the steps to apply for a short-stay visa to France?

We explain step by step the process of applying for a visa to France from the Philippines.

1. First, you need to complete your pre-application by creating a personal account on the official website France-Visas 
    
2. You will then learn about the required supporting documents to include in your application and complete an online application form by answering a few questions
    
3. After you have correctly filled out the online application form for your visa, you will print it out and sign it. This will be part of your application to present in person during your appointment
    
4. During this process, you will be redirected to the site of VFS Global Philippines , the official service provider responsible for receiving visa applications under the authority of the French Embassy in Manila.
    
5. You can then schedule an appointment at this visa center (open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. for document submission).
   You will receive an email, along with a confirmation letter for the appointment. You must print it and present it on the day of the appointment. Without this document, access to the center will be denied.
   Note: If you intend to travel with family or in a group, you must schedule individual appointments for each member.
    
6. At your appointment, you will submit your visa application with the supporting documents, your biometric data (photo and fingerprints) will be collected, and you will pay visa fees (to be paid in cash and in local currency). You will receive a reference number on the receipt/invoice. Keep it safe.
    
7. Your visa application for France will then be processed by the French Embassy in Manila, the only entity authorized to make decisions regarding visas.

What documents are required for a France visa?

The supporting documents for a France visa application may vary depending on the purpose of the stay and the applicant's profile. Therefore, make sure to include all those listed (originals and copies) when you register online on France-Visas.

The list below is not exhaustive and includes the most commonly required documents for a short-stay tourist visa for France (less than 90 days) for a Philippine national.

• Your passport : issued less than 10 years ago with a validity of more than 3 months after your planned departure from the Schengen Area. It must have at least 2 blank pages.
   
• A recent passport-sized photo in ICAO format
   
• The completed and signed visa application form
   
• A copy of the travel itinerary to justify the purpose of your stay
   
• Proof of residence and ties in your home country: these vary according to your status (employee, civil servant, freelancer, retiree, student…) and are specified during your online visa application
   
• Proof of financial means: to show you can support yourself during your stay (bank statements, payslips, or pension proof for the last three or six months depending on your status…)
  For minors: proof of financial means from the parents or legal guardian.
   
• Proof of accommodation in France: accommodation certificate, letter of invitation from the host, or hotel reservation
   
• Travel medical insurance certificate

Warning! Any incomplete application may result in a visa refusal.

What is the price of a France visa in the Philippines?

The visa fees for France are as follows:

• Visa fees to be paid to the French consular authorities
  +
• Service fees charged by the VFS Global provider.

Warning! The visa fees and service fees are non-refundable even in case of visa refusal or withdrawal of the application.

Visa Fee Amount for France

For a short-stay visa to France (Schengen visa type C)

• Adult: 80 €
• Child aged 12 to 18 years: 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

For a short-stay visa for Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, La Réunion, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy :

• Adult: 60 €
• Child aged 12 to 18 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

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 €
• For spouses of French nationals and family members of EU-EEA-Swiss nationals: free

They must be paid in cash and in local currency (based on the exchange rate set by the French authorities) at the VFS center during the appointment.

Amount of service fees

The service fees are 2,285 PHP (approximately €37.50) per visa applicant and include the cost of returning your passport by mail (mandatory).
They must be paid in local currency and online when making the appointment.

How can I know if my France visa application has been approved?

You will need to have strong nerves!
You can track the status of your application from your personal space (tab: "track your application") created on the France-Visas website. You will need to enter the reference number on the receipt issued by the visa application center and your last name to access this service.
However, please note that you will only learn about the progress of your application and will not receive any information about the approval or denial of the visa.
Once the competent authorities at the French embassy in Manila have made their decision regarding your visa application, they will send your passport to the VFS Global center, which will notify you by Email and SMS.
You will still need to wait a bit longer for the visa center to send your passport back to you by mail. Only at that moment will you know whether you have been granted the requested visa. How to recognize it? It will be a secure visa sticker placed in your passport detailing the terms of your French visa (type of visa, validity period, length of stay, etc.).

What travel insurance should I choose for a France visa?

According to the Schengen Visa Code, Philippine visa applicants for France, as well as all nationals who require a Schengen visa, must include a travel insurance certificate with their application.

This travel medical insurance must meet several criteria to be validated:

• provide minimum coverage of €30,000
• cover possible expenses related to emergency healthcare, emergency hospital care, medical repatriation, and in case of death
• cover all Schengen member states (not just France!)
• its validity period must match the duration of the stay in the Schengen area
• it must be issued by an insurance company authorized by the consulates and embassies of Schengen countries

Important! Without this insurance certificate, your visa application will be rejected.

These articles may also interest you:

• How can I know if a visa application for France has been accepted?
• How does a France visa appointment work?

How to bring a Filipino to France?

Since the Philippines has not signed a visa exemption agreement with the European Union, its nationals are required to apply for a visa to France.
If you live in France and want to help one of your Filipino relatives visit you, you will need to provide them with, among other things, an attestation d'accueil to include in their application.

Who should I contact for a France visa application?

You should start by logging into the official portal France-Visas to proceed with a pre-visa application for France. Then, you will need to make an appointment to submit your application with supporting documents to the French consular authorities in your place of residence or to a visa center authorized by the French authorities.

How long does it take to receive a France visa?

On average, you should expect 10 to 15 working days to receive a response. However, this waiting period may be longer depending on the time of year the application is made (especially before the holidays and school vacations) or certain situations that may require more time for processing or additional information to be provided.