Traveling to Europe has been on my bucket list for a long time, and France is definitely one of the top countries I want to visit. After going through the whole visa process, I am so glad that I finally made my way to France this year. Applying for a Schengen visa for the first time can be a little challenging, so I would love to share my guide and experience to help you out. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a Schengen visa for France from the UK.
READ more review of my other visa application : UK VISA | AUSTRALIA VISA
Schengen Visa for France Application
Do I Need a Schengen Visa for France?
Before starting the process, it is important to check whether you need a Schengen visa. Use the Visa Wizard to check and make sure whether you need a visa or not based on your situation.
Which Type of Visa Do I Need?
If you’re planning a trip to France and need a Schengen visa, the first step is to determine the type of visa you need. For tourism purposes, you’ll typically apply for a short-stay visa, which allows you to visit France or other Schengen countries for up to three months within a six-month period. However, if you plan to stay for more than 90 days (up to one year) for purposes such as study, work, tourism, private visits, or professional activities, you’ll need to apply for a long-stay Schengen visa.
In this post, I’ll be discussing the process for applying for a Short Stay or Travel Visa. If you need information about other visa categories, please refer to the relevant links below:
- For professional purposes, click here.
- For studies or training, click here.
- For family purposes, click here.
How to Apply for a Schengen Visa for France in the UK
The first step in the visa application process is creating a France-Visas account and filling out the application online here. Once the form is completed, choose the TLS branch where you want to get an appointment, create an account, and fill out another form on the TLS website.
Next, select your preferred date and time for submission and make a payment within 1 hour to secure the appointment. For a normal slot at TLS, there is no additional fee, but you will need to pay a service charge of £35.20. If you opt for a prime time or weekend appointment, you will need to pay an extra £60, bringing the total to £95.20.
From my experience, it’s best to submit your application early because getting an appointment with TLS can be quite challenging. The slots always disappear within seconds of being released, and there’s no way to know when TLS will release new ones. I spent hours refreshing the page, only to be blocked by Cloudflare firewalls, which was incredibly frustrating. If you find yourself struggling to get an appointment like I did, I highly recommend subscribing to a visa bot service, as it helped me by sending notifications when new slots were available. There are many visa bot services out there, but be cautious as some can be unreliable or scams. The visa bot service I used was Visard Bot. It also offers an auto-booking feature at a higher cost compared to the notification feature.
Note: You can apply for a Schengen visa up to 180 days (6 months) before your departure date.
Once the appointment is settled, print all supporting documents and you are ready to go.
Documents for a Schengen Visa for France
Below is the list of required supporting documents you should bring when you attend your appointment at TLS:
1. Completed Visa Application Form: The visa application form can be downloaded once you have successfully filled out your application on the consulate or visa application center’s website.
2. Original Passport and Photocopy: Your passport needs to have at least 2 blank pages, be valid for at least three months beyond your planned stay, and issued within the last 10 years.
3. UK Biometric Residence Card (BRP): If you are not a national of the UK, you need to show proof that you are legally resident in that country, which is your residence card or a share code from UKVI in order for the Consulate of France to check your immigration status.
-
- Note: Only a UK resident is allowed to submit the visa application in the UK. If you are not a resident, you need to apply for the visa from your home country.
4. Copy of Citizenship ID: This is not essential, but if your passport does not have a signature, I advise including your citizenship ID card, as it usually has a signature and can be proof of your signature.
5. 2 ID Photographs: Recent photographs (taken within the last 6 months) with a plain, light-colored background, sized 35mm x 45mm. You can check the photo requirements here. In case your photo is rejected during submission, there is a self-service photo booth at the center where you can take a correct photograph for £10.
6. Proof of Travel Arrangements: You need to show your proof of travel, such as:
-
- Your confirmed return ticket (plane, ferry, bus, etc.).
- Hotel booking or rental agreement.
- Reservation confirmation of an organized trip (if applicable).
- Invitation letter together with a copy of the host’s passport (if you are staying with family or friends in France).
7. Proof of Socio-Professional Situation: Your socio-professional situation is important proof to show that you intend to return to the country of residence before the expiry of the visa.
-
- If you are employed, you need to include your employment contract, a recent signed official letter from your employer, and payslips (copies) from the last 3 months.
