Photo for a visa to France. Visa validity period


When applying for a Schengen visa, there are no trifles: any mistake can lead, if not to a refusal to issue a visa, then to a significant delay. Therefore, photographs should not be taken from home-grown photographers, but in professional salons. For example, a photo for a visa to France has a number of features that are simply unknown to amateurs.

You should go to a photo salon no earlier than six months before your visit to the consulate. During this time, it is strictly not recommended to experiment with your own appearance, since the main criterion for photographs of any documents is still the possibility of identification. But we shouldn’t forget about other points either.

What should the photographs be like?

To apply for a French Schengen visa, you will need two matte color photographs of 3.5x4.5 cm format (for the application form and for digital processing). Interestingly, the background of the photographs should be pure white, and not just light, as in all other cases. Uneven lighting leading to glare and shadows is unacceptable. The presence of any objects in the frame other than the applicant’s face, neck and shoulders is also unacceptable. Red-eye, mechanical defects, and dirt make photographs unusable.

Applicant's face

The face is located frontally clearly in the center of the photo and occupies about 70-80% of its area. No displays of emotion other than a half-smile with closed mouth, not allowed. Open eyes positioned impeccably horizontal line. Dark glasses and hats are allowed only if there are religious or medical reasons to wear them. Hair should not mask facial features or interfere with their identification.

In the last two years migration crisis in Europe it is gradually getting worse. This was one of the reasons for the introduction at the assembly of representatives of the Schengen countries of the mandatory collection of biometric data for visa applicants to these states. The changes also affected France. In 2019, Russians applying for a French visa for the first time will be required to provide fingerprints and two photographs. And if everything is clear enough with fingerprints, then what are the requirements for a photo for a visa to France? Where and when can they be made?

Photo requirements

In 2019, to the pictures on French visa quite stringent requirements are presented, they relate to technical side: size and quality, as well as the image itself.

Attention! You will need two identical photos!

Technical requirements:

  • two color digital photographs;
  • photo size 35 * 45 mm;
  • The face should occupy at least 70-80% of the photo area. Its height will be about 3 cm and width approximately 2 cm;
  • the photo is taken on a light gray or blue background, but not on white;
  • there should be no ovals or corners in the photo;
  • pictures must be of high quality, without flare and other defects;
  • should not be retouched;
  • the image should have sufficient contrast, without excessive shading;
  • current photos taken no more than 6 months before submitting documents.

Image requirements:

  1. the face is located right in the middle;
  2. looking straight into the lens, mouth closed;
  3. facial expression – calm;
  4. It is advisable to collect long hair to open the ears;
  5. massive accessories will have to be abandoned;
  6. Only optical glasses are allowed without wide frames or glare and do not cover the eyes;
  7. hats provided for are acceptable religious beliefs, and not covering their faces.

Where to take photos?

Depending on whether you intend to submit documents in person or through an intermediary, there are several options for choosing where to photograph.

To apply to the consular authorities yourself, it is better to first visit a photo studio and notify the photographer in advance that the photo is needed for a Schengen visa. In this case, there will be no problems and the “wrong” photo will not cause a visa refusal.

If you decide to apply for a permit to enter France through Visa Center, then the easiest way is to take a photo on the spot, directly when submitting documents. Behind additional fee you will be taken to a specially equipped room, and a professional who knows all the requirements for photographs will take them.

But you can use photos you already have at home. When contacting the centers, employees check the presence of all necessary documents and their compliance with the requirements, including checking the photographs brought in advance. It is especially worth paying attention to photographs taken yourself.

France is part of the Schengen zone, so all Russians wishing to visit it will need a visa. It is not very difficult to apply for a Schengen visa to France on your own: you will need to collect documents and contact the embassy or visa center. It will take you at most 10-14 days to complete everything, provided that you already have a foreign passport.

What does French Schengen category C look like?

If you are going to go on a tour of Europe to several countries at once, you should apply for a visa to France only if it will be your main country of stay (in terms of time). If such a country cannot be determined, then the visa is issued in the country of first border crossing. At the same time, do not forget to indicate in the questionnaire the period of total stay in all countries of the agreement, and not in just one.

The table shows the documents for a visa to France for all purposes of travel:

Required documentNote
Application form for a visa to France.

Filled out on special form, can be printed on a computer

To be completed in English/French and signed personally by the applicant.
Foreign passport of a new or old sample.

