Applying for a French visa from Tunisia: instructions

Tunisian citizens wishing to travel to France for less than 90 days must apply for a Schengen visa for France. This short-stay visa allows many non-European nationals to enter and freely travel within the Schengen area, which includes 29 countries, including France.

To maximize your chances of obtaining your visa for France from Tunisia, follow our step-by-step guide.

Where to apply for a France visa from Tunisia?

Visa applications submitted in Tunisia are processed by the French Consulate General in Tunis, which is the only authority empowered to make visa decisions.

1. First, log in to France-Visas Tunisia (france-visas.gouv.fr/web/tn), the official visa site for France, to create a personal account.
2. Review the list of required documents and supporting documents needed for your application.
3. Complete an online visa application form for France from Tunisia, print it, and sign it. Attach this completed and signed form to the application file you will present at your appointment with the visa service.
4. Schedule an appointment on the TLScontact Tunisia visa France website (fr.tlscontact.com/tn/tun/index.php) or by phone at the call center: (+216) 711 69 200, and create your account. The TLScontact center in Tunis handles visa applicants' reception and file submission.
5. Enter your personal details.
6. You must make an appointment at the TLScontact center online. The visa application must be submitted in person at the visa center unless you are exempt from biometrics (children under 12 and applicants who have obtained a Schengen visa within the past 59 months).
7. A confirmation letter for your appointment will be sent via email, which you must present on the day of your appointment.
8. Your application will be processed. If your file is complete, it will be forwarded to the Consulate.
9. You can pick up your passport at the visa center.

Contact details for the TLScontact visa application center in Tunis:

Leman Center, rue du Lac Leman.
Les Berges du Lac 1, Tunis.

Phone: (+216) 71169200.
From Monday to Friday, 08:30 - 13:30

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

Avoid last-minute applications, especially during peak times of the year when demand is high!
The usual appointment waiting time is typically 2 days in low season and 5 days in high season.
The average processing time for a visa application by the consulate is approximately one week.

Therefore, plan accordingly by considering your intended departure date. Note that you may submit your visa application as early as 6 months before the planned travel date and at the latest 20 working days before departure.

Note: Since the implementation of the new community visa code in February 2020, the maximum processing time for a short-stay visa application is now 45 days maximum (previously 60 days).

What documents are required for a short-stay France visa application in Tunisia?

At your appointment with the visa services, you must present a complete application with all the documents and supporting documents (originals and copies) as indicated during your online registration on France-Visas. These documents may vary depending on the purpose of your stay and your profile.
The list below is not exhaustive.
Commonly required documents include:

• Your passport: issued within the past 10 years and valid for more than 3 months beyond the planned departure from the Schengen area. It must contain 2 blank pages.
• The visa application form (Cerfa No. 14076*03) completed and signed.
• The registration receipt for your visa application.
• Two identical recent passport photos meeting the required standards.
• Proof of your legal residence (residence permit) in Tunisia if you are not a Tunisian citizen.
• Supporting documents for the purpose of travel: confirmation of organized trip reservation, proof of reservation or pre-reservation of a return ticket or itinerary.
• Proof of accommodation in France: hosting certificate, hotel reservation, rental agreement, or proof of sufficient means to cover accommodation costs (120€/day).
• Proof of financial resources: copy of the bank statement for the last 3 months and/or copy of the savings book, original CNSS statement, pension proof, etc.
• Proof of ties to your country of residence: these vary according to your status (employee, civil servant, freelancer, retiree, student, etc.) and are specified during your online visa application.
• A validated travel medical insurance: mandatory.

What happens during the visa center appointment?

Unless exempt from providing biometric data (children under 12 or applicants who have obtained a visa marked (VIS) within the past 59 months), you must attend the appointment in person.
Bring your appointment confirmation, the required documents for your France visa application, and means of payment to cover the visa fees and service fees.
An agent will verify that your file contains all required documents and supporting documents. If complete, the agent will provide a summary sheet and forward your application to the consulate after you pay the fees and undergo biometric data collection (fingerprints and photo).
Reminder: a complete file submitted to the consular authorities does not guarantee that your France visa application will be approved.
If your file is incomplete, you can:

• choose to submit your application to the consulate regardless. This entails the risk of your visa application being rejected, and the application fees will not be refunded.
• withdraw your application to recover the application fees. You may later submit a new visa application with the missing documents.

You will know if your visa application for France has been approved by receiving a notification via SMS, email, and on your personal account. You will then be invited to collect your passport.

What is the cost of a French visa in Tunisia?

