Applying for a French Schengen Visa in the UK - France Visa UK (2024)

Around 17 million British nationals visit France every year.

Who needs a visa to travel to France from the UK?

• UK citizens holding a UK passport don’t need a visa to enter France.
• UK Residents of many specific nationalities are required to get a French Schengen visa to travel to France.

In recent years, following visa liberalization policies for non-EU countries, the number of countries whose nationals require visas to travel to Europe has slightly decreased. Here is the list of nationalities that are still required to get a Schengen Visa to visit France and other Schengen states.

Below you can find more information about the requirements and guidelines for applying for a French visa from the UK.

Who can apply for a France visa from the UK?

Citizens of these countries residing in the UK and planning to visit France are required to get a French visa to enter France. The main requirement is that you must have a UK residence permit valid for at least another three more months beyond the date you plan to leave France / the Schengen Area.

Use the French Schengen visa eligibility checkertool to find out if you qualify to apply for a French visa from the UK.

If you have a 3 month UK visa, you can extend it for three more months to be eligible to apply for a French Schengen visa from within the UK. You must apply for an extension before your visa expires and while you’re still in the UK. Find out moreon how to extend your UK visa.

You should apply for a French visa at the appropriate French Embassy/Consulate or French visa application centre in the UK if:

• France is the only Schengen country you plan on visiting
• France is your main destination (the country you will be staying the longest in)
• France is the first Schengen country you are visiting (when spending an equal amount of days in France and another Schengen country)

If you plan to stay in France for more than 90 days, you must apply for a residency permit, not a French Schengen visa.

Please note that you should apply at the French Embassy/Consulate/VAC in your home country of residence if you are not a resident in the United Kingdom.

France visa requirements for the UK Residents

The following documents are required to obtain a France visa in the UK:

• A valid passport or Travel document. Please make sure that:
  • Your passport has been issued within the previous 10 years,
  • Your passport has2 full blank pages, one for the visa stamp and an additional spare page,
  • Your passport will be valid for at least three (3) months after the date you exit the Schengen Area.
• A valid UK residence permit or another form of Identity Card:
  • The UK residence permit must be endorsed in the actual passport (or a new biometric ID card).
  • The UK residence permit must be valid for at least another three more months beyond the date you plan to leave France.
• One French visa application form. It must be filled out completely and signed by the applicant (please read the explanations carefully).
• One passport format photo that has a light background is rightly coloured and shows full face features. The photo must be less than three months old and be glued to the application form. Applications with stapled photographs will be rejected.
• A cover letter that explains the purpose of the visit to France
• Proof of travel arrangements: Round trip flight/travel reservations or other proof of intended transport and complete itinerary of your visit to France (if several Schengen States will be visited or if the trip covers the several Schengen States and non-Schengen countries).
• France Travel Insurance. Stating that you are covered in case of a medical emergency and repatriation not just in France, but in the whole Schengen zone (minimum coverage of € 30.000). Travellers from the UK can easily purchase travel insurance online from AXA Schengenor Europ Assistance.
• Proof of accommodation in France:
  • Evidence of a hotel booking in France or a rental agreement,
  • Invitation from your French host (family member, friend) with a copy of their passport (Proof of sponsorship), or
  • Accommodation proof issued by the town hall in your host’s residence
• Proof of financial subsistence:
  • A recent statement of the UK bank account for the last three months shows funds of at least 65€ per person per day spent in France. This fee is only applicable if you have a pre-paid reservation at a hotel in France. Otherwise, the amount is increased to 120€ per day. Also, if you proof cheaper forms of accommodation, this amount decreases to 32.25€ per day.

Note: Photocopies of the original documents should also be submitted, and documents should not be more than one month old.

The documents listed above are documents required in all cases, regardless of the purpose of your visit to France.

Depending on your employment status in the UK, here is a list of additional documents that are required for your France visa application:

For UK employees:

• Employment contract
• Current UK bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Leave permission from the employer
• Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.

For the self-employed:

• A copy of your business license
• Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Income Tax Return (ITR)

For international students in the UK:

• Proof of enrollment
• No-objection certificate from school or university in the UK

For retirees:

• Pension statement of the latest 6 months

If unemployed and married to an EU citizen:

• A recent (less than 3 months old) Confirmation of Employment letter from their spouse’s employer stated the position held within the company and the starting date.
• Spouse’s valid passport.
• An officially translated marriage certificate. The translation must be in English or French and must be certified as a true copy by the country’s Embassy where the marriage took place or by the Legalization Bureau of the Foreign Office in the UK.