Original + copy of personal data page, copies of previous visas

  • The passport must be valid for at least three months after the date of arrival.
  • There must be a minimum of 2 blank pages.
  • To obtain a visa with a long corridor, you can attach copies of old passports (for the last 3 years).
  • Second valid passport, if available.
  • When changing your last name or first name, you must obtain a new passport.
  • Obtaining a visa to France for citizens of other countries from the territory of the Russian Federation is possible only with confirmation of legal stay in Russia (visa, residence permit, registration).
Photos.Color photo 3.5*4.5 cm, taken no more than six months ago, on a light background. Read more about it in another article.
. Medical insurance must be valid throughout the Schengen area and for the entire duration of the trip. Insurance compensation must be at least 30,000 euros.
Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.You need to make copies of all data pages.
Confirm the purpose of the trip and place of residence.

If you are going to work in France, your employer must obtain an ART work permit from DIRECCTE.

Tourism (one of the documents):
  • Hotel reservation in your name (can be done through booking.com).
  • Rental agreement if you rent an apartment/apartment in France.
  • A letter describing the route if you will be constantly traveling by car.
  • Document for real estate in France, if available.

Private visit to relatives or friends (one of the documents):

  • An invitation from a French citizen from the mayor's office (Attestation d'accueil). Additionally, you need to provide availability of housing for the inviter.
  • A signed invitation using the “lettre d’invitation” template from a Russian citizen legally residing in France. To prove this, the inviting party will additionally need to attach a visa/residence permit and a document confirming family ties.

For transit through the airport:

  • Airplane ticket and visa to the destination country (if needed).

Business trip:

  • An invitation from a company or event organizer.

Journalists:

  • Press card/certificate from work;
  • + Letter from work about the purpose of the trip.

Cultural, scientific exchange and sporting events:

  • Invitation from the host party;
  • For performing artists: APT temporary work permit or waiver issued by a DIRECCTE office.
  • For scientific employees (except for cases of travel to conferences and seminars): a “convention d’accueil” contract, which indicates the salary and the availability of insurance. Must be certified by the employer's organization and the Prefecture.

Training (for schoolchildren, students and teachers):

Confirm transport.
  • Plane/train/bus: round trip tickets or reservations.
  • Automobile: driver license, vehicle registration certificate, international auto insurance “Green Card”.
Confirm availability of funds or work.

One or more documents from the right column.

  • Certificate in form 2NDFL;
  • Statement from main, savings account or credit card(credit card number must be hidden).
  • with confirmation of the sponsor's income and a copy of the passport.
  • Certificate from work with contact details of the organization, salary and position.
  • For individual entrepreneurs: 3NDFL declaration, copy of OGRN and TIN.
Minor children.

*Separate consent is required from each parent. If he goes with the child, then there is no need to give consent.

If for some reason one of the parents cannot give consent, this must be documented by a court decision on deprivation parental rights, death certificates, police certificate of search.

  • Birth certificate;
  • Notarized consent of parents/guardians for the child to travel abroad*, for the entire duration of the trip and indicating all countries of stay.
  • A copy of the visa and tickets of the accompanying person, if the Schengen visa to France with the child is issued at different times.

Minimum package of documents

Below are instructions on how you can quickly collect all the documents with minimal effort.

  • Fill out the form on your computer and print it out.
  • Book or buy plane tickets to France. You can book tickets without payment on the Aeroflot website for a day right before submitting your application. Print out your itinerary receipt.
  • Use one of the insurance companies and get your insurance online, then print it out. You can also do it on site at the CC.
  • Order a statement with the balance of your personal account and receive it at a bank branch. It must bear the seal and signature of a bank employee. Some banks issue statements for a fee of 100-300 rubles, and within 1-3 business days. You can also use free way- take a certificate from work.
  • Book your hotel on booking.com and print out your reservation confirmation.
  • Take new photos at a photo studio or visa application center.

That's all. For 95% of tourists, such documents will be enough, and they can be completed in half a day. Come with them to the visa center, stand in line for no more than half an hour and in 5-10 days the visa will be in your pocket. To avoid having to travel there again, you can order delivery by courier.

Biometrics

If, since September 2015, the applicant for a visa to France has not yet received other Schengen visas and has not undergone the fingerprinting procedure at the consulate or visa center, then personal presence when submitting documents is required.

Only children under 12 years of age and persons with physical limitations, from whom it is impossible to take fingerprints.

