Visa website of the French Consulate General in London

Welcome to the Visa homepage of the French Consulate General in London

 IMPORTANT CHANGES: Compulsory Envelope

Due to major refurbishment work, as from the 10th of September, visas applicants who must expect longer processing delays - see list below - will compulsorily have to provide a "special delivery envelope" to their visa applications. This will enable the French Consulate to send you back your passport once the visa has been granted - within approximately 15 days – it means that you will not have to come back to the Visa Section a second time.

If you are unwilling to leave your passport, you are invited to postpone your visa application until after the 1st of October 2010.

Thank you for your comprehension.

 IMPORTANT CHANGES: Closing down of the postal department

The postal department of the Visa Section will definitely close on the 15th of September 2010. Visa applications received from this date onwards will not be processed and will be sent back to you without visa. People who were previously entitled to this service will from then on have to submit their visa applications in person by first scheduling an appointment, see: http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Appoin….

This change is due to the forthcoming issue of biometric visas at the French Consulate, London – visa applicants will soon have to provide biometric data.

We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause you and invite you, should you have any specific queries, to write to visas.londres-fslt diplomatie.gouv.fr

 IMPORTANT REMINDER: Domestic workers’ proof of activity

As a domestic worker, note that you must provide to justify of your professional activity: your contract of employment; last 3 payslips; your employer’s valid passport or certified copy and the Form E101 to be obtained from HM Revenue & Customs. For further information, visit http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Health…

 CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATION: Passport issue date must be less than 10 years

Your passport must be less than 10 years old when you apply for a Schengen visa.

 NEW: People travelling to several Schengen States

If you are planning to visit various Schengen States, please fill in a travel plan and attach it to your application (download the travel plan)

 NEW: Holders of a year-long Schengen visa

Visa nationals who have been granted year-long Schengen visas (with the written endorsement “visa de circulation”) in the last 5 years by the French Consulate, London, may use the postal service regardless of their county of residence . They may apply for the renewal of their visa up to two months prior to the expiry date of their current visa. Learn more …

 IMPORTANT REMINDER: Marriage Certificate

Note that the French consulate requests the copy of the marriage certificate from the Register Office for all marriages (including religious) celebrated in the UK.

 IMPORTANT REMINDER: Photocopies of your passport

Please ensure you provide photocopies of your passport (ID, UK stamp and previous Schengen visas pages) when you lodge a visa application. Failing to do so will most probably lead to the refusal of your application.

 IMPORTANT REMINDER: Incomplete applications:

Visa applications lodged without all requested supporting documents and copies are refused.

 IMPORTANT REMINDER: Accredited travel agencies:

The Consulate General has accredited some travel agencies for 2010 to lodge visas applications on behalf of their customers (read more…)

Beware: The French Consulate General London has learnt that some agencies are advertising and claiming to be authorised to apply on your behalf for Schengen visa and/or to have access to appointments at the Visa Section. Please click here to check the 2010 list of the accredited agencies and note that the appointments they charged for can be obtained free of charge here on the website of the Consulate. We are warning visa applicants against the behaviour of those fraudulent agencies.

 IMPORTANT REMINDER: Hotel bookings

As from the 27th of April 2009, people travelling to France for tourism will have to provide a reservation confirmation issued 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 reservation centres 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.
We understand tour operating companies are not always able to provide the contracted hotels with a rooming list at the time of the customer visa application process. Therefore we recommend that the tour operators send a copy of the client booking confirmation (fax, email or letter) to the hotel at the time of the booking. The hotel will then be able to confirm if a customer is booked in at the time of the checks made by the Consulate.

 CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATION: FAO Nationals from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia:

Please note that, at from the 19th of December 2009, holders of biometric passports issued by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia (except holders of Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate - Koordinaciona Uprava) are exempted from visa for stays up to 90 days in the Schengen States.
This visa waiver only applies to holders of biometric passports.

 CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATION: FAO Nationals from the United Arab Emirates:

Please note that, at from the 15th of December 2009, your Schengen visa application shall be processed within a few hours.

 CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATION: Visas exemption:

As from June the 1st 2009, nationals from Mauritius, Seychelles, Barbados, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Christopher and Nevis are exempted from visa for stays up to 90 days in the Schengen States and the european territories of France. Visas are no more issued except if the destination of the travel is situated in a overseas territory of France or if the purpose of the travel in France is to have a paid activity.

 CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATION: New long stay visas equivalent to a residence permit:

As from June the 1st 2009, holders of long stay visas for France (3 months +) will be exempted from applying for a residence permit (carte de sejour) at the Prefecture (…)

 CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATION: The "Compétences et Talents" Card:

If you have a project, the three-year, renewable “Compétences et Talents” card allows you to exercise the professional activity of your choice in connection with your project (…)

 CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATION: FAO family members of EU nationals:

Married spouses and children under the age of 21 or dependant of EU nationals are exempted from obtaining a Schengen visa to travel to France if they hold:
 a valid travel document, i.e. passport;
 a valid UK residence permit with the endorsement "family member of EEA national";
 and if they are joining or travelling with the EU national.

However if they do not satisfy the above conditions, they need to apply for a visa to travel to France (for instance if their UK residency does not state those exact words/ the EU national is not travelling).

Caution:

 This exemption only apply to married spouses/ children under the age of 21 or dependant, i.e. not to parents - for further information and procedure to apply for a visa as the family member of an EU citizen, click here (…) nor to unmarried partners, civil partners - for further information and procedure to apply for a short stay Schengen visa, click here (…)

 Family members of French Nationals are not included in this legislation and still require visas to travel to France. Click here to apply for a visa as the family member of a French citizen, click here (…)

 CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATION: FAO people travelling to the DOM or COM:

 For the attention of people travelling to the DOM or COM:

As from the 2nd of Dec 2008 are allowed to enter without a visa in the DOM (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guyana & Reunion) and COM (Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthelemy) cruise passengers who are travelling with renowned cruise lines:
  Holder of a valid French Schengen visa
  Holder of a valid residency permit issued by a EU member state, by an EEE member state or Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco and saint-Marin
  Holder of valid residency permit issued by the Canada, Japan or USA

 CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATION: FAO people visiting the UK:

As from the 17th of November 2008 and as per the decree 2008-1176 of the 13th of November 2008, the French consulate, London, is no longer competent in processing visa applications of holders of ’C-Visit’ visas or of a British visa valid for 6 months or less. People must apply for their Schengen visas before travelling to the UK in their country of residence.

Should you meet an unpredictable and urgent need to travel to France whilst visiting the UK - i.e. professional or family crisis, please send a mail to visas.londres-fslt diplomatie.gouv.fr exposing the situation. Please note that in case of an exception, there will be a delay of a few weeks for the processing of your application.

 WARNING

 Any false statements may lead to your application being rejected or to the annulment of a visa already granted and may also render you liable to prosecution under the law of the Schengen state which deals with the application.

 Be advised that the legislation may be amended between the day you book your appointment and the day you attend the Visa Section. Please consult this website to check any updates.

 Booking an appointment is free of charge on our website. The French Consulate condemns companies that charge visa nationals for this service. We therefore reserve the right of cancelling those appointments.

 Original documents and photocopies are requested. Please note that photocopies cannot be made at the Consulate.

 The visa administrative fees CANNOT be paid by using PAYPAL.

 HOW TO USE THIS SITE:

To find out if you need a visa issued by the French Consulate General in London:

 Do you need a visa? How long will it take to obtain it? Do I need to attend the Visa Section?
 Do you need a visa from the French Consulate General, i.e. is France your main destination?

To apply for your visa:

 You need to book an appointment to attend the Visa Section: appointment system
 You may be eligible for a postal application: postal application

To consult the list of requested documents:

 Different types of visa issued by the French Consulate General and supporting documents requested
 Application forms and «parental authorisation for a minor to travel»
 Visa application fee

Further information:

 What is a Schengen visa?
 Frequently Asked Questions
 Contact us