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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:
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 ect.
  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 £5 if we should post it back to you again. See further payment details at end of page.
     
 
MARRIED TO UK or EU CITIZEN?
From 18 October 2006, all EU spouses must apply in person at the French embassy for a French Schengen visa. We can not assist you anymore.
However, we can assist you if you are married to a UK national.
 
NATIONALS FROM THESE COUNTRIES MUST APPLY IN PERSON DIRECTLY AT THE EMBASSY
ZIMBABWE, AFGHANISTAN, ALGERIA, BAHRAIN, BANGLADESH, BELARUS, BIRMANIE, BURUNDI, COLOMBIA, CONGO, EGYPT, INDONESIA, IRAN, IRAQ, JORDAN, KUWAIT, LEBANON, LIBYA, NIGERIA, NORTH KOREA, OMAN, PAKISTAN, PALESTINE, PHILIPPINES, QATAR, RWANDA, SAUDI ARABIA, SOMALIA, SUDAN, SURINAM, SYRIA, UAE, YEMEN, VIETNAM, ZIMBABWE
 
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
  C EXPAT CLIENT FORM
  D MINOR: Download if you are under 18 years old, 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.
     
    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:
   
  • Original maraige certificate
  • Both passports for you and your UK spouse
  • Form 1 A and C from this list
  • 3 Passport photos (see point 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 that includes medical cover and repatriation. It must cover the duration of the requested French Schengen visa.
If you are only insured for your specific 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.
  Please include the travel insurance certificate that states your name, period of cover and what you are covered for.
  We recommend annual travel insurance from Insureandgo.com - they will instantly email and post you your travel insurance certificate.
     
 
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 Travellers 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.
     
 
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.
   
  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.
The French embassy does not issue Schengen visas in the last 3 months of any UK visas. If you only have less thn 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 SPOUSE - This includes all fees.
£99

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

£6 POSTAGE - We will post your Schengen visa and all original documents back to you via Royal Mail's special recorded 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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