France Visa Application and Tracking Procedures
France Visa Application and Tracking Procedures
In accordance with the visa policy of the French Republic, foreign nationals who will enter its territory must apply for a visa type appropriate to their travel purposes before their travel, with the exceptions specific to nationality and passport type.
Visas issued by visa centres authorised by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs are printed in the form of a sticker on the passport and are checked and stamped by border control officers upon entry to France.
Does France Require Visa from Turkish Citizens?
France visa requirements for Turkish citizens vary depending on travel duration and passport type.
Turkish citizens holding ordinary (maroon) passports are subject to a visa for their travels to France regardless of the length of their travel. Turkish citizens holding special (green), service (grey) and diplomatic (black) passports are exempt from visas for their travels to France, provided that they do not exceed 90 days within a 180-day period.
According to the French visa policy, people who are not exempt from a visa must apply for a visa type appropriate for their travel duration and purpose before traveling to the Republic of France.
France Visa Types
French visas are divided into three types according to their validity period: transit, short-term and long-term. Those who will transfer from international airports in France to another country must obtain a French transit visa, those who will be in France for less than 90 days must obtain a French type C (short-term, Schengen) visa and those who will be in the country for more than 90 days must obtain a French type D (long-term, national) visa.
France visa types and subtypes are listed below.
- France airport transit visa
- Short term France visa
- France tourist visa
- France visit visa
- France marriage visa
- France treatment visa
- France business visa
- France event visa
- Long-term France visa
- France student visa
- France internship visa
- France job seeker visa
- France business establishment visa
- France work visa
- France talent visa
- France investor visa
- France family reunification visa
- France return visa
Transit and short-term France visa types are divided into 3 different types according to the number of entries, as single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry, in addition to the grouping made according to travel purposes above.
France Visa Requirements
The application requirements you must meet to obtain a France visa are listed below.
- You must have a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the visa expiry date.
- You must have received your passport within the last 10 years.
- You must have sufficient financial resources for accommodation and return transportation.
- You must not be registered as persona non grata in the Schengen Information System.
- You must not be on the UN or EU sanctions list.
- You must not be banned from entering France.
Where to Apply for a France Visa?
The France visa application process consists of two stages. First, you must make a preliminary application through France-Visas, then complete the application at the authorized intermediary institution VFS Global visa centers located in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Bursa.
France Visa Application Centers
The addresses and contact information of VFS Gloval visa application centres authorised by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accept visa applications are given in the table below.
| City | Address | Working Hours |
| VFS Ankara | Workers' Blocks District Muhsin Yazicioglu Street Regnum Sky Tower No: 57/A Cankaya/ Ankara | Monday-Friday08:30 – 15:30 |
| VFS Bursa | Kükürtlü St. No: 3 Osmangazi/Bursa | Wednesday (every 2 weeks)09:00 – 14:00 |
| VFS Istanbul Beyoglu | Haci Ahmet Neighborhood, Kurtulus Deresi Street, No: 29/A, Beyoglu/Istanbul | Monday-Friday08:30 - 17:00 |
| VFS Izmir | Akdeniz Mah. Akdeniz Cad. No: 1/C Reyent Business Center Passport Konak/Izmir | Monday-Friday08:30 - 17:00 |
The authorized visa centers and foreign missions for France visa applications vary depending on the province of residence, and you must apply from the authorized foreign mission or visa center. Otherwise, your application will not be evaluated. After your application is received by the visa center, it will be sent to the authorized foreign mission according to your province of residence.
Steps to Apply for a France Visa
For a France visa, you must complete your application by following the steps below.
- You must fill out the visa application form at france-visas.gouv.fr.
- You must prepare the necessary documents according to the type of visa you will apply for.
- You must make an appointment at the authorized visa center for the province in which you reside.
- On the appointment day, you must submit your documents and complete biometric procedures.
- You must complete the payment of the France visa application fee.
Except for exceptional cases, you must personally go to the French visa centers on your appointment day and time, submit your documents and provide your biometric information; once these procedures are completed, your application will be complete. The visa center sends the completed applications to the French foreign mission for evaluation and the visa application is usually concluded within 15 days.
Documents Required for France Visa Application
The documents required for France visa applications are listed below.
- Visa application form filled online via France-Visas
- Valid, undamaged passport issued by authorized authorities and its photocopy
- Biometric photo in accordance with ICAO standards
- Residence permit for foreigners living in Turkey
- Transportation reservation documents or travel itinerary
- Documents to be submitted according to work status and profession
- Last 3 months bank statements
- Accommodation reservations
- Travel health insurance with a minimum coverage amount of 30,000 euros
The documents listed above are standard application documents; depending on the type of visa to be applied for, different additional documents may be requested. You can access detailed information about all documents that must be submitted for France visa applications on the Documents Required for France Visa page.
