|
|
Print
Friendly Version 
REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS TO OBTAIN VISA TO ENTER FRANCE
American Citizens do not need a visa when they travel to France for business or for personal travel. The stay in the Schengen area should not exceed 90 days in a 6 month period. Please note that the American visitor will need to present a valid American passport (valid three months beyond intended stay), proof of sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.
THE SCHENGEN VISA
The Schengen visa is valid for the following 24 European countries: Austria, Belgium, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. A Schengen visa issued by an Embassy or Consulate of the above countries allows the holder to travel freely in all of these countries.
Visas issued before or on December 20, 2007 by the new Schengen States (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Malta) are only valid for these 9 new Schengen countries, not for the whole Schengen area.
Visa
is required for Official and Diplomatic
passport holders.
VISA
REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-U.S. CITIZENS TO ENTER FRANCE
BIOMETRIC VISAS - AS OF MAY 24th, 2005, THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF FRANCE IN SAN FRANCISCO WILL BEGIN ISSUING BIOMETRIC VISAS, THEREFORE REQUIRING ALL VISA APPLICANTS TO APPEAR IN PERSON. VISA APPLICATIONS BY MAIL WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED
- Submit
your Passport, must have at least 3 months remaining validity
- 2 Visa
application forms, completed
and signed
- 2 recent
Passport-type photographs
- Completed
Cover Page and Credit Card Authorization forms (print from browser)
- Copy
of round trip airline tickets
- Proof
of Accommodations:
- For
Tourist Visa: Copy of hotel confirmation or proof or registration
with an organized tour
- For
Business Visa: Copy of hotel confirmation
- For
Family Visit: Certificate of Lodging, issued by the city
hall, of the city to be visited in France
- Proof
of sufficient funds for support (ie: copy of recent bank statement
or letter of reference from bank)
- Proof
of legal residence in USA (ORIGINAL green card required)
- Proof
of travel insurance with worldwide coverage for emergency medical situations as well as urgent medical and hospitalization care. The minimum coverage must exceed USD30,000.
- For a
child under 18, if not accompanied by both parents, notarized
parental consent letter signed by both parents required
- For Business:
Letter from the employer explaining purpose of travel, reference
in France, and guaranteeing travel expenses and return transportation.
Fees
Notice Regarding Visa For Schengen States
- Austria, Belgium, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. As of
01 June 2001, travelers to Europe on business or tourism
purposes may receive a visa for a short stay of one
to ninety days, valid for all of the above-mentioned
countries. A Schengen visa issued by an embassy or consulate
of the above countries allows the holder to travel freely
in all of these countries, However, visas for travel
to Monaco and French Overseas Departments and Territories
may only be issued by a French Embassy or Consulate.
- If you intend to visit only one Schengen
country, you must apply through the embassy or consulate
of that particular country.
- If you intend to visit several Schengen
countries, you must apply for a visa through the embassy
or consulate of the country which is your main destination.
- If you intend to visit several countries
but do not have a main destination, you should apply
for a visa at the embassy or consulate of the country
which is your first port of entry.
- If you do not need a visa for the Schengen
country which is your main destination or first point
of entry, please note that you may require a visa for
other schengen countries you wish to visit. You should
then apply through the embassy or consulate of the first
country which does require a visa.
Student Visas
Student visas for France must be
applied for directly by the applicant at the nearest
Consulate General of France. Click here for Embassy
of France's short stay and long stay Student
Visa Requirements.
REGISTER YOUR TRIP:
The U.S. Department of State encourages all American travelers to register with their local Embassy or Consulate when arriving in a foreign country. Registration helps the Embassy to provide important services for American citizens residing or traveling abroad. Some of these services include:
-
Locating individuals in cases of family or personal emergencies,
-
Relaying important travel and safety information about the region,
-
Arranging evacuation transportation in cases of natural disaster or civil unrest,
-
Issuing replacement passports when originals are lost, and
-
A number of other administrative services relating to personal documentation.
Without the information provided through registration, the Embassy is severely hindered in its ability to provide these services. Many of these services involve emergency situations and time constraints, therefore failure to register will almost certainly lead to delays at moments when you can least afford them.
Print Visa Application
Form
INFORMATION
AND FEES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
REVISED 04/2006
|
|
|
