How to apply for a France visa from India

1: Discover what are the France visa requirements for Indian citizens

• Successful applicants for the France visa from India are rewarded with the travel document they require to enter France (and the 26 other Schengen area countries in Europe) and remain there for 90 days. The first step toward beginning your journey to apply for a France visa from India is to browse the requirements for the France visa for India citizens. Indian applicants who are committed to paying their France visa fees, submitting an application, and meeting the rest of the requirements for the Schengen visa for the India citizens should proceed with step 2. 

2: Give yourself enough time to apply for the France visa from India

• Applicants for the France visa from India should time their application submission to match their date of departure (meaning they should apply so that they receive their France Schengen visa well before they need to leave). If you apply earlier than two weeks before your flight, you may not receive your visa in time to make your plane. On the other hand, if you try to apply for your France visa from India too early (specifically, six months before your departure date) your attempt will be rejected as too far in in the future to be processed.  

3: See where to apply for a Schengen visa France from India & how much does a France visa cost

• France visa from India applicants apply online first, then in person, at the French Embassy and French consulates in India. If you are based in the capital, you will likely apply through the French Embassy in Delhi. Applicants located in Bangalore, Mumbai, Calcutta, and Puducherry have access to the French consulates located in those locations. 
• To arrange your in-person application submission at your France visa from India application destination, please contact Schengenvisas.com.
• A France visa for India citizens costs 80 EUR (for the average Indian applicant). If you are paying in cash—i.e. in person at your application destination—you will likely need to pay in EUR, although sometimes the equivalent of 80 EUR in Indian Rupees is accepted. For complete payment information, see Schengen Visa Fees, and contact us at SchengenVisas.com. 

4: Examine the France visas or types for India passport holders

• Indians who travel to France for tourist, business, or medical reasons, should apply for Tourist, Business, or Medical Schengen visa types, respectively. Visa types therefore reflect an applicant’s purpose for visiting the country they need a visa to enter. France visas and types are numerous (in addition to those listed above). When you apply for your visa, you will mark your France visas and types choice on your application form. See the complete list of types here.

5: Pick your Schengen area entry category for how to get a France visa from India

• A France visa from India that is a single-entry will let you enter France one time. This isn’t enough for some applicants, particularly those who expect to travel back and forth between India and France throughout their 90-day visa validity period. These applicants will therefore want to apply for the multiple entry Schengen visa (which will allow them to enter and exit the Schengen area at will). Double entry Schengen visa holders from India can make two trips from France/the Schengen area to India (or elsewhere), however, if they try to enter France a third time, they will not be able to. 

6:  Complete the Schengen visa application form for the France visa for India citizens

• Access the online Schengen visa application portal for the France visa from India here.
• Create an account and follow the steps to apply for your France Schengen visa. During your online application process, you will fill out and electronically submit the main application. In addition, you will likely be empowered to electronically pay for your visa as well as schedule a visa appointment. 
• Note that applications for the France visa from India must be completed in French, Spanish, or English. 

7: Fulfill your document requirements for how to apply for a France visa from India

• A Schengen visa is for Indian applicants who submit the below materials (please note that any written documents not already in French or English may need to be translated into either language—i.e. any documents in Hindi—contact Schengenvisas.com for language requirements): 
  • Main Schengen visa application form (print out of above online doc, plus receipt). 
  • Indian passport (or other national valid travel document). 
  • Passport photos (in keeping with the photo requirements). 
  • Medical travel insurance (evidence of).
  • Travel ticket/reservation out of France/the Schengen area (proof of return). 
  • Your address in France (Proof of hotel/house accommodation). 
  • Schengen visa fee of 80 EUR. 
  • Supplemental materials (documents Schengen visa type—tourist, medical, etc.). 

8: Set up a visa interview for the France visa from India

• Schedule your interview for your France visa from India when you apply online (through the French visa portal). Alternatively, contact Schengenvisas.com to arrange an interview at the appropriate destination for the Schengen visa for Indian applicants. 

9: Attend the in-person interview for the France visa from India

• A Schengen visa is for the India citizens and residents who meet its visa requirements. The in-person France visa requirements for India citizens are as follows: 
  • Submission of visa application for france from india (printed out copy of main online form and receipt) as well as rest of the documents/materials required for the France visa from India.
  • Payment of the France visa fees for Indian applicants.
  • Brief interview for the France visa from India.
  • Consent to being fingerprinted and photographed (biometric data collection) for security purposes.

10: Consider the processing time for a France Schengen visa application

• The France visa from India is processed within 60-15 days (typically closer to 15 days than 60). Your Indian passport will remain at the French Embassy/Consulate throughout this ordeal. 

11: Receive a decision on your France visa from India

• If are judged not to have met the France visa requirements for India citizens, you will be rejected for your France visa from India. If this happens, you may contact Schengenvisas.com regarding your options (which are limited to reapplying or appealing the decision).