Transit

For Russians when flying through France to a third country, subject to certain conditions not required. However, you will not be able to leave the airport without Schengen. Therefore, you must have one arrival/departure terminal, and checked transit baggage to your final destination.

The transfer should not last more than 24 hours. If you are flying through Paris-Orly Airport (ORY), the transfer must be on the same day from 6:00 to 23:30 hours, since the transit area there does not operate at night.

In other cases, you need to obtain a Schengen visa for transit purposes.

The application for a French transit visa must also be submitted in advance in your city.

French visa refusal

The decision on issuing visas is made by the Consular Section embassy, ​​not a visa center. According to previous years, the French embassy in Russia refused approximately 1.3% of applications. Moreover, even in case of refusal, the visa and service fee are not refunded.

How to get a visa to France the first time without refusal:

  • Submit only reliable data and real certificates to confirm them.
  • Confirm a sufficient level of income (yours or your sponsor's). The recommended amount is at least 65 euros for each day, or wage not less than 30,000 rubles.
  • Collect full package mandatory documents.
  • Apply only to your primary country of residence.
  • Apply for a French visa no earlier than 3 months before your planned trip.
  • You must not have previously violated Schengen deadlines and rules, as well as EU laws.
  • You must not have a valid Schengen visa or it must be cancelled.

If questions arise, you may be called for an interview and asked for additional documents.

It makes sense to file an appeal only if the staff made a mistake and you have free time before leaving. In other cases, after a refusal, it will be faster to correct the problem, resubmit the documents and pay the fees.

Visa processing times and validity

  • Registration takes on average 5-10 working days from the date of application. IN in rare cases when a personal interview is required or additional information, this period can be increased to 30 days.
  • An urgent visa to France is issued within 3 working days.

You can find out the status of your application online using the passport tracking service. To do this, you will need to enter the issued registration number and date of birth.

The French Embassy can issue single and multiple entry visas for the duration of the trip, for 1-2 months, for six months, for a year, 2-5 years. Semi-annual and annual visa usually issued to those who have already been to Europe in the last 3 years. For longer periods, visas are issued only to the most active travelers. To do this, in addition to the main documents, you will need to attach copies of previously rolled out Schengen cards (from any country).

At the same time, you should not confuse the validity period of the visa (the corridor during which you can enter) and the period of stay (limit of days). Regardless of the validity period, according to short term visa You cannot stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days in each half-year. To calculate whether you still have free days, add up how many days you spent inside the zone over the last six months (180 days should count from the expected date of entry). You can use it for calculation.

Tourist visa to France is not urgently done in some visa centers, as it takes time to send documents to the Consulate General. Also, the deadlines may be extended on holidays (non-working days).

How much does a visa to France cost?

To France it is fixed and does not depend on its validity period.

  • When submitting an application directly to the consulate, the fee is 35 euros.
  • If you need a visa to France quickly, then you must pay a double consular fee of 70 euros.
  • A long-term visa category D for more than 3 months will cost 99 euros.
  • From payment consular fee released preferential categories citizens. For example, children under 6 years old, schoolchildren and students under 25 years old going to study, close relatives of EU citizens, disabled people.
  • If you submit an application at a visa center, you will additionally need to pay a service fee for document processing and sign an agreement for the processing of personal data. Price service fee– 29.5 euros.
  • Additionally, you can order at the visa center courier delivery or use additional services: take or duplicate photos, photocopy, take out insurance.
  • Also, a visa to Paris can be obtained through a travel agency that is officially accredited by the consulate. The price for their services starts from 100 euros. But in any case, to undergo biometrics (if you have not undergone it before), you need to appear in person at the consulate or visa center.

Among the Schengen European holiday destinations, France ranks quite firmly among the first positions. Many of our citizens began to travel on their own without intermediary travel agencies because a visa to France for Russians in 2019 can be obtained quite easily on their own according to a regulated procedure.

The document can be issued through state visa centers or through Consulates in Russia, which are located in Moscow and other cities. Any Russian tourist/guest of France can get a visa to France; you just need to provide a certain set of required documents.
For those who decide to apply for a visa without refusals, quickly and inexpensively, we recommend the Online visa center.

Active travelers have a chance to get a French visa for 5 years at once.

