France Business Visa Types and Application Processes

France Business Visa Types and Application Processes

France business visa is a short-term (C type) visa that must be applied for by those who will go to France for a commercial activity such as a business meeting, business training, business-related congress, fair or seminar, a business-related project or a corporate event.

France business visa; It can be obtained for short-term business trips to France and this visa allows the holder to stay in France for a maximum of 90 days within 180 days. Since France is a party to the Schengen Agreement, the France business visa is a Schengen specific visa type. France business visa holders have the right to visit other countries that are members of the Schengen area, provided that they do not exceed 90 days within 180 days.

Do Turkish Citizens Require a France Business Visa?

For Turkish citizens, a France work visa is required depending on the type of passport the applicant has. In cases where the person holds an ordinary (maroon) passport, he/she must apply for a France work visa.

Persons who wish to make short-term business trips to France, not exceeding 90 days within 180 days, do not need to apply for a commercial France visa if they hold a diplomatic (black) passport, special (green) passport or service (grey) passport.

What are the France Work Visa Application Requirements?

France work visa application requirements are listed below.

• The applicant for a French business visa must have received an invitation from a person who organizes an event such as a fair or congress in France or from a business contact.
• The applicant must have a passport that is valid for at least 3 months beyond the end date of the trip to France and was issued within the last 10 years.
• The applicant must have valid travel health insurance.
• The applicant must have sufficient financial resources to cover the various expenses of his/her intended trip to France.
• The person must submit various documents showing that he/she will not continue to stay in the country after the expiry of his/her French visa and will return to his/her home country.
• The applicant must have provided biometric information.
• No criminal record whatsoever
• The applicant must not have committed any visa violations in the past.
• The applicant must not be banned from entering the Schengen area or France.

What are the Required Documents for a France Business Visa?

The documents required for a France business visa are listed below.

• Passport: A passport issued within the last 10 years, with at least 2 blank pages for the visa stamp to be applied, and valid for at least 3 months after the end date of the trip to France must be submitted for visa application procedures.
• France business visa application form: The France business visa application form, which must be filled out by the visa applicant, must be filled out completely using the correct information and then submitted in a signed form within the visa application file.
• Biometric photo: Two biometric photos taken within the last 6 months in accordance with biometric standards, measuring 35 mm wide by 45 mm long, with a light-coloured background, showing the person's face clearly and without retouching must be submitted in the visa application file.
• Documents related to transportation reservations: Documents related to transportation reservations, such as airline tickets purchased for the visa applicant's travel to France, must be submitted within the visa application file.
• Documents related to accommodation reservations: Documents such as hotel reservations, which contain information about where the applicant will stay during his/her trip to France, must be submitted within the visa application file.
• Visa fee receipt: The receipt showing that the visa fee required to complete the France business visa application process has been paid must be submitted in the visa application file along with other required documents.
• France travel health insurance: A travel health insurance policy issued in the name of the visa applicant, valid in France and all other Schengen area member countries, with a coverage of at least 30,000 euros and valid for the entire duration of the planned trip to France must be submitted for visa application procedures.
• France business visa request petition: A France business visa request petition, written by the visa applicant to the relevant French foreign mission and stating the reasons for the visa application, must be submitted within the visa application file.
• Business visa invitation letter: An invitation letter written to the relevant foreign mission by the French business visa applicant's business contact operating in France, inviting the person to go to France for business purposes, must be submitted in the visa application file.
• Proof of financial capacity: Documents such as bank statements for the last 3 months and sponsorship letters must be submitted for visa application procedures, which show that the visa applicant has sufficient financial means to cover various expenses such as food, transportation and accommodation for the trip to France.

Depending on whether the applicant is an employer or an employee who will travel to France for business purposes, additional documents are requested in addition to those listed above. Details regarding the additional documents that must be submitted in addition to the standard documents for a French business visa are provided below.

What are the documents required for a France Business Visa for Employers?

In applications for a French business visa for employers, some additional documents must be submitted in addition to the standard documents.

France business visa documents for employers are listed below.

• Business license: A photocopy of the business license of the applicant's company must be submitted in the France business visa application file.
• Company account statement: The visa applicant's company account bank statements for the last 6 months must be submitted for visa application procedures.
• Income tax return: The income tax return document of the applicant's company must be submitted in the visa application file along with other required documents.

What are the documents required for a France Business Visa for employees?

In applications for a French business visa for employees, different documents must be submitted in addition to the standard visa documents.

France business visa documents for employees are listed below.

• Employment contract: An employment contract document showing that the visa applicant is actively working must be submitted within the visa application file.
• Bank account statement: Bank account statements showing the visa applicant's financial status and containing information for the last 6 months must be submitted for visa application procedures.
• Employer permission letter: An employer permission letter issued by the worker's employer, indicating that the visa applicant is on leave from work for the duration of the trip to France, must be submitted in the visa application file.
• Income tax return: The income tax return document issued in the name of the visa applicant must be attached to the visa application file.

