France Tourist Visa Guide for Indians

Prepare the documents that apply to your circumstances. Follow the personalised checklist generated by France-Visas and the current VFS instructions if they differ from this general list.

1. Passport and previous passports: Provide your current passport and required copies. It must be in good condition, have been issued within the last ten years, contain at least two blank pages, and remain valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen area. Bring relevant previous passports or visa copies if requested by your personal checklist.
2. Application form and receipt: Complete the France-Visas application, print the form and receipt, and sign where required.
3. Photographs: Provide two recent photographs that meet ICAO requirements. France-Visas specifies two recent ICAO photos; its FAQ describes a photo 35–40 mm wide, with the face occupying 70–80% of the image. Follow the current India checklist for the exact print dimensions and background colour.
4. Travel medical insurance: Provide a policy covering the whole trip and the Schengen area, with at least €30,000 of cover for required medical and repatriation costs. 
5. Travel plan: Include a consistent itinerary showing travel dates, destinations and transport between places. Do not buy non-refundable tickets solely for a visa application unless official instructions require confirmed tickets.
6. Accommodation: Show where you will stay for each night, or provide the required host invitation/accommodation document if staying with someone.
7. Proof of funds and income: Include the financial evidence requested for your circumstances, such as bank statements and income or tax documents. Explain who will pay for the trip and keep the amounts consistent with the itinerary.
8. Work, study or business evidence: Provide documents showing your current situation in India, such as an employer letter and approved leave, business records, or proof of enrolment.
9. Cover letter and supporting evidence: Explain the purpose of the visit, itinerary, funding and reasons for returning to India. Add documents for the specific circumstances of your trip.

Getting your France tourist visa does not require obscure paperwork. Most of what you need is standard for any international trip:

• Passport — valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned return date, with at least 2 blank pages. The same rule applies to any older passports you hold.
• Passport photos — Two recent colour photos, 35mm x 45mm, white background, full face visible. The same Schengen-size prints used for any previous European visa work here.
• Flight reservation — A confirmed round-trip booking with PNR number showing entry to and exit from the Schengen area. A hold or dummy reservation from an agent works for the application — do not pay for tickets before approval.
• Hotel bookings — Confirmed reservations for every night of your stay, or an invitation letter from the family or friends you are visiting. Refundable bookings from Booking.com or Agoda are ideal.
• Bank statements — Last 3-6 months of statements showing consistent salary credits and a stable balance of ₹3-5 lakh for a typical 10-day trip, with more for longer stays.
• Travel insurance — Mandatory, with €30,000 minimum medical cover valid across the whole Schengen area for your entire stay. Most Indian providers sell Schengen-compliant policies.
• Employment proof — Salary slips for the last 3 months, ITR for the last 2 years, and an employer NOC on company letterhead with your approved leave dates.

The France visa application runs through VFS Global, which handles the paperwork for the French consulates in India. All applications must be submitted in person. Here is the compressed step-by-step:

1. Confirm the main destination rule first — France must be where you spend the most nights, otherwise you apply at the embassy of the other country. Applying elsewhere when France is your main destination is treated as misrepresentation.

2. Fill in the online Schengen application form on the france-visas.gouv.fr portal, print it and sign it. The France-Visas number this generates is required when you book your VFS appointment — this is a France-specific step, and the form is in English, so no translation is needed.

3. Book your VFS Global appointment — France has the widest VFS network in India, with centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Kochi, Goa and more, but slots fill weeks ahead in peak season, so book as early as possible.

4. Gather your documents using the checklist above — bring originals plus one set of A4 photocopies (do not staple), and arrive 15 minutes early.

5. Attend your appointment — biometrics (fingerprints and photo) are taken on-site unless you have valid Schengen biometrics from the last 59 months.

6. Pay the fees — €90 visa fee (₹9,900) plus the VFS service charge of around ₹2,500, by cash, card or UPI at the centre.

7. Track your application with the VFS reference number, collect your passport from the centre or via courier, and check every detail on the visa sticker immediately.

Expert tip: France has no express or fast-track processing — every application follows the standard queue, and peak-season files can take 30-45 days. With appointment waits of 3-5 weeks in Delhi, plan 6-8 weeks between booking your slot and your departure date, and up to 3 months if you travel in summer. France's approval rate for Indians is about 84 per cent — a specific itinerary naming real places, backed by consistent finances, is what gets you there.

Apply as early as the rules allow, especially if you are travelling during a busy period. Appointment availability varies by centre and date, so check VFS before making non-refundable travel plans.

The formal application window is different from practical planning advice: you may apply no earlier than six months before travel. General EU guidance says to lodge the application at least 15 days before travel. France-Visas India lists a five-day minimum only for Indian passport holders born in India. The standard decision time is 15 calendar days, with cases potentially extended to 45 calendar days; this does not include time spent waiting for an appointment. Apply earlier whenever possible.

Applying through the wrong Schengen country. Apply through the country that is the main destination, considering the purpose and duration of your trip. If no main destination can be identified, apply through the country you intend to enter first. Check the full itinerary before booking.

Leaving inconsistencies between the form and supporting documents. Make sure travel dates, accommodation, funding and purpose agree across the France-Visas form, cover letter and supporting evidence. If something changes, explain it rather than leaving conflicting information.

Submitting unclear financial evidence. Show where the trip money comes from and who will pay. A sudden deposit may need an explanation and evidence of its source. Do not rely on an unsupported fixed balance figure as a guarantee.

Using the wrong photo or passport details. Check the current photo specification and passport-validity rule before your appointment. The photo requirements in older versions of this guide may be out of date.

Leaving the application too late. Appointment availability and processing time are separate. Check current VFS availability and leave enough time for the application to be decided before travel.

Paying for non-refundable travel before a decision. Follow the official document instructions, but avoid non-refundable bookings where possible until the visa is issued.