Getting a visa

A short-stay visa is valid for the whole of the Schengen area, except if the stamp mentions otherwise. It is currently called a Schengen visa.

France’s consular authorities (save a few posts) and those of all other countries adhering to the Schengen Agreement issue Schengen visas, which are valid in France.

You however cannot submit your visa application to a consular authority in any Schengen country. The competent consular authority is determined by your main destination, which is the country in which you plan to stay the longest:

• If France is your main destination, you must submit your application to the French consular authority;
• If another Schengen country is your main destination, you must submit your application to the consular authority of that country.If the stays in the different Schengen countries are of the same length, the country where you first enter the Schengen area is the one with the power to issue your visa.

The websites of the French authorities with the power to receive a visa application.

How do I access visa counters?

More and more visa sections only meet with applicants by appointment. You are requested to visit the website or consular post where you intend to submit your application to find out how to meet with the consular personnel.