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French Schengen Visa
The French Schengen visa allows you to travel freely within the 15 Schengen Visa countries, including France, and spend a maximum of 90 days over 6 months. However, the duration of the French Schengen visa is up to the French Embassy in London.
Getting a French Schengen Visa can be very easy. Please make sure that you read and understand all of the Schengen requirements listed below:
 
Expat Explore is officially accredited as a visa agency with the French Embassy.

Embassy Accreditation number:

A103/2009
START YOUR APPLICATION HERE

FRENCH SCHENGEN VISA REQUIREMENTS - 8 POINT CHECKLIST
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EXPAT EXPLORE FRENCH SCHENGEN BOOKING PROCEDURES
   
  First read the 8 Point Check list below, then phone Expat Explore (between 11:00 and 14:00) and book a lodging space for your French Schengen visa (not later than 2 weeks before date of travel to France). 0207 394 5232 ext 21
!!!! After you have phoned us and booked your visa lodging space, post or deliver your full Schengen application to our office (We need your information at least a week before your processing date).

MAKE SURE YOUR APPLICATION IS 100% COMPLETE WHEN YOU DELIVER IT TO OUR OFFICE - WE DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR CONSULTATIONS - you can only drop your documents at our office as we do not have time to sit and help you to complete bookings, do insurance, print statements etc.
  Please note that the French Embassy decide the length of the visa after taking into account your credibility in terms of previous Schengen states visited, time remaining on your residency visa and period of insurance covered for.
  When posting, ask the post office for recorded delivery. Our fees includes the embassy fee, but add £6 if we should post it back to you again. See further payment details at end of page.
     
 
NATIONALS FROM THESE COUNTRIES MUST APPLY IN PERSON DIRECTLY AT THE EMBASSY
AFGHANISTAN, ALGERIA, BAHRAIN, BANGLADESH, BELARUS, BIRMANIE, BURUNDI, CONGO, EGYPT, INDONESIA, IRAN, IRAQ, JORDAN, KUWAIT, LEBANON, LIBYA, MALI, MAROCCO, NIGER, NIGERIA, NORTH KOREA, OMAN, PAKISTAN, PALESTINE, PHILIPPINES, QATAR, RWANDA, SAUDI ARABIA, SOMALIA, SUDAN, SURINAM, SYRIA, TUNISIA, UAE, YEMEN, VIETNAM, ZIMBABWE
YOU CAN NOT USE AGENCIES LIKE EXPAT EXPLORE. CONTACT THE EMBASSY
1
SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION FORMS
 
    You MUST complete the following 3 forms:
  A

FRENCH SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION FORM
  • Complete the Schengen form with a black pen and in capitals. The visa forms should be error free without any scratching, tip-ex or changes. Complete all your personal details and remember to sign on page 2. Rather leave any technical questions for us to complete (leave questions 21-25 open).
  B DECLARATION OF INSURANCE FORM (Compulsory, please complete)
  C EXPAT CLIENT FORM
  D MINOR: Download if you are under 18 years old or have children under 18 applying. Download here
     
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2
LETTER OF EMPLOYMENT (Also read special cases)
 
Official ORIGINAL up-to-date (not older than a month) letter from your employer stating the position held within the company as well as the starting date. The letter must be dated.
The letter should be addressed to :The French Embassy: Visa section and must be on an official letterhead with the date. THE LETTERHEAD MUST HAVE THE COMPANY'S REGISTRATION NUMBER ON IT.
! ! Last three payslips. (Weekly or Monthly)
     
    SPECIAL CASES
  MARRIED COUPLES
    Original Married certificates must be included with all applications involving married couples
   
  MARRIED to UK NATIONAL
    We can assist you. You only need to provide the following:
   
  • Original marriage certificate
  • Both passports for you and your UK spouse
  • Form 1 A and C from this list
  • 3 Passport photos
  • (Now continue to nr 7 in this list)
   
  SELF EMPLOYED
    An up-to-date letter from your solicitor, accountant, bank manager or local Chamber of Commerce
   
  IF STUDYING
    An official up-to-date letter from your school, college or university, stating the type of studies and attendance records
   
  NANNY OR AU-PAIR
    An up-to-date letter from your employer WITH your work contract
    Employers passport
   
  INACTIVE (UNEMPLOYED) AND MARRIED
    An up-to-date letter from your spouse’s employer
    Spouse’s valid passport
    Your marriage certificate
   
  BUSINESS TRIPS TO FRANCE
    Letter of employer as above, confirming health insurance cover
    Formal invitation letter from the French company, stating purposes and frequency of the business trips
   
  MINOR (UNDER 18)
   

Original unabridged full birth certificate, stating both parents’ names, with official translation if not in French or English
    Parents’ original passports or certified copies if the parents are residing abroad
    The minor authorization form (Download here)
     
 
3
TRAVEL INSURANCE - Insureandgo.com from only £30 annual.
 
You will need European travel insurance including medical cover and repatriation with a €30000 limit, valid for the Schengen area. It must cover the duration of the requested visa.
If you are only insured for the duration of your trip, you will only get a Schengen visa for that period. To qualify for a 6 months or longer Schengen visa you will need travel insurance that covers the entire period.
   
