How to obtain a visa for France from Turkey: instructions

Written by: Jean-Joseph Rivouchy
Date: 11/09/2024

You need to go to Strasbourg to celebrate your great-aunt's 90th birthday, to Lyon for a mandatory training for your course, or to the 10^th district of Paris to find distributors for your dairy products made in Anatolia? You will certainly need a visa for France! We reveal everything you need to know to make these procedures go smoothly from Turkey (Türkiye).

How to apply for a French visa from Turkey

• Why do Turks need a visa for France?
• Where to apply for a French visa from Turkey?
• What are the different types of visas to come to France?
• How to apply for a French visa from Turkey?
• When to apply for a French visa from Turkey?
• What documents are required for a visa for France?
• How much does a visa for France cost?
• Why choose AXA's Schengen visa insurance?

Did you know? Since May 2022, Turkey has officially changed its name internationally and is now called Türkiye in all languages.

Why do Turks need a visa for France?

The European Union, of which France is a member, has not reached a visa exemption agreement with Turkey. This is why Turkish nationals need to apply for a visa to come to France, and more generally to all countries of the Schengen Area, of which France is also a member.
Turkish nationals are not the only ones subject to the visa requirement.
In fact, more than a hundred nationalities need to apply for a Schengen visa.

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

The type of visa you need to apply for first depends on the duration of your stay and then on its purpose.
The most common visa is the short-stay visa (type C) or Schengen visa, for a stay of less than 3 months.
To stay longer than 3 months in France, you will need to obtain a long-stay visa (type D) or national visa.

Important!
Since July 3, 2022, Turkish nationals transiting through France to a destination outside the Schengen Area are subject to an airport transit visa (VTA), even if they stay in the international zone. If they need to leave the international zone, for example to change airports or reach a train station, they will need to apply for a Schengen visa.
A number of people are exempt from this VTA. Visit the dedicated page for Turkey on the France-visas website to see if you are affected.

The short-stay visa or Schengen visa (type C)

For a stay of less than 90 days, for common reasons (tourism, business, visiting family or friends, short-term training or internship, participating in a sports or cultural event), you must apply for a short-stay visa (type C), also called Schengen visa or uniform visa.

The Schengen visa is called uniform because:

• the criteria for granting are the same, regardless of the Schengen country where the application is made
• it has the same value and gives the same rights, regardless of the Schengen country that issued it

The Schengen visa:

• allows you to stay and move within all Schengen member countries, including France
• for a maximum duration of 90 days within any 180-day period
• it is valid for a limited number of entries into the Schengen Area (1 or 2)

Good to know : if you need to travel frequently to France or another Schengen country, you will need to apply for a multiple-entry visa, valid from 6 months to 5 years.

The national long-stay visa (type D)

Unlike the short-stay visa, which is standardized among Schengen countries, the long-stay visa is national and specific to each country.
It is issued for periods ranging from 3 to 12 months maximum, for reasons such as studies, work, or family reasons.
The type of long-stay visa may vary depending on the purpose of the stay, its duration, and the applicant's intention to settle permanently in France.

How to apply for a French visa from Turkey?

• The website France-visas is the official site for visas to France.
  It provides all the necessary information to guide applicants through their procedures and assist them at every step
• It has a dedicated page for Turkey
• Before starting any procedure, it is essential to use the France-visas tool. By answering a few questions, this online assistant will tell you which visa is suitable, which supporting documents are required, and what the cost will be

Your visa application will proceed in the following 6 steps:

1- Check your visa requirements
Go to the France-visas website to find out if you need a visa and which one to apply for

2- Submit your application online

• log in to your France-visas account (or create one with a valid email address).
• fill out the online form with your personal information, travel document, and the purpose of your stay
• print the form and the list of required documents, and note the visa fees to be paid

3- Make an appointment to submit your application

• make an appointment at a VFS Global center, at the Ankara embassy, or at the Istanbul consulate
• check on the VFS Global website to find the center you belong to based on your place of residence
• you need to make a separate appointment for each visa application you submit, for example if you are submitting applications for your children

Note: in Istanbul and Izmir, spouses of French citizens and visa applicants for return can submit their applications without an appointment

4- Submit your application

• arrive with your appointment confirmation, passport, original supporting documents, and payment method
• an agent will verify the compliance of your documents, collect your biometric data (unless it was already taken within the last 59 months for another visa application and for children under 12 years old), and will ask you to pay the visa fees

Warning! Since January 2024, applications must be submitted in person by the applicant (or by their spouse or one of their parents if the applicant is a minor). Commercial intermediary companies, even if accredited by VFS Global, are no longer allowed to submit applications on behalf of their clients.

5- Track the progress of your application
You can track your application by logging into your account on France-visas and/or VFS Global

6- Collect your passport:

• you will be notified by SMS and email when your passport is ready for collection
• if the visa is granted, it will be affixed to your passport. In case of refusal, you will receive the reasons and possible recourses

Warning!
Scams have been reported in relation to visa applications, especially by fake intermediaries.
• The French authorities remind that VFS Global is the only accredited provider in Turkey to receive visa applications. Be especially cautious with companies with similar names (such as VLS Global) and fraudulent websites offering online payments.

• Visa fees and VFS Global service charges must be paid when submitting your application, and only at that time. Any request for additional fees (other than optional services offered by VFS Global) would be an attempted scam.

