Do you need a schengen visa to travel to France? How long will it take to obtain it? Do I need to attend the Visa Section?
As the UK is not part of the Schengen group of countries, a British residency/ visa does not give the holder right of entry into France.
To find out whether or not you require a Schengen visa to travel to France, please select your country in the list below:
Please note that the British Certificate of Identity (brown document) is not recognised by the French authorities as a valid travel document. Holders of such documents can therefore not be issued with a visa to France.
School trips exemption:
Pupils/ schoolchildren/ high school students in general education, nationals of countries who would normally require a visa, travelling on a school trip, are exempt from an entry visa into France if their names are entered on a "List of Travellers" form, available from:
British Council
Information Centre
Bridgewater House
58 Whitworth Street
Manchester M1 6BB
Tel. : 0161 957 7755
Fax. : 0161 957 7762
And online at this address.
This form is not, however, a valid travel document in itself: each pupil must carry a valid individual official document establishing identity and bearing a photograph, such as:
-a valid passport;
-a valid travel document;
-or a valid ID card.
Further information about the schools trip exemption may be obtained from the British Council. Please note that the British Council cannot give general visa advice.