If you’re heading to France on reconnaissance, you will need to apply for a Tourist (aka ‘Short Stay Visitor’, ‘Schengen’) visa.
- This visa is valid for 90 days.
- There are multiple entries permitted.
- Citizens of the following nations are exempt, and will be admitted for 90 days with only a valid passport: Albania*, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Nicaragua , New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Holy See, Seychelles, Taiwan, Uruguay, Montenegro*, FYROM* and Serbia* and nationals of Australia, Brazil, USA, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea Venezuela.
- The member parties of the Schengen agreement do not need a visa to enter France. These countries include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
*bearers of biometric passports only
Required Documents
If you are not a citizen from one of the countries listed above, you will need to obtain a Short Stay Visitor/Schengen Visa and you will need to provide to your local French consulate the following items. Please verify with your local consulate the required documents as this list is an overview and is subject to change:
- Passport valid for at least three months beyond the applicant’s last day of stay in the Schengen states. Please make sure your passport has a blank page to affix the visa (plus one copy of the 5 first pages).
- 1 or 2 short stay application forms completely and clearly filled out. Please print in black. Indicate also your phone numbers and e-mail. Verify the number of forms with your local consulate.
- 2 photographs. All photos must be recent, identical, passport size – 1,4″ x 1,7″ (3,5cm x 4,5cm) and showing face front, the forehead hairline, and ears on a white background, the face must take up 70-80% of the photograph.
- Reservation with detailed itinerary. The round-trip airline tickets will be required only when the visa is issued (+ 1 copy).
- A letter from your insurance company stating that you will be covered for expenses up to 30,000 euros, the sum depending on the residing days, and also it has to be valid in all Schengen countries. (+ 1 copy)
- Proof of employment (for example, letter from the company stating continuing employment after the period of leave, and last 3 payslips) (+ one copy).
- Depending on the purpose of the trip , one of the documents listed below :
- For tourism: Hotel reservation, proof of registration with an organized tour, attestation of accommodation (certificat d’hebergement) (+ 1 copy) for the duration of your stay within the Schengen space.
- For business: Official business invitation letter from a company in France (+ 1 copy).
- For private visit (family or friends): Attestation of accommodation (certificat d’hebergement) (+ 1 copy). Your host in France can obtain this document at the City Hall, by showing proof of identity and 2 proofs of lodging (rental contract and phone bill or power bill…)
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of your stay: for example, 2 most recent bank statements (+ 1 copy), travelers checks if visiting from the United States, 56.20 Euros/per day are suggested, which is equal to the French minimum wage. If you have an “Attestation d’Acceuil” from someone who will provide financial support, the amount is reduced by half. For business: letter from employer indicating the name and address of the companies in France, and guaranteeing travel expenses (+1 copy).
Dependents need to apply for their own visa and will need some additional documents:
- The minor’s birth certificate.
- The application form has to be signed by both parents.
- In cases where one parent has full custody over the child, the family court order has to be attached.
- The notarized parental authorization signed by both parents or guardians is attached if the minor is to be travelling alone.