Note: If the Marriage Certificate was issued outside the European Union, it must be stamped by the Foreign Office of the issuing country or its Embassy in the UK.

Requirements for children under the age of 18

Parents or adult guardians must accompany their underage children to the application centre at the French Consulate. Also, minors who are granted a French visa are not allowed to travel to France by themselves. An adult should accompany them during their stay in France.

Required documents for visa application for underage children

• Proof of parent’s regular income (work contract with specified monthly income or a bank statement or business license)
• Notarized travel permission from parent (parental travel consent)
• If one parent lives in another country – their notarized parental travel consent

How to apply for a French Visa from the UK?

The application procedure for a French visa in the UK is pretty similar to that in every other country in the world.

To apply for a French visa in the UK, you must follow these steps:

1. Figure out which French short-stay visa type you need. There aredifferent French Schengen visa types depending on your purpose of travelling from the UK to France.
2. Find out where you need to apply for a French visa in the UK.
3. Decide when to apply for a French visa in the UK. The earliest time you can lodge your French visa application in the UK is six months before your planned trip, while the latest time is at least 15 working days before you intend to travel from the UK to France.
4. Collect the mandatory French visa documents for UK Residents.
5. Appoint an interview at the French visa application centre in the UK. You may make a French visa appointment online, by phone, or in person. Below in this article, you can find more information on how to make a French visa appointment.
6. Attend the interview on the day of your appointment. Show up on time and try not to be nervous. Remember that the interview is a crucial part of your visa application.
7. Pay the French visa fee.
8. Wait for the processing of your French visa.

Booking a French visa appointment in London

To apply for a French visa in the UK, you must book an appointment with the French Consulate General in London.

This can be done in different ways:

• By booking an appointment at the French Consulate General in London. This type of appointment is known as a direct appointment. Direct appointment bookings are free of charge, and you should do it in person. You can book a direct appointment only on Wednesday mornings. Processing delays still apply. Please, be aware that there is a longer appointment waiting time for the French Consulate General in London.
• Through TLScontact’s inLondon, Edinburgh and Manchester, by phone or by filling an online application form.

You can book a French visa appointment at the Consulate General of Francein London if you are a UK resident living in:

• Jersey
• England
• Wales
• Northern Ireland
• The Falkland Islands.
• Guernsey
• Gibraltar

Schengen visa types for short-term visits in France

You need to apply for a French Schengen visa if you intend to travel from the UK to France for the following reasons:

• Business purposes.
• Visiting friends and family.
• Tourism and holidays.
• Cultural and sports events.
• Airport transit and transit for seafarers.
• Official visit.
• Medical reasons.
• Short-term study purposes.

Depending on your reasons for visiting France and the frequency of your visits, the French consulate in the UK can issue you a single-entry visa,double-entry visa, or multiple-entry visa.

France visa application processing time in the UK

You can apply for a French visa 6 months before your planned trip. However, since the processing takes a minimum of 15 days from the day of your application, you should submit your application at least 15 days before you plan on leaving the UK.

Note: It’s recommended by the French Consulate General in London that you apply for 20 workdays (4 weeks) before the day you leave for France to avoid unwanted complications.

France Visa fees for UK residents

Since France is a Schengen state, visa fees are the same as any other Schengen visa. These are the costs of a French Schengen Visa from the UK:

Note: Keep in mind that these fees may change depending on currency fluctuations and can be paid only in UK Pounds.

France Visa fee exemptionsfor UK residents

Besides children younger than 6 years of age, these are other applicants that are exempted from a French visa application fee (Source: TLScontact):

• Spouse of a French citizen
• A family member of an EU/EEE national travelling along with the EU/EEE family member
• Children below the age of 21 and financially dependant on an EU national
• Ascendants are financially dependant on an EU national
• Pupils, students and accompanying teachers during a school trip
• Scientists (holders of a « convention d’accueil » only for short stays)
• Foreign teachers teaching French
• Scholarship holders from the French government, foreign governments, foreign foundations or payees of EU programs (only to travel within the territory designated by the terms of the funding program).

