A Comprehensive Guide to Apply for a Visa for France

Given its unparalleled beauty and rich culture, France remains to hold an undeniable place in the hearts of travellers who visit Europe and other Schengen countries for leisure. Planning a trip to France, whether for leisure or work, is not just about singling down the tourist spots you must visit during your trip. It also requires you to plan soundly to acquire all the important documents and paperwork for your travels. This piece will cover everything a traveller from UAE must know about the documents required to travel to France including a France visa, travel insurance for France visa and more. Let’s start with the different types of French visas available to visit France.  

France Visa Types

French visas are issued based on your nationality, the purpose and time duration of a visit to France. Broadly, there are two types of visas: immigrant and non-immigrant, based on categorisation. Let’s understand where each of these visas will be applicable:

Long-Stay or Immigrant Visa

If you plan to travel to France for more than 90 days, you should apply for an immigrant visa, also known as a long-stay visa. The duration of your travels should be more than 90 days but less than one year when applying for a long-term stay visa in France. You can apply for a residence permit in France if you wish to further extend your stay in France. 

Short-Stay or Non-immigrant visa

Short-stay France visa can be applied for if you travel to France for less than 90 days. You need not visit the local French Embassy to apply for a French short-stay visa. If you are a citizen of the UAE with a valid French Schengen Visa, you can travel through all other 25 Schengen states as well.  

Other Types of Visas

French visas can be divided into a few other sub-types as per the type and purpose of your visit. Following is a list of the same: 

France Tourist/Private Stay Visa

You can apply for this visa if you are travelling to France for tourism, private stay or to get treatment at a French hospital. You will get a short-stay visa if the duration of your stay is less than 90 days and a long-stay visa for travel durations longer than 90 days. 

France Schengen Family Visa 

You can apply for a France family visa if you are going to France to meet a family member. That family member should be a permanent or temporary resident of France.

France Schengen Work Visa

Eligible applicants who want to travel to France to participate in a paid opportunity in France can apply for a France work visa. But the duration of their trip should not be more than one year. Both self-employed individuals and salaried workers can apply for this visa. 

France Long Stay Study Visa

France long-stay study visa can be applied to stay more than 90 days to pursue higher studies in one of the approved universities in France. The visa will be valid for one year. After that, you can apply for a residence permit to stay in France.

France Religious Purposes Visa

If you are a member of the Catholic or Protestant church and invited by any religious institution in France, you can apply for a France long-stay religious orders visa. As a mandatory requirement, you need to submit the invitation letter and other documents when applying for it. 

Insurance for Different Types of Visas

Travel Health Insurance for the France Visa

Travel insurance for France visa is a mandatory plan you need to purchase when travelling to France. A travel insurance plan is designed specifically to help travellers get all essentials like medical care covered during the trip. You can get a single or a multi-trip insurance plan as per your travel itinerary. Since France is a Schengen country, you must purchase a Schengen travel insurance plan. A few elements must be covered by your Schengen travel insurance plans which include:

• It must include a minimum medical emergency sum of EUR 30,000
• France is a part of the Schengen region, and so it has to be valid throughout the region
• The travel insurance must be valid till you are staying in France

Other important benefits you get with your Schengen travel insurance plan are: 

• Passport loss cover
• Luggage loss cover
• Delayed and missed flights
• Trip cancellation and curtailment

How to Get Travel Insurance Online for France?

Purchasing your travel insurance for France is easy with Policybazaar.se as your insurance partner. Here you will get multiple options of top travel insurance plans from the best providers in the country. Compare and choose the right one for your travel needs. You can also purchase your France travel insurance from the insurance company of your choice as an alternative. Visit the official website or the nearest branch and apply for the plan by filling out the application form. 

Let's explore how you can purchase your France travel insurance plan via www.policybazaar.ae. in a few simple steps: 

• You will find a lead form on the official travel insurance page. Enter the details required and submit the form. 
• You will get redirected to our quotes page where you can find the top Schengen travel insurance plans for your France visit.
• Go through these plans and then finalise the ideal one for your tour to France. Fill out the application form and make the payment at the payment gateway to complete the transaction.

