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News18
06-06-2025
- News18
Travelling to France? Here's Why You Must Book Your Visa Appointment Online
Last Updated: France now requires online booking for visa appointments to simplify applications for long-stay and short-stay visas. France has launched a new digital system that makes it mandatory for all visa applicants to book their appointments online. The updated process, now in force, is intended to make applications faster, more organised, and user-friendly. Whether you are applying for a short-stay Schengen visa or a long-stay national visa, this rule applies to all foreign visitors. The move is also expected to cut down on intermediaries and streamline documentation. Here's a detailed look at how the new process works. Step 1: Check If You Need A Visa To begin the process, applicants should head to the official Visa Wizard page. This online guide helps you figure out whether you need a visa, and if so, which type suits your travel purpose. It also outlines the documents you'll need to prepare and provides details on the applicable fees. If you have visited the Schengen Area recently, you can use the Visa Calculator tool to check how many days you're still allowed to stay. Step 2: Confirm Eligibility Before Scheduling Before moving forward, applicants must ensure that the Visa Wizard confirms their need for a visa. Only those who meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the tool can book an appointment. This step helps prevent invalid applications and streamlines the overall process. Once the appointment request is approved, applicants will receive an email containing the date, time, and location of their visa appointment. To secure the slot, they must reply and confirm their availability. If confirmation isn't sent, the appointment will be automatically cancelled. Before attending the scheduled visa appointment, applicants must complete their visa application on the official France-Visas website. On the day of the appointment, they should bring a printed copy of the application form along with all required supporting documents. Incomplete paperwork or mismatched personal details may lead to delays or rejection. At the visa appointment, officials will review your documents, take biometric data (photo and fingerprints), and collect the application fee. However, if you've provided fingerprints for a Schengen visa within the past 59 months, you may be exempt from appearing in person.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Time of India
France introduces mandatory online visa appointment system: What travellers need to know
As per the latest development, France has implemented a new mandatory online system for booking visa appointments, effective immediately. This move aims to improve efficiency and streamline the application process, and will apply to all foreign visitors pursuing either long-stay national visas or short-stay Schengen visas. Here's all you need to know about the process. Step 1: Determine visa requirements Applicants must first visit the official Visa Wizard page. This resource helps determine whether a visa is required based on individual circumstances and specifies the appropriate visa type, necessary documentation, and applicable fees. For those who have recently spent time in the Schengen Area, the Visa Calculator tool will assist further in calculating the remaining authorised stay duration. Step 2: Verify eligibility before booking Only applicants who are confirmed by the Visa Wizard as needing a visa can proceed ahead for booking an appointment. This verification step is designed to reduce unnecessary bookings and improve processing efficiency. Read more: 10 cheapest countries to visit from India in 2025 Step 3: Submit appointment request via Démarches Simplifiées To seek an appointment for a visa, eligible candidates will be required to register on the Demarches Simplifiées platform. Candidates fill out a questionnaire upon registration that asks about their length of stay, reason for visiting, and departure date. Complete and accurate information is essential to prevent rejection or delays. Step 4: Confirm appointment via email Upon acceptance of the appointment request, applicants receive an email with the appointment details. It is essential to confirm availability by replying to this email; failure to do so will result in cancellation of the appointment. Step 5: Prepare for the appointment Applicants must finish their visa application on the France-Visas website prior to the appointed meeting. The printed application form and any other supporting documentation should be brought by candidates on the day of the appointment. Refusal may result from incomplete applications or inconsistent identity information. Read more: Tourist fined INR 13k for bringing durian into Singapore hotel; find out why you need to be careful Additional considerations During the visa appointment, staff will verify documents, collect biometric data (photo and fingerprints), and collect the visa application fee. Applicants may not be required to attend in person if their fingerprints were taken within the last 59 months. The French Government advises against using dubious websites that claim to be able to assist with visas and emphasises the need of using official procedures. To guarantee a smooth visa application procedure, applicants are advised to plan ahead, ensure that all information provided by them is accurate, and they carefully adhere to the new criteria. This upgraded system reflects France's commitment to digitizing consular services and improving the overall visa application experience. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