Do I need a visa

The answer to the question whether Russians need a visa to France is yes. It is necessary for all categories of visitors and it is mandatory to receive it. The country of France is not just a wonderful place for a vacation or tourist trip. People go there by private invitation to visit, on work or business trips, to simply live with their spouse, to study at courses/at schools/universities, to get a job, to buy real estate or to get married. Naturally, in all these situations you will need to obtain a French Schengen visa in order to be able to legally enter the state.

Entry with a visa of another country

There is one case when Russians do not need a visa to France. If earlier Russian citizen any visa was obtained European state, included in the Schengen Agreement - Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland and so on, then there is no need to specially apply for permission to enter France, that is, Schengen to France is not required.

Eat important point associated with entering France with a Schengen entry document from another state, it must be taken into account when planning your trips. If a tourist is going to travel to a French state under another Schengen, then he must follow the rule the largest number days of stay. It reads: large quantity The time must still be spent in the state that issued the visa, and the rest of the time can be used to travel around France. The violation may not be noticed at first, but certain problems may arise when applying for a new Schengen visa.

Types of visas

The largest number of Russian citizens travel to France as tourists on excursion tours or seaside resorts. The other part is based on invitations sent by their friends/close relatives, while others generally want to get a job in France Good work or live with a spouse. For all such tasks, you can obtain a visa to France without using the intermediary of companies, and this can be done not only in the capital. In addition to the fact that it is possible to obtain a visa to France in Moscow, this can be done in St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Kazan, Yekaterinburg and a number of others Russian cities at your place of residence.

France visa photo

The purposes of a trip to France, besides tourism, can be completely different. All French visas are divided into two types. The first is the Schengen visa to France, classified as category C, it is used for short-term trips lasting three months. The second type is the national visa D, which has not only all the same characteristics of Schengen to France, but also more advanced options. In the presence of similar document the right to get a job, study, or stay in France for a long time appears. A good plus there will be the possibility of travel throughout almost the entire European continent.

Schengen visa C

The corresponding Schengen document type C gives its holder the opportunity to stay in France for a period of three months or less. You can travel through it, visit French friends, go on business trips, attend various conferences, and take part in cultural/sports events. It is this French visa that is issued through visa centers.

Visa by invitation

A visa to France by invitation for Russians is also Schengen type C, like a visa for tourists. It is worthwhile to dwell separately on this type of entry permit, since questions often arise about it. This visa is made according to almost the same rules as a tourist visa, you just need to collect several additional documents concerning the inviting party.

Obtaining a French visa by invitation is no more difficult than a tourist visa; the main condition is that the person sending the invitation lives in France legally.

Transit visa

Citizens of Russia who do not have open Schengen cards need a separate ticket for transit through French territory. transit visa To France. It should be said that this is also a Schengen visa C.

If you plan to simply transit to another Schengen state in international airport Charles de Gaulle in Paris (this is where all connecting flights from Russia on Air France arrive), then a valid visa stamp from the country of final residence will be sufficient. The same rule applies to Orly Airport in Paris, but the transfer must be made on the same day, since this airport is closed at night.

National visa D

For non-tourist and other short-term travel purposes and for a more or less long stay in the French state for various work, educational or personal purposes, a Schengen permit is no longer suitable. French is required national document With for a long time actions.

They can tell you how to get a type D visa to France at the visa center, but they don’t issue it there, only some individual species. For the document, you should contact the visa department of the French Consulates at the Embassy in Russia.

Required documents

The required documents for a visa to France in 2019 comply with current EU directives governing visa legislation. Significant changes hasn't happened for several years. Eat common list documents for a visa to France and some additional items, which entirely depend on the traveler’s goals. Current list Applications for Schengen visa C are given below.

  1. Form visa application, filled out according to the rules. It must be completed using French or English. The form must be signed in three places on the last few pages; the signature must match the one on the passport;
  2. Original valid passport, issued in the name of the applicant. Its expiration date is at least 90 days after leaving the Schengen territory. It is necessary to have 2 blank pages available and 2 more for each child, if necessary;
  3. Two photographs of OACI/ISO standards, size 3.5x4.5 cm;
  4. A photocopy of the first page of the passport, which contains the photo and personal data of the applicant;
  5. If available, then old passports/copies with visas;
  6. Photocopies of pages with valid internal information Russian passport issued in the name of the applicant;
  7. Medical insurance;
    Minimum threshold requirements for medical insurance policy: its coverage amount is 30,000 €, and its coverage area is the entire territory of the Schengen agreement.
  8. A receipt indicating full payment of the consular fee;
  9. Air/bus/train tickets, booking air/train/bus tickets in both directions is suitable;
  10. For car trips: vehicle registration certificate, insurance/obligation to purchase an insurance policy;
  11. Financial guarantees confirming the ability to pay travel expenses:
    • Certificate of income received at work;
    • Extract from bank account/ statement from a credit bank account confirming the availability of funds with certification from the bank, where you must indicate the address and telephone number of the bank;
    • Certificates of student scholarship plus student ID;
    • Sponsorship letter, if expenses are covered by the sponsor, indicating and confirming the sponsor's income and financial guarantees. Must be attached to sponsorship letter proof of relationship with the sponsor and a copy of the first page of his passport with a photograph.
All certificates from paragraph 11 can be submitted in Russian; translation is not required.