- If you are self-employed, you need to include a recent letter from your accountant, banker, or solicitor, specifying your professional independent activity or the ownership of a company in the UK + a letter from the British financial authorities.
- If you are a student, you need to include a recent signed official letter from your school or University in the UK.
8. Proof of Financial: This is to prove that you have enough funds for your entire trip, you need to show a copy of your bank statements for the last 3 months. If your trip is financially sponsored by a family member, spouse, or partner, you need to provide a copy of his/her birth certificate or marriage certificate to prove your relationship and his/her bank statement.
9. Cover Letter: A cover letter is a useful document to include as it explains the purpose of your visit and itinerary plans in the country.
10. Travel Health Insurance: Travel health insurance certificate covering all member States of the Schengen area with a minimum coverage of medical costs: at least €30,000.
11. Additional Documents: Do not forget to bring:
-
- A printout of the visa fee receipt (get this from your email).
Appointment Day in TLS
On your appointment day, please arrive on time or at least 5 minutes earlier than your scheduled appointment. If you are late, you might be denied entry and have to reschedule. An officer will check your appointment letter and conduct a security check on your bag before allowing you to enter the building. Once inside, line up at the first counter. The officer at the first counter will ask for your appointment letter, passport, visa application form, and BRP before giving you your application number. Make sure not to skip this step, as your application will not be processed if the officer at the first counter does not have it. I mention this because during my last application, I noticed a few people missed this step and waited for 1-2 hours wondering why their application was not showing up on the screen.
When your number is called, go to the assigned counter. The officer at this counter will ask for your original passport and all supporting documents to check for any missing items. You will need to make the visa payment, which is €80/£69, at this counter. You will also be asked about your passport collection preference. If you prefer to receive your passport by courier service, you will need to pay £30 for this service.
Once the payment is settled and the documents are checked, the officer will return your application in a sealed folder. Submit the folder when you proceed to the biometric section, and you are done.
Visa Application Processing
The visa application processing time generally takes approximately 10 to 21 working days, and sometimes more for a long-stay visa. I was lucky to receive mine pretty quickly—it arrived within 7 days.
You can easily track your application anytime from the TLS website, and they are quite updated.
How Long is the Visa Validity?
In general, the Short Stay or Travel Visa allows you to stay in the Schengen Area for up to three months within a six-month period. However, the specific validity of your visa can vary based on the purpose of your trip and your past travel record. You may be granted one of the following types of short-stay visas:
- Single-entry visa (“1” on the visa sticker)
- Double-entry visa (“2” on the visa sticker)
- Multiple-entry visa (“MULT” on the visa sticker)
My Thoughts
Overall, the visa application process is quite overwhelming, especially if it is your first time applying for a Schengen visa. The process can be confusing since it involves using two different websites. The appointment process with TLS is pretty straightforward, but I wish it were easier to get an appointment slot and that there was an exact time when new slots would be released so I could keep an eye on it.
When I applied for a UK visa before, I thought it was expensive, but the Schengen visa costs even more. Additionally, unlike UK visas, which guarantee up to 6 months of validity, the validity of a Schengen visa can be uncertain. Some people may get a multiple-entry visa for 90 days, valid for 6 months; others might get a multiple-entry visa for 15 days, valid for 1 month; and if you are less fortunate, you might only get a single-entry visa.
Visa Breakdown Cost:
- Visa: £69
- Prime Time Appointment: £60
- Passport Courier: £35.2
- Total: £164.2
If you are planning a trip to France and need to apply for the Schengen visa by yourself, I hope this post is useful for you. Good luck and don’t worry too much. If you have any questions about the Schengen Visa application, you can drop a comment below or contact me. I will be happy to answer them for you 😀
I hope you are enjoying reading my blog and finding this post helpful. If you are, and you’d like to support me, you can buy me a coffee here. I’d truly appreciate it and it would definitely make my day ❤️
-
❤❤❤
Thank you for reading my blog 😊
XOXO
Molly | Transatlantic Notes
This is a great breakdown of information for anyone looking at getting this type of visa. It can be overwhelming sometimes to figure out what is needed and what paperwork to get sorted. Very useful!
Elvira
Exactly, visa applications can be overwhelming. I’m glad you found the information useful 🙂