Quick answer
Indians need a Schengen visa for France, applied for on the France-Visas website and lodged at a VFS Global centre. The fee is EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) plus a VFS service charge. Apply to France only if it is your longest stay. Decisions usually take 10–15 days, but book appointments 6–8 weeks ahead for May and June travel.
At a glance
- Visa type
- Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) issued by France
- Stay allowed
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) per adult, EUR 45 (about ₹4,600) for children aged 6–11, plus a VFS Global service charge of roughly ₹1,500–3,000
- Processing
- Usually 10–15 calendar days after submission; allow 6–8 weeks from booking a slot in May–July
- Validity
- As issued: trip dates on a first visa, 2-year or 5-year multiple-entry under the India cascade
- Apply at
- Official portal
Documents checklist
- France-Visas application, printed and signed, with the reference barcode
- Passport issued within 10 years and valid 3 months beyond your return, plus old passports
- Two 35 x 45 mm photographs on a white background
- Cover letter with a day-by-day plan showing France as the longest stay
- Bank statements for the last 3–6 months, stamped by the bank
- ITR acknowledgements for the last 2–3 years
- Leave letter from your employer and last 3 salary slips, or GST and business records if self-employed
- Travel insurance with at least EUR 30,000 medical cover valid in all Schengen states
- Refundable flight reservation and hotel bookings for every night
- For private stays: an attestation d'accueil from your host's town hall
- Copies of previous Schengen, UK or US visas
- For alumni of French institutions: your French master's or higher degree certificate
Common mistakes that get Indians refused
- Choosing France because slots look easier when Switzerland or Italy gets more nights; VFS accepts the file but the consulate can refuse it.
- France-Visas form details (dates, hotels, passport number) that differ from your supporting documents.
- Hotel bookings cancelled right after the appointment; French missions do verify reservations.
- Paying touts for 'guaranteed' VFS slots. Slots are released free on the VFS site and resold bookings can be cancelled.
Who should apply to France?
Apply to France only when France is your longest stay. On a 10-night Europe tour with 4 nights in Paris, 3 in Switzerland and 3 in Italy, France is the competent state. Make it 3 nights in Paris and 4 in Switzerland and the file belongs to the Swiss. The shared rules (90/180 days, the India cascade, EES) are on our Schengen visa guide.
How does the France application work in India?
- Fill the form on France-Visas, the French government portal. It generates a reference number and a checklist for your purpose of travel.
- Book a slot with VFS Global, which runs France's visa application centres across India's major cities. Fingerprints are taken there unless they were recorded in the last 59 months.
- The file goes to the mission covering your state: the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates General in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata or Puducherry.
- Track progress online, then collect the passport from VFS or choose courier return.
How long does it take?
Most straightforward tourist files are decided in 10–15 calendar days. The bottleneck is April to July, when honeymooners and school-holiday families all want Paris in May and June. For a June trip, start the France-Visas form in February or March and take the first suitable slot; you can lodge up to six months before travel.
France-specific points
- Alumni visa. Indians who graduated from a French higher-education programme at master's level or above can be considered for a five-year short-stay visa. Carry the French degree certificate.
- Staying with family. A simple invitation letter is weak. Your host can obtain an attestation d'accueil (certificate of accommodation) from their town hall, which French officers expect for private stays.
- Disneyland and day trips. Put them in the itinerary. Officers like a plan that matches your budget and your leave dates.
Documents that decide the outcome
The France-Visas checklist is generic. What swings decisions for Indian applicants is consistency: the dates on the form, the flight reservation, the hotel bookings and the leave letter should all line up. Bank statements for three to six months should show salary credits and a balance that covers the trip, and ITRs for two to three years show that income is stable.
Do not buy non-refundable flights before the visa. A refundable reservation or a travel-agent hold is enough.
Insurance must give at least EUR 30,000 of medical cover for every Schengen state. We arrange compliant travel insurance, and our visa assistance team reviews files before submission. Plan the budget with the France trip cost guide and pick dates with the best time to visit France.
Frequently asked questions
Is a France visa easier to get than other Schengen visas?
Where do I submit a France visa application in India?
Can I go to Switzerland on a French Schengen visa?
What is the five-year France visa for Indian alumni?
How early should I apply for a summer trip to Paris?
How we checked this page
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