Such mandatory documents for a Schengen visa to France must be provided to all those persons who want to obtain a subtype C entry permit, regardless of the individual purposes of the trip. Next are the additional papers that will be required. different categories travelers.

Additional documents for a tourist Schengen visa to France:

  1. Hotel reservation with address, telephone number/private housing reservation agreement. Please note that the booking must exactly overlap the travel dates.

Additional list of required documents for a French visa at the invitation of a private individual:

  1. Visiting relatives/friends of French citizens: invitation “Attestation d’accueil” received from a French citizen;
  2. Visiting relatives/friends of French residents - citizens of other countries: a handwritten letter of invitation;
  3. Confirmation legal presence in France, the inviting party is a foreign resident;
  4. Confirmation family ties– for example, a marriage certificate will do.

Documents for a visa to France upon an official invitation from an organization:

  1. Invitation from competent organizations EU;
  2. Additionally for journalists – a press card or a letter from work;
  3. Additionally for scientific workers – a “Convention d’accueil” contract;
  4. Additionally, for work or educational internships - the internship agreement “Convention de stage tripartite”.

Filling out the form

The requirements for filling out the application form for a visa to France are quite standard. When filling out the form, you must follow the following rules:

  1. Write in legible handwriting;
  2. Provide truthful information and avoid discrepancies with documents;
  3. Use English or French;
  4. Place signatures in the right places.

If necessary, you can check the sample application form, which is provided on the website of the Consulate General of France at the Embassy in the Russian Federation. The sample is available in English/French, with translation into Russian, all questions are standard.

Photo requirements

The photo for French Schengen must correspond to certain standards, which are approved as OACI/ISO standard:

  • Size – 3.5×4.5 cm;
  • The height of the face from crown to chin should be 32-36 mm;
  • The image is clear and of good quality;
  • The background is light. Photos taken on a white background are not suitable;
  • No hats;
  • The mouth is closed, the eyes are open, the applicant looks directly into the camera, the face should not express emotions;
  • Glasses without darkening or glare are allowed.

Traveling with children

In order to obtain a Schengen visa to France for a child, you will need to submit some additional papers:

  1. Child’s birth certificate – original only;
  2. Consent or power of attorney to travel from the mother/father, previously certified by a notary, if the child is not accompanied by parents/guardians or is accompanied by third parties. Consent or power of attorney to travel is issued no earlier than three months before submitting documents for a visa.
The form must be signed for the child by a parent/guardian.

When a child is accompanied by both parents or one, and not by third parties, then a notarized permission to leave the Russian Federation will not be required if the documents are submitted simultaneously. The French child visa is affixed to the parent/guardian's passport if the child is included in the parent's passport. Children who have their own passport (and are not included in the parent’s passport) receive a visa stamp there.

Self-registration

A visa to France is independently issued through the offices of visa centers throughout Russia or through the Consulate General of the Republic, which are located in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. Almost all subspecies national visa D are done only through Consulates, only some applications can be obtained through visa centers.

You can obtain a visa to France on your own after passing through new procedure After passing biometrics, she began working in September 2015. Absolutely all citizens of the Russian Federation who want to get a visa to France in Moscow and other cities must come in person to have their fingerprints taken. This data along with biometric photo will be entered into the VIS data system and will be used when issuing new Schengen cards in the future. This only needs to be done once in a long five-year period. Passing biometrics is a fairly quick process that only takes five minutes.

Children under 12 who are applying for a visa to France do not have to go through this new procedure.

It should be said that with the opening of several departments of France visa centers in more or less major cities Russian Federation, getting a French visa on your own has become easier. There is no need to go to Moscow or St. Petersburg, you can do it directly in the nearest city. A list of cities where there are offices is available on the website of the French Visa Application Center.

