Yes, Indian passport holders need a valid visa, specifically a short stay uniform Schengen visa, to travel to France for short stays like tourism, business, family visits, or other approved activities, for a maximum total duration of 90 days over any 180 days. You need to get France Schengen visa in advance as it does not offer visa-on-arrival or visa-free entry for Indians.

France immigration authorities will process your Schengen visa in the following cases:

• You are solely travelling to France

• You are travelling to multiple Schengen destinations but France is the main destination in terms of duration or purpose of stay

• You are travelling to multiple Schengen countries with equal duration and France is your first port of entry.

Here are the France tourist visa requirements for Indians:

• Visa application form 

• Passport photo

• Valid passport

• Proof of identity

• Proof of travel purpose

• Proof of financial means 

• Proof of current social and professional status

• Proof of travel

• Proof of accommodation

• Travel insurance

  Visa application form:

  A completed and signed France visa application form. This form needs to be filled out online, and you will be required to submit a printout at the visa application centre (VAC)

  Passport photo:

  One recent passport-sized photograph that meets France's visa photo specific requirements (e.g., white background, no older than 6 months).

  Valid passport:

  A passport or travel document that is valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area. It must have been issued within the last 10 years and contain at least two blank pages.

  Proof of identity:

  A copy of your ID, which can be the Aadhaar or PAN Card. 

  Proof of travel purpose:

  Provide a clear and concise cover letter outlining your personal information, purpose of visit, financial means and intent to return. 

  Proof of financial means:

  The government needs proof of your capability to fund your stay, such as the bank account statements for the last three months and ITR acknowledgement for the last two years. The bank statements should be signed and stamped by your bank. 

  Proof of current social and professional status:

  This can be an employment contract, leave approval letter from the employer or certificate of employment. To prove social ties, you can submit any other document demonstrating your personal links to the country of residence (e.g., a copy of the marriage certificate or family record book).

  Proof of travel:

  Provide proof of roundtrip tickets and proof of intra-Schengen flight reservation, train itinerary or car rental if you are travelling to several Schengen States. 

  Proof of accommodation:

  Submit the proof of accommodation for your entire stay in France. If invited, submit an invitation letter signed by the inviting person and duly notarised in France.

  Travel insurance:

  You must have travel insurance that is valid for all Schengen Countries. It should cover at least €30,000 or equivalent for all risks for the entire duration of the trip. 

   

  Note: Depending on the specific circumstances mentioned in the visa application, additional documents will be required. For example, you will need a sponsorship letter if your trip is sponsored. 

Here are the steps to get a France Schengen visa for Indians: 

1. Step 1: Visit PostMyVisa, choose France as your destination and start visa application

2. Step 2: Enter your details such as full name, travelling alone or in a group, who is sponsoring your trip, marital status, employment status and current resident address.

3. Step 3: Enter your passport details and additional details depending on your employment status

4. Step 4: Choose an appointment date. Make sure you are booking the appointment date at least 6 months to two weeks before your departure date.

5. Step 5: Choose your travel dates and tentatively decide which Schengen countries you are planning to visit.

6. Step 6: Pay the fees and reserve your appointment

7. Step 7: Go to the visa application centre on your scheduled date and submit your documents. PostMyVisa will arrange for your documents to be submitted in the correct order. During your visit, you’ll also complete the required biometrics (fingerprints and facial scans). If you hold a biometric Schengen visa issued in the past 59 months, your previous biometric data can be reused.

8. Step 8: Pay the Visa application centre fees and wait for the processing, including travel insurance and courier fees, to be completed.

9. Step 9: Once approved, your passport with a France tourist visa stamp will be delivered directly to your home.

Yes, it is perfectly fine to leave the Schengen Area on August 14, 2024, a day before your visa expires. You are required to exit the Schengen Area before or on the last day of your visa validity, which in this case is August 15, 2024.

The France visa fees for Indians are, for Adults: €90, for Children (6-12 years): €45, and for Children under 6 years: Free of cost.

Additional costs: Additional fees may apply if you opt for premium services, such as expedited processing, SMS notifications, or courier delivery of your passport.

With the help of the PostMyVisa Schengen visa appointment tracker, you can now check the available appointment dates for the France visa

No, each family member must submit a separate Schengen visa application, including children and infants. Each applicant must meet the requirements and provide their own set of documents.

If your France visa is approved but your travel dates change, you can still use the visa as long as the new travel dates fall within the visa’s validity period. However, if your new travel dates are outside the visa’s validity, you will need to apply for a new visa.

Tip: When booking flights and accommodations, ensure they align with the visa’s validity period to avoid complications.

The chances of obtaining a long-term Schengen visa (valid for up to 5 years) depend on several factors, including:

• Previous travel history: A positive history of compliance with Schengen visa rules, including timely departures.

• Strong justification: A well-documented need for frequent travel to France or other Schengen Countries, such as for business or family reasons.

• Complete and accurate application: A thoroughly completed application with all necessary documents and no discrepancies.

Note: While exact approval rates for long-term visas are not publicly available, applicants with a strong travel history and clear reasons for multiple visits have a higher likelihood of approval.

A single-entry visa allows you to enter the Schengen Area only once. After leaving, you cannot re-enter, even if the visa is still valid.
Multiple-entry visa, on the other hand, allows you to enter and exit the Schengen Area multiple times within the visa's validity period (as long as you do not exceed the 90-day stay limit within 180 days).

Authorised by the government: Postmyvisa is authorised by the United Arab Emirates government to handle your visa application.

Easy to use: PostMyVisa is easy to use and allows you to apply for your visa in under 10 minutes, allowing for a seamless process.

Convenient document upload: You can easily upload your photo and passport by either selecting files from your device or using the camera on your smartphone or laptop.