Appointment for France Visa Application
For your France visa application, you must make an appointment at the visa centers in Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa and Izmir, which are authorized by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accept France visa applications. Appointments must be made at the authorized centers for the province you reside in.
People residing in provinces under the jurisdiction of the French Embassy in Ankara must make an appointment at the Ankara visa center; and people residing in provinces under the jurisdiction of the French Consulate General in Istanbul must make an appointment at the visa centers in Istanbul or Izmir.
You can make a France visa appointment by filling out the online form on the VFS Global website .
France Visa Fee and Application Expenses
In 2024, the application fee for a transit and short-term C type (Schengen) France visa has been set at 80 euros; and the application fee for a long-term D type (national) France visa has been set at 99 euros.
France short-term Schengen visa fees are determined by the joint decision of all Schengen area countries; national visa fees are determined by the decision of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs .
You can access all France visa application costs for 2024, which include the France visa application fee, intermediary service fee, travel health insurance fee, translation of visa documents and notary fees, and optional additional service fees, on our France visa fee page.
How Many Days Does It Take to Get a France Visa?
France visa application processing times vary depending on the applicant's nationality, travel purpose and local conditions.
France visa applications are usually finalized within 15 days. If the application requires it, the processing time can be extended up to 45 days. After the evaluation, the visa center informs you when the passport is ready.
How Long Does a France Visa Last?
The duration of the France visa varies depending on the visa type.
A transit France visa is issued for 24 hours to be in international transit areas at airports in France.
The short-term France Schengen visa, which allows the holder to stay in France for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, is issued for periods between 6 months and 5 years. The long-term France national visa allows the holder to stay in France for up to 3 months, while national visa holders must apply for a residence permit within the 3-month visa period or have their VLS-TS visa approved by the competent authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should I Apply for a France Visa?
You must apply for a France visa at least 2 weeks before your planned travel date. The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before your travel. It is the applicants' responsibility to pay attention to the application dates.
What are the Authorized France Visa Application Centers by Province of Residence?
If you reside in the provinces of Afyon, Antalya, Bartın, Bolu, Burdur, Düzce, Eskişehir, Isparta, Karabük, Zonguldak, Adana, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Çankırı, Çorum, Hatay, İçel, Karaman, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kırıkkale, Kırşehir, Konya, Nevşehir, Niğde, Osmaniye, Samsun, Sinop, Tokat, Yozgat, Adıyaman, Ağrı, Ardahan, Artvin, Batman, Bayburt, Bingöl, Bitlis, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Erzincan, Erzurum, Gaziantep, Giresun, Gümüşhane, Hakkari, Iğdır, Kahramanmaraş, Kars, Kilis, Malatya, Mardin, Muş, Ordu, Rize, Siirt, Sivas, Şanlıurfa, Şırnak, Trabzon, Tunceli or Van within the jurisdiction of the Embassy of France in Ankara, you can submit your visa application in Ankara. You must do so from the application centre.
If you reside in the provinces of Aydın, Balıkesir, Bilecik, Bursa, İmroz and Gökçeada, including Çanakkale, Denizli, Edirne, Istanbul, İzmir, Kocaeli, Kırklareli, Kütahya, Manisa, Muğla, Sakarya, Tekirdağ or Uşak, which are within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of France in Istanbul, you must apply through the visa application centers in Istanbul, İzmir or Bursa.
Is There an Interview for a France Visa?
As a rule, there is no interview within the standard application procedure for a French visa; however, in exceptional cases where there are suspicious circumstances, a visa interview may be held.
In various cases, such as doubts about the accuracy of the documents submitted by the applicant or the good faith of the applicant, or in cases where the applicant has committed a visa violation, a visa interview may be held during the visa appointment or, if deemed necessary later, applicants may be called for an interview.
In the France visa interview, the applicants' answers to the questions are checked to see if the information in the documents they submit matches each other. In addition, the applicants' honesty, character, financial situation and intention to return to their country are evaluated.
Can I Apply for a France Visa Online or by Post?
It is not possible to apply for a France visa by post or online if you have not received a visa from another Schengen country in the last 5 years.
For France visa applications, an appointment must be made and the necessary visa documents must be submitted and biometric procedures must be completed during the appointment. Turkish citizens cannot apply for a France electronic visa (ETA).
Does France issue visa on arrival?
No, France does not issue visas on arrival.
How to Apply for a France Express Visa?
Express visa, where the evaluation of visa applications is completed faster than normal, is a practice offered by various countries for an additional fee. France is not one of the countries with an express visa practice, but there are various ways to speed up the processing of French visa applications.
It is possible to get a France visa faster by making an early appointment. Completing your visa applications at the earliest date allows you to get a visa in a shorter time.