Registration at the visa center

The French visa through the VFS Global visa center is issued in several Russian cities. To receive your stamp as quickly as possible, you must adhere to next order actions:

  1. Define desired type visas;
  2. Go to the visa center website, read the rules and instructions;
  3. Collect documents;
  4. Come to the visa center with a package of documents, do pre-registration not necessary;
  5. Go through biometrics;
  6. Pay the consular fee, receive a receipt and attach it to your documents;
  7. Hand over the package of documents to the operator in a special window.

From mandatory items the procedure is clear that a visa to France through a visa center is not difficult, submitting documents will not take long time. The most important thing is to collect the entire package of documents correctly. Please note that To obtain a French visa through the visa center, you may not need to make an appointment but if you need to come to certain time, then a recording is needed. But if you need to visit the Consulate, you should definitely make an appointment through the call center.

You can get a visa to France in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg and other cities; their list is on the VC website.

Before submitting an application, it is best to check whether the applicant's current place of residence falls under the legal jurisdiction of the particular visa center office.

Passport tracking

When applying for a visa to France and submitting an application on your own, applicants have access to a convenient option - they can track the readiness of processing their application. Passport tracking with a France visa is possible through special form on the visa center website.

In this form you must enter the number issued after submitting documents and your date of birth. The system will display information about the processing process by application number, but the ability to track a passport with a French visa will still not allow you to find out whether the visa is approved or not. This can only be seen by receiving your passport back.

How much does a visa cost?

The cost of a visa to France is formed from the total cost of services at the visa center and the price of the consular fee. According to EU law, Schengen visas have uniform tariffs. Therefore the correct answer to actual question How much does a visa to France cost in 2019, of course, depends on what document is needed.

All EU countries have the same tariff for Schengen visas, but the prices for a national document are different and depend on the specific country of the applicant. Current cost French visa for Russians can be seen in the table.

The cost of the visa center service fee for services is 24 euros. The price of a visa does not depend on the fact how long it is valid for.

In addition to children, certain categories of applicants are entitled to benefits when applying for a visa; some of them do not pay the cost of the consular fee. Their list can be found on the corresponding website of the Consulate of the French Republic.

Validity periods

Validity periods for all types entry visas, as a rule, standard for all members of the Schengen area. For C documents, the terms can be six months, for a national D visa - one full year. The regulated number of days of stay is limited: 90 days for a type C visa and 180 days for a type D visa.

It should be noted that in some cases the timing and number of days may be non-standard. Active travelers who frequently visit France may be approved long-term visa to France for two years or five years. But every six months with such a multiple long-term multivisa you can still stay in the state for no more than 90 days.

If this is your first trip, there is no chance of getting a multiple entry visa, entry document will be given exclusively for travel dates. Sometimes you can count on three month period actions.

Registration deadlines

One of the most critical issues upon receipt for some travelers is - how to get a visa to France quickly, as it may, for example, appear unexpectedly good offer from Air France on tickets or there will be an urgent need to travel to France.

The standard processing time for an application for receipt is a period of several days, in tariff schedule There is no separate fee for urgent services.

Some travelers receive the stamp within a day, while others have to wait for weeks, so it's best to plan your trip with a delay in receipt.

Refusal to receive

Despite the ease of obtaining a French visa, when submitting documents it is better to be extremely careful, since the majority of refusals occur due to errors in documents, application forms, and some technical shortcomings. If you correct all this and resubmit the papers, then it is quite possible to receive approval.

However, there is another group of refusals associated with the applicant’s unreliability in the eyes of the Consulate employees. Russians who apply for a visa to France on their own must remember that they must take into account all the requirements for documents, fill them out correctly, and submit only true information and avoid making mistakes when filling out the form. If you adhere to these rules, then everything will be fine. In this case, a visa to France will be done quickly on your own and obtaining it will cost no extra effort.

France is one of the most visited European countries by Russians.

Many citizens choose independent travel without intermediaries such as travel agents.

  • It is very easy to obtain a travel visa by following the rules.

It can be obtained through visa centers or consulates.

Therefore, every citizen of the Russian Federation can obtain a visa to France by providing a certain package of documents.

Do Russians need a visa to France in 2019?

The answer to this question is yes. A visa is required for all visiting citizens of the Russian Federation.