Where to apply for a visa to France from Turkey?

In Turkey, France has entrusted the private company specialized in visa services, VFS Global, with welcoming visa applicants and receiving their applications. VFS Global has a dedicated webpage for Turkey where you can find many useful details.

It has visa centers in Ankara, Gaziantep, Harbiye (Istanbul), and Izmir. Check which center is relevant for your residence location.

Important! VFS Global does not process visa applications and does not issue visas. Its role is simply as an intermediary. It forwards applications to the French consular authorities, who process them and decide whether to grant a visa.

It is not mandatory to use a VFS Global center to submit your application. You may also schedule an appointment to submit it directly at the French Consulate General in Istanbul or at the French Embassy in Ankara. However, note that appointment delays are usually longer through this route compared to a VFS Global center.

Good to know:

• People residing in Northern Cyprus fall under the consular jurisdiction of Ankara
• Long-stay visa applications for Turkmen nationals (and third-country nationals) residing in Turkmenistan are handled by the French Consulate General in Istanbul. Applicants must schedule an appointment at a VFS Global center

When to apply for a visa to France from Turkey?

1- For a short-stay visa
You can submit your application up to 6 months before the planned departure date.
The processing time by consular services is generally up to 2 weeks from the submission of a complete application. However, processing times may fluctuate and be longer during peak periods (e.g., holidays or school vacations).

Warning! Due to high demand for short-stay visas in Turkey, the delays to get an appointment to submit your application are long, especially in Istanbul and Ankara, sometimes reaching 3 to 4 weeks.
It is therefore recommended to start your application process well in advance, at least 8 weeks before your planned travel date.

2- For a long-stay visa
You can submit your application up to 3 months before your travel date.
Processing a long-stay visa application often requires verifications that can extend the processing time. Therefore, it is recommended to submit your application as soon as possible, at least 8 to 10 weeks before your planned departure.

What documents are required for a visa to France?

The required documents for a visa application depend on the applicant's personal situation and may vary from one applicant to another.
Therefore, it is not possible to provide a standard list. You will receive the specific list of documents relevant to your case once you complete the application process on the France-visas website.

As a guideline, here is a list of documents you may need to present:

Common documents for all applicants:

• The completed, printed, and signed visa application form
• Your passport (or other travel document recognized by French authorities)
  It must be valid for at least 3 months after the end date of your visa and must have been issued within the last 10 years
• A passport photo that meets international standards ICAO
• A travel insurance certificate for the visa
  The European Union requires that a travel insurance policy be purchased as a condition for obtaining a short-stay visa (or Schengen visa). Therefore, it is mandatory. Without insurance, you will not be able to obtain a visa.

Article 15 of the Visa Code of the European Union defines the characteristics that this insurance must meet to be acceptable for a visa application:

• • It must cover emergency medical and hospitalization costs, as well as medical repatriation or repatriation in case of death, for a minimum amount of 30,000 EUR
  • It must be valid in all Schengen Area countries (even if you are only traveling in France)
  • It must cover you for the entire duration of your stay in the Schengen Area
  • It must be approved by the consular services of all Schengen countries

Documents to be provided depending on the applicant’s situation:

• Proof of intent to leave the Schengen Area at the end of your stay: for example, a transportation ticket reservation
• Proof of the reason for your trip (as mentioned in your visa application):
  • Personalized invitation letter
  • Proof of professional or commercial relationships for a business trip
  • Confirmation of reservation for an organized trip
  • Invitation or ticket for a congress, conference, sporting, or cultural event
• Documents related to your accommodation in France:
  • Travel or organized tour reservation
  • Hotel or other accommodation reservation
  • Accommodation certificate written by your hosts
• Proof of your means of subsistence during your stay:
  • Proof of income (e.g., pay slips)
  • Third-party support certificate, if applicable
• Documents proving your intention to return to Turkey at the end of your stay:
  • Title deed or rental contract for your accommodation
  • School certificate or enrollment in an educational institution (for you or your children)
  • Employment contract

Important: All these documents may be requested by border police during the control at your arrival in France. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that you carry copies of them with you during your trip.

How much does a visa for France cost?

The price of a Schengen visa depends on the applicant’s age.
Children between 6 and 12 years old pay half the price compared to the general rate that applies to individuals over 12 years old.
Children under 6 years old and spouses of French nationals are exempt from visa fees.
In addition to these visa fees, collected by the French authorities, VFS Global service fees apply.
For more details, please refer to the Schengen visa fee schedule.

Why choose AXA’s Schengen visa insurance for France?

AXA’s Schengen visa insurance perfectly meets the European Union’s requirements to be valid for a visa application:

• It covers medical expenses, hospitalization, and repatriation (illness and death) for a minimum amount of 30,000 EUR (which can go up to 100,000 EUR depending on the selected option)
• It is valid in the entire Schengen Area (and beyond, depending on the chosen option)
• It is approved by all European consular services issuing Schengen visas, meaning it will be automatically accepted for a visa application
• It is refundable in case of visa rejection
• It is available in 3 plans adapted to different needs and budgets: Low cost, Europe Travel, and Multi Trip

Feel free to compare the benefits of each AXA Schengen visa insurance plan to find the one that best matches your travel project.

You can get a free quote in just a few seconds!