Which Insurance provider is the best for your application?
Insureandgo.com

Most applicants use insureandgo.com annual travel insurance. It is cheap, you can purchase it online and immediately print your own certificate. With insureandgo.com the embassy ONLY require your printed certificate. Get a quote now

 insurance
Bank Insurance If you have insurance through your current bank account (not credit card), please provide an original up-to-date letter from your bank confirming this on letter headed paper.
Other If you purchase any other insurance make sure to include the travel insurance certificate that states your name, period of cover and what you are covered for. You must also include the full policy document to clearly show your medical cover and repatriation with a €30000 limit.
     
    * Please note, insureandgo.com will also instantly email and post you your travel insurance certificate and policy documents.
     
 
4
  
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
ORIGINAL BANK STATEMENT (Option A)
   
  • The bank statement must be the original statement that the bank posts to your house, with your name and address on AND:
  • Dated not older than one month from date of travel departure.
  • You should have at least £45 per number of days planned to be spent in France, in your account.
  • If you do not have sufficient funds in your latest original statement, you can include an up-to-date internet printout of your account that shows sufficient funds. However, we still need an old original statement with the new printouts.
   
OR
  TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES (Option B)
   
  • If you do not have a bank statement you can buy travelers cheques
  • You will need €50 per day in France and please include the original travelers cheques with your Schengen visa application.
  • (Please note that applicants with Travelers Cheques tend to only get single entry visas from the embassy)
   
 
5
  
PROOF OF TRAVEL
Traveling by bus, eurostar, airplane
   
  • A confirmed return ticket to France with the dates of departure and return on.
  • Names of all passengers, not only the lead passenger.
  • E-booking confirmation is also acceptable
   
  Traveling by car
   
  • Confirmed ferry booking, stating passengers names and car registration number.
  • MOT certificate and car insurance documents.
  • Letter from driver stating that he/she will be driving to France and the names of all passengers.
     
 
NEED A CHEAP TOUR?
Are you looking for a budget weekend to Paris. Visit our Paris Budget Weekend tour page - we have fully guided tours from £109 for the weekend AND we will offer you a further discounted fee on our Schengen visa rates.
 
6
   PROOF OF ACCOMMODATION
Staying in a hotel:
   
  • A confirmed and paid hotel reservation, stating the names of the guests, date of arrival and departure. Hotel name, number and address.
  • NB - From 27 April 2009 the French embassy also requires you to get further proof DIRECTLY from your hotel or hostel. This should be ideally a fax letter addressed to you and confirming that they are aware of your reservation and can confirm your reservation details. They WILL NOT except vouchers, e-tickets or email confirmations any more - you must have extra direct confirmation!!
  • SO YOU NEED BOTH OF THE ABOVE PROOFS OF ACCOMMODATION

 
  • The following information was issued by the French Embassy:
    As from the 27th of April, people traveling to France for tourism will have to provide a reservation confirmation issued directly by the hotel clearly stating the visa national’s full names, the dates of check-in and out, the hotel address and contact details. Bookings made via a reservation centre or travel agencies will no longer be accepted. To ensure that visa nationals comply with the legislation in regards to the reality of stay in France, controls will be made prior and after the visa has been granted.
     
  Staying with friends or family:
   
  • A French certificate of board and lodging to be obtained from the French local town hall or police station (“Attestation d’Accrue”). We need the original document (green and orange form with official stamp).
   
 
7
PASSPORT PHOTOS
 
3 passport photos
45mm×35mm, colour photos, taken against a white background with good contrast and quality.
  Printed on normal photographic paper. The French Embassy do not accept scanned photos.
     
 
8
PASSPORT and UK VISA
 
  Your passport must be valid for 6 months after the return date of your holiday.
IF you have a valid active Schengen visa, the embassy can not cancel this. You can START with a new application when your old visa has expired. Therefor, your holiday should not overlap with an old active visa.
The French embassy does not issue Schengen visas in the last 3 months of any UK visas. If you only have less than 3 months left on your UK visa, you can not apply for a Schengen visa.
  If your UK visa states the name of your spouse, fiance, unmarried partner or child, please include this person’s valid passport (no copies) with your application.
  There must be at least 2 empty visa pages in your passport.
  South African temporary passports are invalid for a French Schengen Visa.
     
 
FRENCH SCHENGEN VISA COSTS
   
£60   MARRIED TO UK or EU SPOUSE - This includes all fees.
£105

OWN TRAVEL or an EXPAT EXPLORE TOUR - The fee includes the French embassy fee. Early booking due to high summer demand is advised.

£120

EMERGENCY SCHENGEN VISAS - Only applies if you request a visa within 7 working days of intended travel. The fee includes the French embassy fee
£6 POSTAGE - We will post your Schengen visa and all original documents back to you via Royal Mail's special recorded (tracked and signed for) next day delivery service.
     
    PAYMENT OPTIONS
     
  CHEQUE: All cheques must be made out to Expat Explore Ltd
 

CASH AT THE OFFICE : Remember your name as reference!
     
   
 
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UK immigration laws & permits?

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