France is attractive not only for vacation; many people go there to visit loved ones, work, study, or move to permanent place residence. Of course, for all these options you need Schengen to legally visit the country.

Having a visa of another country and entering with it

There is an option when citizens of the Russian Federation may not receive a visa. If you have previously received a visa from another Schengen state, then you do not need a separate Schengen for France.

But there are specific points that are worth paying attention to. If you are applying for a visa, for example, to Italy to visit France, then this is not recommended. The main destination should be Italy, and in France with the same stamp you can spend less time.

If you don't have one current Schengen, then obtaining a visa is mandatory for you.

Types of visas to France

Many Russians visit France as tourists, others to visit loved ones, and still others to study or work. For all these reasons, you can apply for Schengen without contacting intermediaries and not only in the capital, but also in many others big cities Russia.

The motives for travel are completely different. All Schengen visas are divided into two categories

  1. Category C— for short trips, term up to 3 months.
  2. Category D- a national document that includes, in addition to standard ones, additional options, such as: the opportunity to work, study and for a long time live in France. Another advantage is that you can travel throughout Europe.

Schengen visa category C

With this document, you can stay in France for up to three months or less. It allows tourist travel, invitational travel, various conferences or other events. This type can be issued directly through the CC.

Visa by invitation

Schengen by invitation is the same visa of subtype C. It is issued according to the same rules as for tourists, only with a couple of additional papers from the inviter. This visa is also easy to obtain. Important condition- this is legal residence in the inviting country.

Transit visa

If you don't speak Russian open Schengen, then to move around France you need a special visa - transit. This is the same type C visa.

If moving to another country through Charles de Gaulle airport, then an open visa stamp from the country of final destination is sufficient. The same for Orly airport, but the transfer must be on the same day, since it is closed at night.

National visa D

If the purpose of the trip is not tourism, but more long stay in a country with more serious motives regular visa Category C is not suitable. Here you will need a national document with long-term term actions.

The VC will tell you how to apply for such a visa, and you can get it at visa department French Consulates or Russian Embassy in Moscow.

Documents for a visa to France

There were no changes regarding the key set of required papers. There is a list standard set documents, as well as additional ones, which depend on the motives of the trip.

Current list of basic visa documents

  1. Application form (filled out according to the rules, in French or English language, signed on three sheets of paper, the signature must match the one in the passport).
  2. A valid passport (original, 2 blank pages in it, valid for at least 3 months after leaving the Schengen zone).
  3. 2 photos (size - 3.5x4.5 cm).
  4. A copy of the international passport (pages with photos and personal information of the traveler).
  5. Old passports (copies of all pages).
  6. Copies of the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation
  7. Medical insurance (coverage amount is at least 30 thousand euros, and the coverage area is the entire Schengen zone).
  8. Payment of consulate fee and receipt.
  9. Tickets or their reservation with arrival and departure dates.
  10. Registration certificate vehicle, insurance (when traveling on your own transport).
  11. Financial guarantees, confirmation of the ability to pay expenses:
    • income certificate from work;
    • bank statement;
    • sponsorship letter if there is a sponsor with confirmation of his income.

This set of documents must be submitted by everyone who wishes to apply for Schengen category C. We will present a number of additional documents depending on the purpose.

A set of additional documents for a tourist visa

  • hotel reservation, contact information;
  • private housing reservation agreement.

It is important that the reservation covers the travel date.

A set of additional papers for a visa by invitation (from a private person)

  1. visit to French citizens— invitation “Attestation d’accueil”;
  2. citizens of other countries- handwritten invitation;
  3. proof legal residence of the inviter (for foreigners);
  4. confirmation family ties (if a relative invites).

A set of additional papers for a visa by invitation (from a legal entity)

  1. invitation from the company;
  2. letter from the place of work for journalists;
  3. for employees - the “Convention d’accueil” contract;
  4. for work or study - an internship agreement “Convention de stage tripartite”.

Filling out the form

Are standard:

  1. write neatly and clearly;
  2. enter real data;
  3. write in English or French;
  4. sign.

Photo requirements

A photo for Schengen to France must meet a number of ICAO requirements:

  • Size – 3.5×4.5 cm;
  • Background – light color;
  • Image of the face, neck, shoulders in the photo;
  • Framing using corners or ovals;
  • Lack of hats;
  • The hair cannot even partially cover the face.

