Fact sheet: short-stay visa
Thématiques
Date de mise à jour
To enter in France for a period less than 3 months, citizens of a State outside the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland should apply for a short-stay visa also known as a ‘uniform stay visa’ or a ‘type C Schengen visa’.
Short-stay visas can be single-entry for one short stay or multiple-entry for several successive short stays.
Helpuf tip: On 10th November 2024, the EES (Entry Exit System) should be deployed within the Schengen area.
The EES is a new automated IT system for digitally collecting personal data of non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, whether they require a short-stay visa or not, each time they cross the borders of the Schengen area.
Reasons of stay
The short-stay visa is granted for the following reasons:
- Business trips.
- Engaging in paid employment, subject to certain conditions.
- Short courses or internships.
- Tourist, family or personal visits.
It does not allow the holder to settle in France long-term or bring the family.
Access to European territory of France (mainland France)
Conditions
Single-entry short-stay visa allows to enter during its duration on the French territory and the Schengen area. Once the holder has left the Schengen Area, he cannot re-enter. A new visa application may be submitted after a waiting period of 180 days from the first date of entry.
Multiple-entry short-stay visa allows the holder to enter France and travel within the Schengen Area for short stays limited to 90 days in any 180-day period.
To facilitate cumulative stays within the Schengen area, a multiple-entry short stay visa can be delivered by the Consulate for a duration ranging from 6 months to 5 years. It is called “travel visa”.
Travel within the Schengen area
Short-stay visa delivered by the French authorities allows the holder to travel on the whole territory of the Schengen area.
Exemptions
Some nationals of a State third to The European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland are exempt from short-stay visa depending on their nationality.
To check the necessity to hold a short-stay visa, a simulator is available on the web site of France visa.
In accordance with the Schengen agreements, the following are exempted from the visa requirements:
- Nationals of the countries exempted from short-stay visa as indicated by the simulator of France-Visas.
- Holders of a visa or residence permit issued by France or another Schengen country.
- Passport holders of the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao (People’s Republic of China).
This exemption does not prevent from providing upon arrival a proof regarding reasons and conditions of stay, sufficient means and guaranties of return as indicated by the rules. Find more information on the France-Visas website.
Entry on the European territory of France of the third countries nationals non exempted requires the application of a short-stay visa.
Access to non-European territories of France (DROM-COM)
Conditions
Schengen Agreements are not applicable in the overseas territories, a specific short-stay visa is required:
- If a third country national holds a Schengen short-stay visa, this kind of visa does not allow the applicant to enter the overseas territories.
- If a third country national obtains a specific short-stay visa to access to the overseas territories, this type of visa does not allow the applicant to access the Schengen area.
More details on the Ministère de l’Intérieur website.
Visa territorial validity
The territorial validity of the visa in France is specified on the sticker.
When the sticker bears the indication “valid for France except CTOM”, the visa is valid for mainland France and the overseas territories except Mayotte which has a specific regime.
When the sticker bears the indication “DFA”, the visa is valid only for Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana, and for the community of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.
Lastly, if the sticker only lists the name of a single overseas department or region, it authorises entry only to this department or region. On the sticker, the mark is “DEPARTEMENT D’OUTRE MER (FRANCE)”, the visa entitles you only to enter the departement or region specified in the « REMARQUES / REMARKS » section.
Exemptions
To check if a short-stay visa is required, a simulator is available on France-visa website.
To access the French Overseas Departments and Regions (DROM), short-stay visa exemptions apply:
- Holders of a valid residence permit or long-stay visa issued by France or another Schengen Area State.
- Holders of passports from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region.
- Holders of a travel visa valid for 6 months to 5 years and wishing to enter one of the overseas territories for: South Africa, Bahrain, China, the United Arab Emirates, India, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Ukraine.
- Nationals of the Dominican Republic and Saint Lucia for stays of up to fifteen days, not to exceed one hundred and twenty days total over twelve months, exclusively in Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy.
- Nationals of the Islands of Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago for stays in Guadeloupe and Martinique.
- Nationals of Ecuador and Peru for stays in Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana.
- Nationals of the states exempted from visas as indicated by the simulator of France-Visas.
Foreign nationals of countries not listed above wishing to enter France must apply for a short-stay visa.
Access both the Schengen Area and an overseas department or region
If stays are planned both in the Schengen Area and an overseas department or region, foreign nationals must submit separate visa applications:
- Either concurrently, with the consulate of their usual place of residence before departure.
- Or in succession:
- The first application for a short-stay visa at the consulate of their usual place of residence to enter the first territory planned.
- The second application for a visa at the prefecture of their place of residence in European territory of France or in one of the overseas departments to access the second territory planned.
Persons wishing to travel to European territory of France or the Schengen Area from one of the overseas territories must also apply for a Schengen visa at the prefecture of their place of residence.
Lenght of stay
Short-stay visas are issued for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
If it is a multiple-entry short-stay visa, it allows several stays within the limit of 90 days in any 180-day period.
The European Commission has created a travel day calculator to help travellers keep accurate records.
Applying for a short-stay visa
Applications must be submitted to the French embassy, consulate or to external service providers (VFS Global, TLS, etc.) in the usual applicant’s place of residence.
Steps
The application is initiated online via the official website france-visas.gouv.fr.
This first step allows the applicant to verify the need to obtain a visa with the Visa Assistant. The user can then apply for a visa via a personal account and then find out how to submit the file, most of the time with the service provider from the Consulate or Embassy.
Thanks to the france-visas.gouv.fr website, visa applicants can now follow the progress of their application directly online.
Processing timescales for short-stay visas can vary from one embassy or consulate to another.
Required documents
France-Visas provides with a precise list of the documents to be provided in support of a visa application, adapted to the purpose of the stay and the personal situation of the foreign national.
For information purposes, a list of the documents required to support an application for a short-stay visa is available.
Helpful tip: All documents must be submitted in French (originals together with a set of photocopies).
Visa applications are not processed until a complete application has been received.
Cost of a short-stay visa
Apllication and visa fees are charged when the application is submitted. Fees are up to 90€.
Fees can be found on France-Visas.
Fees are not refunded if a visa application is unsuccessful.
Visiting more than one country in the Schengen Area
For successive short stays in more than one Schengen country, the authorities that can issue short-stay visas are as follows :
- Those of the country that is the main destination for the trip, which will assess the purpose and duration of the stay.
- If the main destination cannot be clearly determined, those of the country identified as the foreign national’s point of entry into Schengen Area.
End of stay
A short-stay visa cannot be extented.
Upon expiry of a short-stay visa, the holder must leave the country. The renewal of a short-stay visa or the application for a residence permit is impossible.
If the holder of a short-stay visa wishes to settle in France, an application should be submitted in the holder’s country of residence for a long-stay visa enabling to obtain a residence permit once in France.
If for some exceptional reasons the foreign citizen wish to extend the stay, for health reasons for example, the applicant should contact the Préfecture depending on the place of residence prior to the expiration of the visa.