In addition to the standard documents required for France business visa applications, French visa documents for employees must also be submitted completely in the visa application file.

How to Fill Out the France Business Visa Application Form?

The France business visa application form must be filled out online at france-visas.gouv.fr. Along with the France business visa application form; passport, 2 biometric photographs and the supporting documents required depending on the visa type applied for by the person must be uploaded to the relevant system.

Before filling out the France business visa application form, applicants must create a user account on the relevant system. Care must be taken to ensure that all information provided in the France business visa application form is accurate and consistent with the information in the supporting documents. If the supporting documents to be submitted for the France business visa application are not in French or English, they must be translated into one of these languages ​​by a sworn translator.

How Should the France Business Visa Application Form Be?

The France business visa application form is one of the documents that must be submitted in business visa applications. The France business visa application form must be written by the visa applicant, addressed to the relevant French foreign mission. Care must be taken to write the France business visa application form using plain and formal language and including all necessary information. The France business visa application form must explain the person's travel purpose and travel plan details.

A sample France business visa petition is given below.

How Should a France Business Visa Invitation Be?

The France business visa invitation is one of the documents that must be submitted in France business visa applications.

The France business visa invitation must be written by the visa applicant's business contact operating in France and addressed to the relevant foreign mission where the visa application will be made. The France invitation letter for a business visa must include information on the nature of the business relationship between the applicant and the inviting person, the purpose of the person's travel to France, and the activities the applicant plans to do during his or her trip to France.

A sample image for a France business visa invitation is given below.

Where to Get a Business France Visa?

A commercial France visa is obtained by applying to VFS Global, as VFS Global is the authorized intermediary institution for France visa applications made from the Republic of Türkiye.

How to Apply for a France Business Visa?

For the France business visa application, applicants must first prepare the necessary visa application documents completely. Applicants who have prepared the necessary documents for the commercial France visa must fill out the online application form at france-visas.gouv.fr.

Applicants who have completed the necessary procedures for a France business visa through the online system must make a visa appointment for the province of residence from the visa application centers of the intermediary institution VFS Global. Applicants who apply to the relevant application center for a visa appointment; The visa applications are taken into the evaluation process after completing the necessary documents, collection of biometric information and payment of the visa fee. Applicants whose commercial France visa applications are approved can travel to France after the relevant visa is processed in their passports.

How to Get a France Business Visa Appointment?

France business visa appointment is made through the official website of the intermediary institution VFS Global. In order to make a visa appointment through the website of the intermediary institution VFS Global, applicants must first fill out the visa application form and create a user account through the system. People who log in to the VFS Global website with a user account can determine a visa appointment date from the appointment section.

How Much Is the France Business Schengen Visa Fee?

The France business Schengen visa fee is set at 80 euros. In addition to the visa fee for France business visa applications, the authorized visa application center VFS Global charges a 40 euro visa service fee for each application.

For France commercial Schengen visa applications to be made in 2024; visa costs, including all visa application fees, travel health insurance, petition writing, sworn translation, reservation procedures and consultancy fees, will amount to an average of 195 euros.

How Many Days Does It Take to Get a Business France Visa?

The average processing time for a business France visa is 10 business days. The processing time for a business France visa application may take longer than the average due to circumstances such as an extraordinary situation related to the visa application or the ongoing existence of an active political issue.

Can I Get an Express Business Visa to France?

No, you cannot get an express business visa to France.

When applying for an urgent visa to Schengen countries, if the applicant has a Schengen visa obtained within the last 59 months; instead of applying for a France express visa.

In What Cases Can a France Business Visa Application Be Rejected?

Applications for a French business visa may be rejected for reasons such as; incomplete documentation submitted in the visa application, the person having a visa violation in the past, the applicant being considered a threat to the Schengen area, the person not having valid travel health insurance or the person not having sufficient financial means for the trip to France. In the event of a rejection of a French business visa application, an objection or re-application may be made in order for the application to be re-evaluated.

How Long Does a France Business Visit Visa Last?

The France business visit visa is usually issued for a maximum of 90 days. People who will travel to more than one Schengen country must choose the multiple entry option in their visa application. People who receive a France business visit visa with multiple entry feature have the right to enter and exit the Schengen area more than once during the validity period of the visa.

Can I Work in France with a Business Visa?

No, you cannot work in France with a business visa.

A business visa is a short-term (C type) visa issued to individuals who will travel to France for a commercial activity such as a business meeting, business training, business-related congress, fair or seminar, or a business-related project or corporate event. Individuals who wish to work in France must apply for a French work permit instead of a French business visa.

Where is the French Commercial Attaché?

The French Commercial Attaché is located at 16, avenue de Lamballe, 75016, Paris, France. You can contact the French Commercial Attaché by phone at 33-1 45 25 29 63, fax at 33-1 45 24 27 14, or by sending an e-mail to paris@ticaret.gov.tr.