France visa for children

To obtain Schengen for children you will need additional papers

  • original version of birth certificate;
  • consent of one of the parents, certified by a notary (if the child is traveling with a guardian);
  • a form completed by the parent or guardian.

Visa for children who do not have foreign passport, inserted into the accompanying person’s passport.

Applying for a visa to France on your own

You can get a visa yourself at any of the CC offices or the Consulate General. It is possible to obtain almost all types of D visa only through the Consulate.

Since 2015 Schengen issued after submitting biometrics. Therefore, everyone who wants to obtain a visa must appear in person to submit their fingerprints. They will be entered into the database. This procedure is done once every five years, and its duration is only 5 minutes.

Children under 12 years of age who receive a visa, this procedure need not.

Thanks to the opening of many CC departments throughout Russia, getting a visa yourself has become easy. No need to go to Big city, if this can be done nearby.

Registration using the Visa Service

Today, a French visa can be obtained in many cities of the Russian Federation. For quick receipt it is worth following a certain plan of action

  • decide on the visa category;
  • study the submission rules on one of the CC websites;
  • create a package of documents;
  • deliver a set of documents after pre-registration;
  • submit biometric data;
  • pay for services, add the receipt to the package of documents;
  • submit a set of documents.

As you can see from the list, obtaining a visa to France is not difficult; collecting and submitting a set of documents will take short term. There is no need to make an appointment at the CC, unlike at the Consulate. To do this, just call the call center.

Before submitting documents, be sure to double-check the compliance of your place of residence with the area of ​​work of the branch of a particular CC.

Applying for a visa through a visa service

You can apply for a visa without leaving your home. To do this you should:

  • visit the site;
  • leave a request by mail;
  • wait for specialists to contact you;
  • deliver documents by mail, courier or in person;
  • pay.

IN certain cases You may have to appear at the consulate or CC, for example, to submit your fingerprints.

Within 5-7 days you will be able to pick up your visa or ask for it to be delivered by courier.

Passport tracking

When obtaining a visa, a new convenient feature is available - tracking the stage of application processing. You can track your passport with a visa using a specially designed form on the France Visa Application Center website.

Enter the number received after submitting the papers and date of birth into this form. The system will notify you about the process of data processing by application number.

Cost of visa application

The cost of obtaining a visa depends on the cost of the CC service and the consular fee. Schengen visas have the same rates. Therefore, the price depends on the type of document.

But prices for a national document depend on the country of the applicant. Current prices for today:

  • Schengen subtype C - 35 euros;
  • Schengen subtype C, for children under 6 years old - Not paid;
  • National visa subtype D - from 50 euros.

The price of the VC service fee is 24 euros. The visa price does not depend on the validity period.

Visa validity period

The terms of validity are the same for all types of visas and all countries. For a document type C - 3 months, for D - 12 months, and accordingly, the time of stay in the territory is allowed up to 90 and up to 180 days.

  • Visa prices depend only on the type and not on the duration.

There may also be Type D exceptions when the deadlines differ from the standard ones.

Processing times for a French visa

Often the main question is how to get a visa quickly. Standard information processing time lasts for several days, but the tariffs do not include additional payment urgency.

  • Some tourists wait a day for a visa, while others wait a couple of weeks, so it is recommended to plan your trip in advance, counting on the delay in obtaining the document.

France visa refusal

And although obtaining a visa to France seems easy, you should be very careful when submitting and processing documents, since most negative decisions about obtaining them occur precisely because of formalities. If you correct the mistakes and resubmit the application, it is quite possible to obtain Schengen.

There are other reasons for refusals, which are related to the opinion of the Consulate staff about the reliability of the applicant and his intentions for the trip.

Citizens of the Russian Federation should take into account all registration requirements and follow all rules. In this case, the visa will be issued quickly and without any difficulties.

VC employees do not have influence on the decision regarding whether you receive a visa, but they can advise, point out errors or advise in a certain situation.

Questions and answers

    Hello!
    I plan to visit French Polynesia as a tourist from November 1 to 14, for entry into which a French Schengen multiple entry visa is required. At the same time, I have a visit to Germany scheduled from September 18 to 21.
    I'm afraid to submit two separate applications because... If at the German visa center they give me an annual multiple visa (this sometimes happens even when requesting a single visa), then I will lose the opportunity to get a French visa and will not get to Polynesia.
    Can I contact the French visa center with a request to issue me a French multi-Schengen visa, starting on September 18, in order to get to both Germany and French Polynesia?

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