FAQ about travelling from the UK to France and obtaining a French visa in the UK

Do UK citizens need a visa for France?

UK citizens don’t need a visa to enter France.

But, if you are a UK resident, you might need a visa to travel to France.

How long can UK residents stay in France without a visa?

UK residents can only stay up to 90 days. If you are a UK resident who wants to stay in France for more than 90 days, you should apply for an EU residency permit in France through the French Consulate General in London.

Do UK residents need a visa for Andorra?

Andorra does not impose a visa regime even though it is not a part of the Schengen Area. However, Andorra is only accessible through France or Spain. Therefore, applying for a French Visa would be a wise choice.

Can I visit French overseas territories with a France visa?

Overseas French-administered territories are not members of the Schengen Area. Therefore, citizensof some countries are exempted from visa requirements to the French overseas departments or territories. However, residents from non-EU countries have to apply for a relevant French visa to travel the French overseas territories.

This is a list of the aforementioned territories and departments:

Overseas departments:

• French Guiana
• Guadeloupe
• Martinique
• Mayotte
• Réunion

Overseas territories:

• French Polynesia
• New Caledonia
• Saint Barthélemy
• Saint Martin
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• Wallis and Futuna

Can I apply for a French Visa if my UK residency permit expires soon?

To apply for a French visa, you must have at least 3 months remaining on your UK residency permit, counting from the day you depart from France.

What can I do if my French visa gets denied by the French consulate in London?

If your French visa in the UK gets denied, you CAN appeal against this decision immediately after the refusal, but you must submit your appeal within two months.

Find out12 Common Reasons Why Visa Applications Get Denied!

When should I complete my France visa application form?

You should complete the French visa application form before you go to the French Consulate in London or to the French visa centre in London, Edinburgh and Manchester because you will only be allowed into the visa department if you can present a properly completed and signed visa application form.

Do I need a special visa to travel from the UK to Monaco?

Although Monaco did not officially sign the documents of the Schengen Agreement, it’s still considered a part of the Schengen Area. Therefore, you don’t have to apply for a special visa to travel to Monaco from the UK, but a France visa might be required for some UK residents.

Do I need a passport if I am travelling from the UK to France?

• As an EU citizen:You will not need a passport to travel from the UK to France. Instead, you must hold a valid EU national ID card to confirm your identity and nationality.
• As a British citizen: You must have a passport, and it should not be older than ten years. In addition, your passport should be valid for at least three months after the date you exit the Schengen Area.
• As a non-EU citizen: You must have a passport, and you might also need a French visa to travel to France from the UK. Passport must not be older than ten years. They must hold a validity period of at least three months from the day you leave France.

Embassy & Consulates of France inthe United Kingdom

There are three French missions in the United Kingdom: The Embassy in London,theConsulate General in London and the Consulate General in Edinburgh.

Embassy of France in London, England

Address: 58 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7JT, UK
Phone:+44 20 7073 1000
Fax:+44 20 7073 1042

Opening times:Monday – Friday only by appointment

Consulate General of France in London, England

Address: 6a Cromwell Place, London, SW7 2EW
Phone: 0845 7300 118

Consulate General of France in Edinburgh, Scotland

Address:West Parliament Square,Edinburgh EH1 1RF,United Kingdom

** Please note that these are the standard required documents. The French Visa Consular office maintains the right to ask for further documents or information if necessary.

*** Please consult the French Embassy or Consulate in the United Kingdom for the updated requirements!

Related visa information for the UK Residents:

• Schengen Visa for the UK Residents
• Spanish Visa for the UK Residents
• Italian Visa for the UK Residents
• Dutch Visa for the UK Residents
• Portuguese Visa for the UK Residents
• German Visa for the UK Residents
• Swedish Visa for the UK Residents
• Norwegian Visa for the UK Residents
• The Czech Visa for the UK Residents
• Greece Visa for the UK Residents

Do British Citizens Need Travel Insurance for France?

Travel insurance for France and Europe is an essential part of your trip, but it is not required by law. In other words, even though you are highly encouragedto get a travel insurance plan whenever travelling from the UK to Europe, you will be allowed to visit Europe even without it – at your own risk.