When submitting your visa application, you must pay fees which consist of the visa application fee, collected by the French administration, and service fees, collected by TLScontact. These must be paid exclusively in Tunisian Dinars (TND) and only in cash.
The fees are set in euros, and the exchange rate is updated periodically according to the consular rate.
These fees are non-refundable in case of visa refusal.

Fee schedule for a short-stay French visa

• For a short-stay French visa:
  Adult: 80 €
  Children aged 12 to 18: 80 €
  Children aged 6 to under 12: 40 €
  Children under 6: free
  Spouses of French nationals and family members of EU-EEE-Swiss citizens: free
   
• For a short-stay visa for Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Réunion, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy:
  Adult: 60 €
  Children aged 12 to 18: 60 €
  Children aged 6 to under 12: 35 €
  Children under 6: free
  Spouses of French nationals and family members of EU-EEE-Swiss citizens: 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 €
  Spouses of French nationals and family members of EU-EEE-Swiss citizens: free

TLScontact service fees

The base service fee is set in agreement with the Consulate General of France. The service fees collected by TLScontact are: 33.50 €.

Do I need travel insurance to go to France?

It is mandatory. According to the Schengen Visa Code, Tunisian applicants for short-stay visas must provide proof of travel insurance with their application. This travel insurance must cover you in the event of an accident, health issues, medical emergencies, and repatriation. This travel health insurance must guarantee a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros. Without it, your visa application may be rejected.

Why choose AXA Schengen travel insurance?

It is accepted by all consulates and embassies of Schengen countries. It is the ideal and quick solution. You can immediately obtain your travel insurance certificate by applying online. Its basic plan, Low Cost (22€ per week of stay), provides coverage for medical expenses up to 30,000 €, repatriation, and 24/7 assistance. You only need to add this certificate to your French visa application file in Tunisia.

What are the entry requirements for France from Tunisia during Covid?

In addition to the required travel documents (valid passport, Schengen visa…) that you need to present to enter France, you must comply with the entry requirements in place during the health crisis. These vary depending on your vaccination status and France’s classification of Tunisia at the time of your travel.

Since February 12, 2022

• For vaccinated travelers and regardless of country of origin: no Covid-19 test is required at departure, but they must present proof of a complete vaccination schedule _⁽²⁾
   
• For unvaccinated travelers from a "green" list country: mandatory presentation of a negative PCR test less than 72 hours old or an antigen (TAG) test less than 48 hours old.
   
• For unvaccinated travelers from an "orange" list country: they must have a compelling reason justifying their need to travel to mainland France, present either a negative PCR or antigen test or a recovery certificate, and agree to be tested upon arrival. If the result is positive, they must self-isolate following the recommendations of French health insurance.

NOTE: all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, must have a declaration of honor attesting that they have no Covid-19 symptoms and that they are not aware of having been in contact with a positive case in the 14 days before travel.

_⁽¹⁾ France has established a classification of countries and territories based on health indicators. This color-coded classification is subject to change based on the health situation and/or the emergence of concerning variants.
We therefore advise you to check regularlythe updated list from the French government to know the status of Tunisia at the time of your planned trip to France.

• Green list: countries or territories with negligible or moderate virus circulation, with no emerging concerning variants.
• Orange list: all countries not included in the "green" list
• Red list countries: in case of an emergency due to a variant that poses a risk of increased transmissibility or immune escape

_⁽²⁾ Under European regulations, the vaccination schedule is considered complete under the following conditions:

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

Note: as of February 1, 2022, for the vaccination schedule to remain recognized as complete, people aged 18 or older wishing to enter French territory must have received an additional mRNA booster dose no later than 9 months following the last required dose.

For more information

• How to obtain a visa for France in Morocco?
• How to obtain a visa for France in Algeria?
• How to obtain a visa for France in Côte d'Ivoire?
• How to obtain a visa for France in Cameroon?
• How to obtain a visa for France in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
• How to obtain a visa for France in Madagascar?
• How to obtain a visa for France in Gabon?
• How to obtain a visa for France in Senegal?
• Marriage in France: Which visa is required to come to France?
• 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 France Visa from Tunisia

Is it mandatory to appear in person at the visa appointment?

Yes. Except if the applicant is exempt from biometric data collection (children under 12 and applicants who have already obtained a visa marked (VIS) within the last 59 months). These applicants can be represented by a third party with a proxy and other documents specified by the visa service.

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

You can track the progress of your application from your TLScontact personal account, and you will be informed of the consular authorities' decision via SMS/email and on your TLScontact account.

To protect my passport, I had it laminated. Is it still valid for a visa application to France?

No. To apply for a Schengen visa, a passport must not be damaged or modified. Among other things: it should not show signs of scratching/erasures or corrections and should not be laminated commercially.