Short stay visa

Short stay Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely within the Schengen space, including France, and spend a maximum of 90 days over 6 months. Those are issued for various purposes such as tourism, shopping, business or family visits.

Validity: 1 to 90 days (over 6 months)
Numbers of entries authorised: 1 or multiple

A photocopy of each document must be included with the application.

 A national passport or official travel document : (+ complete copy except for blank pages). Valid for more than 3 months beyond the validity of the requested visa, with 2 blank visa pages. Your British Residence permit (stamped in passport or in the form of an identity card) must also exceed by more than 3 months the validity of the requested visa.

If your British residency states the name of your spouse, fiancé(e), unmarried partner or child, please bring this person’s valid passport when you apply for your Schengen visa as well as an official proof of your relationship.

From 5th April 2010 only passports that have been issued (not extended !!!) during the past ten years can be endorsed with a visa. If your passport was issued longer than 10 years ago, please apply for a new passport at your Embassy

2 application forms (one can be photocopied) duly completed and signed by the applicant or the legal guardian for children.

3 recent passeport-size photographs per person ( 1 glued or stappled on each application form and 1 left loose for scanning purpose); in colour (frame: 3,5 x 4,5cm); The size of the face must not exceed 30mm; taken against a white background with good contrast / clear / good quality, printed on normal photographic paper, unmonted and full face without glasses or head covering.

Proof of financial means of support:
Up-to-date bank statements of your UK current account for the 3 last months. Bank statements must be recent, less than 10 days old. They must include address, name, account number, and be certified by the bank for anything printed at the desk. A minimum of €56.20 - i.e. £55 - per day spent in France per person is required.

Proof of travel:
A confirmed return ticket to France (plane, ferry, bus) or booking fully paid from your travel agent (including itinerary if participating in a tour). If you are visiting several Schengen states, please join to your file a Travel Plan :

Proof of accommodation:
A confirmed hotel reservation for the duration of your stay in the Schengen space. This reservation must be confirmed directly by the hotel clearly stating the visa national’s full names, the dates of check-in and out, the hotel address and contact details. Bookings made via a reservation centre or travel agencies will no longer be accepted. To ensure that visa nationals comply with the legislation in regards to the reality of stay in France, controls will be made prior and after the visa has been granted.

A Certificate of Board and Lodging ("Attestation d’Accueil") to be obtained by the person you are visiting in France obtainable from the local Townhall ("Mairie") or Police Station ("Gendarmerie" or "Commissariat de Police").

Travel insurance including medical cover and repatriation. with a 30 000€ limit, valid for the Schengen area, and covering the duration of the requested visa. Please provide : the certificate of insurance bearing : the Policy number, the dates of cover and the details of the insurance. It must be issued and confirmed from the UK.

A pre-paid special delivery envelope with your name and address, as passports and documents will be only returned by post.

Documents to be produced according to the applicant’s current occupation:

If employed:

 An official up-to-date letter from your employer stating the position held within the company as well as the starting date;

 Last 3 month payslips.

If self-employed:

An up-to-date letter from your solicitor;

Or an up-to-date letter from your accountant;

Or an up-to-date letter from your Bank Manager;

Or an up-to-date letter from your local Chamber of Commerce.

If studying:

An official up-to-date letter from your school, college or university stating the type of studies, details of course and attendance record.

If you are a scientist visiting France for professional purposes for a stay less than 3 months:

An official invitation ’protocole d’accueil’ to be obtained by the research company inviting you. This form must be fully completed, signed by the director and must carry the official stamp of the company as well as of the prefecture.

If ’au-pair’, nanny or domestic help:

Domestic workers accompanying their employers to France must, prior to applying for a Schengen visa, obtain a temporary work permit from the competent French Authorities (art. R. 341 – 1 du code de travail).

 An up-to-date letter from your employer, as above;

 Employer’s valid passport or certified copy.

If inactive and married:

 An up-to-date letter from your spouse’s employer, as above;

 Spouse’s valid passport;

 Your marriage certificate with official translation if not in French or English. This official translation must be certified as a true copy by the Embassy/ Consulate of the country where your marriage was celebrated or by the legalisation bureau of the Foreign Office in GB.

If travelling to France on a business trip:

 Letter of employer as above, confirming health insurance cover (medical cost + repatriation);

 Formal invitation letter from the French company, stating purposes and frequency of the business trip(s).

The Visa Section may issue ’circulation visas’ to people who can prove their frequent trips to France for professional purposes.

If travelling to France for a conference:

 Recent letter confirming your registration with the conference organisers, which must name the location and dates of the conference and provide the postal address of your hotel if this is provided for you.

Church Members going to France to visit a religious congregation must provide, in lieu of the Certificate of Board and Lodging, this form, downloadable here , completed and signed by their host. This document will need to be produced when entering France.

If minor (under 18) :

 Original Full Birth Certificate, stating both parents’ names, with official translation if not in French or English. This official translation must be certified as a true copy by your Embassy/ Consulate or by the legalisation bureau of the Foreign Office in GB. ; - Parents’ valid passports or certified copies if the parents are residing abroad.

If under the age of 18 and travelling to France without the parents or with one parent:

 A parental authorisation to travel form, completed and signed by the parents or legal guardian authorising the child to travel and appointing the person responsible for him. This letter should be duly authenticated by a solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths, or by a Consular Officer of the applicants’ nationality;
 Parents’ valid passports must be enclosed with the application, or certified copies if the parents are residing abroad;

 Original Full Birth Certificate, stating both parents’ names, with official translation if not in French or English. This official translation must be certified as a true copy by your Embassy/ Consulate or by the legalisation bureau of the Foreign Office in GB.

If under the age of 18 and fostered:

 An official up-to-date letter from the British social services authorising the trip to France. This letter must indicate the full name of the child, full name of the carer and the address and length of stay in France;
 Carer’s valid passport.

If under the age of 18 and adopted

Please note that the French Consulate will only issue visas to children whose adoptions have been completed in the UK.

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The French Consulate may request that you attend the Visa Section after expiration of your Schengen visa.

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