"Short stay" visas

European Union law governs the conditions for issuing short stay visas. These visas allow, on the one hand, the entry of a person into Schengen area for a period not exceeding 90 days.This type of visa is generally issued fortourismbusiness tripsfamily visitsor simpletransitsthrough France.On the other hand, these visas also allow several stays, the total duration of which does not exceed three months, during a period of six months.

Cases of exemption from the obligation to hold a "short-stay" visa for France

Not all foreigners are required to hold a visa to enter the Schengen area. There is a common Schengen list which exempts several nationals of countries from the obligation to hold this type of visa. Check thisFrance visas websiteto confirm if you need a visa to enter France. Nationals of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are not required to hold this type of visa. Finally, foreigners holding a valid residence permit issued by a State in the Schengen area are not required to hold this type of visa.

How to obtain a "short stay" visa?

The French consulate in your place of residence is competent to collect your visa application.   In the majority of cases, it is advisable to connect to theFrance visas websiteor the website of the consulate which explains the procedures to be carried out.   In general, service providers are responsible for making appointments and submitting the file. You must submit your visa application no earlier than 3 months before the desired date of entry into France.

Do I need a visa to travel to overseas departments or regions?

In general, the overseas departments or regions (Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Réunion and Mayotte) are not part of the European territory of France. In this case, the Schengen agreements therefore do not apply in these territories. A Schengen-type “short-stay” visa does not allow its holder to enter the aforementioned territories. Likewise, a foreigner holding a visa allowing entry into the aforementioned territories does not grant him access to the Schengen area.

What recourse in the event of refusal to issue a "short stay" visa?

Time limit for processing a visa application From the date of filing your visa application, the consulate has two months to study your request. Two solutions are possible:

• First, the consulate notifies you of a refusal decision.
• Second, the consulate does not respond to your request. In this case, an implicit rejection decision is issued at the end of the two-month period from the date of submission of your file.

"Long stay" visas ‘VLS-TS’

At first glance, the conditions for issuing “long stay” visas belong to the competence of each State. Long-stay visas allow its holder to enter and stay in France for a period of four months to one year. There are several types of "long stay" visas. Stay for an extended period for tourist or personal reasons;

• Carry out a professional activity;
• Pursue education;
• Join family members.

What recourse in the event of refusal to issue a "long stay" visa?

Time limit for processing a visa application

• From the date of filing your visa application, the consulate has two months to study your request.

Two solutions are possible:

• First, the consulate notifies you of a refusal decision.
• Second, the consulate does not respond to your request. In this case, an implicit rejection decision is issued at the end of the two-month period from the date of submission of your file.

Appeal against visa refusal

• In the event that your visa application is refused, you must apply to the Appeals Committee against decisions to refuse a visa to enter France.
• In this area, the Commission must be informed within two months of the refusal decision or the implicit rejection decision.
• If the Commission rejects your appeal or does not respond within two months, you can file an annulment appeal before the Administrative Court, which has exclusive jurisdiction in the matter.

You are strongly advised to consult an immigration lawyer if your visa application is refused. Common questions pertaining to visitor’s visa

1. What should be done in the event of acceptance to issue a "long stay" visa?

You must apply for a long-stay "visitor" visa. You will be issued with a long-stay visa serving as a residence permit (VLS-TS). This visa is subject to an online validation procedure after you arrive in France via ANEF website.

2. Can I change my visitor’s visa to another form of visa once I arrive in France?

In special cases, travellers may be eligible for specific visas:

3. In the event of successful entrance examination or admission upon interview to an institution of higher learning, under a short-stay visa bearing the specification "étudiant-concours" (student course) you may apply for a student residence permit from the prefecture;

4. As a holder of a visa bearing the specification "mineur scolarisé" (school-going minor) to attend school or an institution of higher learning, you may stay 11 months in France, renewable for the duration of your studies;

5. As a holder of a long-stay visa bearing the specification "vacances-travail" (working holiday);

6. As a family member of a national of a European Union Member State, European Economic Space state, or Switzerland, subject to visa requirements, and holder of a short-stay visa, you will be able to apply for a residence permit once in France.

7. What is the maximum authorised duration for your stay in the Schengen Area ?

An official online calculator is available to determine the maximum authorised duration of short-stays for non-European foreign nationals in the Schengen Area.

8. What type of visa for frequent travelers ?

If you make multiple short trips to France each year, you may, under certain conditions, be eligible to apply for a multiple-entry visa valid for anywhere from 6 months to 5 years. This visa is commonly referred to as a "circulation visa". It enables you to make as many stays as you wish in France, provided that you abide by the cumulative time limit of 90 days per period of 180 days, for the duration of its validity. The period of validity is determined by the French administration, depending on your situation and previous visas granted to you.

9. Visa waivers to enter the overseas territories on the grounds of nationality, where the applicant holds a visa issued by a French consulate authority with multiple entries and where the period of validity is between 6 months and 5 years, may be granted to :

• Nationals of Bahrain, Belarus, China, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.