France Visa Eligibility

Getting a France visa requires you to qualify the eligibility criteria for each type of visa. Following is the generic eligibility criteria applicable for all types of France visa:

• Your passport shouldn’t be more than 10 years old
• The validity of your passport must be at least 3 to 6 months post your stay in France
• The passport must have two blank pages
• You should have a certain bank balance to aid your France tour
• You must have valid France travel insurance with medical emergency cover

Documents Required for France Visa

The following documents are required to get a France visa:

1. A Visa application form - duly signed and submitted
2. Two passport-sized  photos no more than three months old
3. A valid passport that is not older than 10 years. The passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the date of your departure from France
4. A round trip reservation or itinerary that includes all the details of your visit till the time depart from France
5. A proper travel insurance policy
6. A valid proof of accommodation
7. Bank statements for the last three months that will prove that you can sustain your stay in France
8. Visa application fee receipt

Additional Documents Required for a France Tourist Visa

1. Bank statement for the past 6 months
2. In the absence of a bank statement, a legal affidavit stating that the visitor has enough funds to take care of the travel expenses 
3. A travel Itinerary including the trip description, purpose of visit, hotel reservations and formal invitation letter (for business and work visits)

Additional Documents Required for France Student Visa

1. Letter of acceptance from a certified university in France 
2. Receipt of the educational fee paid at the institute/university
3. Birth certificate of the applicant
4. Educational certificates from previous institutes such as diplomas and transcripts
5. In the absence of a bank statement, proof of financial means that shows that the applicant is capable of residing and financing their stay in France

Additional Documents Required for France Medical Visa

1. A letter from a doctor or the hospital in the UAE stating that the person needs medical treatment overseas
2. Official confirmation of the treatment from the hospital in France that will conduct the treatment
3. Proof of financial means to pay medical and other miscellaneous expenses such as bank statements, letter of sponsorship, advance payment receipt for the treatment or a verbal note from the health ministry of the UAE

How to Apply for a France Visa?

Your nature of visit makes a huge impact on the type of visa you will need to apply for. So, before you step out to apply for a France Schengen visa, prepare a cover letter stating the reason for your visit. Also, do not forget to check out your eligibility for the specific French visa you wish to apply for. You can also choose a host to apply on your behalf for the following mentioned reasons:

• Work Visa (your employer will be the host) 
• Study Visa (your education institute will be the host) 
• Family Reunification (a spouse or a family member resident or citizen of France will be the host) 

If you are visiting for business, start-up, investment, employment, and other purposes, you can apply for a France Schengen visa online. Visit the visa department on the official website of France government. Fill out the form correctly and submit it along with the relevant documents. Make the application fee payment and wait for approval after the visa interview. 

France Visa Fees

Take a quick glimpse of the France Visa Fees that you will have to pay while applying for the visa. 

How to Check Your France Visa Status?

It may take up to 14 days for the visa department of France to confirm your France Schengen visa. However, until then, you can keep track of the status of your visa via tracking links to stay updated. A confirmation mail and SMS are sent to your mobile once you make the final visa application fee payment and complete the process. This SMS and email will contain a link to track your visa application status. You can use these links to view your France visa status. Apart from this, you can also visit the official website of the Department of Visa and check your visa status using your visa reference number. 

Conclusion

Applying for a France visa is a rather smooth and swift process if you are aware of the kind of visa you need to apply for, the steps involved and the paperwork required. Simply follow this guide to apply for your France visa hassle-free. Also make sure that you select a good Schengen travel insurance plan which has all mandatory covers to stay stress-free throughout your trip. Staying on top of all your travel paperwork and visa formalities is the only way to make the best out of your France trip. You can connect with our travel insurance expert to get guidance related to required insurance covers or to solve any travel-related queries. 

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