People who want to bring forward their appointment date for urgent reasons or complete their appointment procedures more quickly can benefit from additional services such as VIP visa application, early hour application or mobile visa application.
Another way to get a French visa quickly is to apply quickly. People who have received a visa from France or other Schengen countries within the last 59 months before the visa application date do not need to provide their biometric information again, so it is possible to complete the visa application by mail without making an appointment; in this case, it is possible to get a visa faster as there is no need to wait for an appointment.
How to Track and Inquire about France Visa?
France visa tracking and inquiry procedures can be done online via VFS Global official website or visa applications can be tracked via e-mail or SMS.
After your France visa application is evaluated, you will be sent an e-mail stating that your passport has reached the visa center. If you would like to receive more detailed information, you can use the SMS service.
To track your France visa application online, you must go to the tracking screen on the VFS Global website and enter the reference number and your surname on the invoice or receipt issued by the visa center into the relevant fields.
How Can I Find Out My France Visa Result?
You can learn your France visa result by collecting your passport. Visa tracking and inquiry systems do not include information about the application result, they only provide information about the stage of your application.
In What Cases Will My France Visa Application Be Rejected?
Your France visa application is usually rejected for reasons such as not meeting the visa requirements, not applying on time, or submitting false, incorrect or incomplete documents.
In 2021, 5,931 of the 45,126 short-term French visa applications made from Turkey were rejected; the visa rejection rate of the French Embassy in Ankara was 17.49%, while the visa rejection rate of the French Consulate General in Istanbul was 11.95%.
It is possible for people whose visa application has been rejected to appeal the French visa rejection or to re-apply.
Can the France Visa Period Be Extended?
Yes, the France visa period can be extended.
If you want to extend your visa while in France, you need to contact the governor's office in the region you are in for the French visa extension process. To extend your visa while in your own country, you need to apply to the authorized French foreign mission.
What Happens If I Overstay My Visa in France?
If you are in France without a valid excuse and overstay your visa, you are considered to be staying in the country illegally, in other words, you have violated your visa. Penalties for visa violations include fines, deportation and entry bans, and visa violators may also face problems entering the Schengen area later on. Your passport may be stamped indicating that you have stayed in the country longer than allowed, which can make future travel difficult. Penalties vary depending on how long you have been in the country illegally.
Non-EU citizens who stay in France or other Schengen countries for more than 90 days within any 180-day period and do not have a long-term visa will be fined €198, and will also have difficulty re-entering the country or obtaining a new visa. Visa violations that exceed the allowed time by just a few days are only subject to a fine, with deportation possible if the period is longer.
Do I Need to Get an Exit Visa When Going to France from Turkey?
You do not need an exit visa when going from Turkey to France. Since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights gives individuals the right to leave any country and an exit visa prevents this right, the application of an exit visa is considered unlawful by customary international law.
Which Countries Can I Travel to With a France Visa?
France, as a party to the Schengen Agreement, has accepted the Schengen visa policy and in accordance with the European Union Freedom, Security and Justice Area (AFSJ), there are no border controls and customs inspections among the European Union countries party to the Schengen Agreement. With the France visa you have obtained, even if it is a single-entry visa, you have freedom of movement to other Schengen countries during your visa period without leaving the Schengen area.
With your France visa, you can travel to countries that are parties to the Schengen Agreement and within the Schengen Area: Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Croatia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
In Which Cities in Turkey Are There French Foreign Representative Offices?
There are French foreign missions in different provinces in Turkey.
As of 2024, France will have foreign representations in Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, Hatay, Gaziantep and Mersin. There are 6 different French Consulates serving in Turkey: an embassy in Ankara, a consulate general in Istanbul and an honorary consulate in Antalya, Hatay, Gaziantep and Mersin.
Can I Apply for a France Visa at the Consulate?
No, visa applications are not accepted directly by foreign missions, and visa requests are received through the authorized visa application center VFS Global.
Is It Difficult to Get a France Visa?
Obtaining a France visa is not difficult for applications made by submitting the visa documents requested for the type of visa you are applying for completely and in accordance with the rules. The basic requirement for France visa applications is to prove that you can cover the expenses of your trip to France and that you will return to your country at the end of your trip.
How Can I Immigrate to France?
You can immigrate to France for work purposes by receiving a job offer from an employer, for education purposes by receiving acceptance from an educational institution, or for family reunification purposes by living with a family member in France.
In order to stay in France for more than 3 months and settle in the country, it is necessary to obtain a French residence permit or a French visa that replaces the residence permit.
Where can I get France Visa Consultancy Service?
Consultancy services and expert support for the France visa can be obtained from accredited visa agencies operating in Turkey and registered with TÜRSAB. Consultancy services are offered for all types of France visas, including transit, short-term and long-term.
People and websites that try to sell appointments or market health insurance using the names of various visa centres should not be trusted.