Do Indians need a visa for France?
Yes. Indians need a visa before travelling to France (up to 90 days in any 180-day period).
The rule
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rule | Visa required |
| Allowed stay | up to 90 days in any 180-day period |
| Verified | 2026-10-30 |
| Processing | 15–17 days |
| Government fee | ₹9,569 |
Indian passports are on the EU's visa-required list: apply for a short-stay Schengen (type C) visa at the consulate or visa centre of the main destination before travel; fingerprints are taken once every 59 months and the EES records entry and exit at the border.
What "Visa required" means for Indians
Visa required means Indians must hold a visa issued by France before travelling. The application is filed online, the government fee of ₹9,569 is paid and fingerprints and a photo are taken at a visa application centre, after which the passport is returned with the visa (Sticker). Published decision windows for France are 15–17 days; the visa allows a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Before you apply
Apply as soon as the dates are fixed. Check that the passport has two blank pages and six months of validity, that the name on the booking matches the passport exactly and that bank statements cover the last three to six months without a sudden large deposit. Appointment slots at visa application centres fill up before holidays, so book biometrics first and gather documents around that date. Vistolane runs the document checks before filing and shows the guaranteed filing date before you pay.
At the France border and during the stay
France sets a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, single or multiple, decided by the consulate, on a visa valid for 90 days. The date written at the border is the one that counts, not the visa validity. Overstaying, even by a day, is recorded, usually fined and can lead to a refusal on the next application for France and for countries that share immigration data. Extensions, where they exist, are applied for inside the country before the stay ends; a new entry is not an extension and repeated back-to-back visits are refused at many borders.
When this rule does not apply
This answer is for ordinary India passports and short visits: tourism, visiting family and friends and business meetings without local employment. Study, work, family reunion, medical treatment and long stays follow different routes with their own fees and documents, listed on the France destination page. Note for this rule: Indian passports are on the EU's visa-required list: apply for a short-stay Schengen (type C) visa at the consulate or visa centre of the main destination before travel; fingerprints are taken once every 59 months and the EES records entry and exit at the border. Diplomatic and official passports, dual nationals travelling on a second passport and holders of a residence permit for a third country can fall under different rules; when in doubt, the official source linked above decides.
How this answer is kept current
The rule comes from France's own immigration authority or official e-visa portal and was last verified on 2026-10-30. The Vistolane operations team re-checks it when the government announces a change, and the page updates the same day. Airline summaries, travel forums and agency websites are never used as the source.
France for India passport holders: costs, documents and timing
A Schengen visa is a sticker visa issued by the consulate of the country you spend most nights in. Vistolane prepares your file to the consulate's checklist and books your VFS appointment; you attend in person for biometrics and submission and pay the visa fee and the VFS service charge at the centre. Entries and validity are decided by the consulate.
A Schengen visa is a sticker visa issued by the consulate of the country you spend most nights in. Vistolane prepares your file to the consulate's checklist and books your VFS appointment; you attend in person for biometrics and submission and pay the visa fee and the VFS service charge at the centre. Entries and validity are decided by the consulate.
How much does a France visa cost? Vistolane charges ₹1,755 per traveller to prepare the file and book the appointment. Visa fee (EUR 90) and the VFS service charge are paid at the centre on the day; Vistolane does not collect them. Premium adds ₹875, Business ₹1,755.
How long does a France visa take? 15 calendar days from submission in most cases; up to 45 days when the consulate asks for more.; france-visas.gouv.fr publishes 15 days. Vistolane shows the document deadline and appointment date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.
What documents do I need for a France visa? A passport valid for the full stay, a recent photo, the completed form, flight and accommodation bookings, three to six months of bank statements and proof of ties such as an employment letter. Students add the admission letter and tuition evidence; workers add the sponsor's offer. The France checklist on this page is the one Vistolane files with.
How much bank balance do I need for a France visa? About ₹1.89 lakh for a tourist visit, rising to ₹3.12 crore for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: France publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.
Can I apply for the France visa online, or is it visa on arrival? You attend the VFS appointment in person: fingerprints, photo and the paper file are taken there. Nobody can courier a passport in your place. Visa fee (EUR 90) and the VFS service charge are paid at the centre on the day; Vistolane does not collect them.
How long can I stay in France on this visa? 90 days in any 180; entry: decided by the consulate; validity decided by the consulate (single trip up to multi-year). Overstaying affects every future application, so count days from the entry stamp.
Is an interview or biometrics required for France? Yes: You attend the VFS appointment in person: fingerprints, photo and the paper file are taken there. Nobody can courier a passport in your place. Vistolane books the slot and prepares the file.
Applying for the France visa
Why are France visas refused? Bank statements that do not match the trip, weak evidence of ties or purpose, inconsistent bookings and form errors that contradict the passport. Each document is checked against the France list before Vistolane files it, and a refusal letter is decoded within 24 hours if you were refused before.
Can I apply for the France visa myself? Yes. The checklist on this page is the one Vistolane uses. Most applicants let Vistolane file the tourist and student routes because the guaranteed filing date and document checks remove the two main causes of refusal; other routes are matched with a licensed specialist.
Where else Indians travel without a visa
Questions, answered
Do Indians need a visa for France?
Yes. Indians need a visa before travelling to France (up to 90 days in any 180-day period).
How long can Indians stay in France?
up to 90 days in any 180-day period under the visa required rule.
What does a France visa cost for India passport holders?
Government fee ₹9,569 plus the Vistolane fee from ₹1,755; visa application centre charges may apply.
How much does a France visa cost?
Vistolane charges ₹1,755 per traveller to prepare the file and book the appointment. Visa fee (EUR 90) and the VFS service charge are paid at the centre on the day; Vistolane does not collect them. Premium adds ₹875, Business ₹1,755.
How long does a France visa take?
15 calendar days from submission in most cases; up to 45 days when the consulate asks for more.; france-visas.gouv.fr publishes 15 days. Vistolane shows the document deadline and appointment date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.
What documents do I need for a France visa?
A passport valid for the full stay, a recent photo, the completed form, flight and accommodation bookings, three to six months of bank statements and proof of ties such as an employment letter. Students add the admission letter and tuition evidence; workers add the sponsor's offer. The France checklist on this page is the one Vistolane files with.
How much bank balance do I need for a France visa?
About ₹1.89 lakh for a tourist visit, rising to ₹3.12 crore for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: France publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.
Can I apply for the France visa online, or is it visa on arrival?
You attend the VFS appointment in person: fingerprints, photo and the paper file are taken there. Nobody can courier a passport in your place. Visa fee (EUR 90) and the VFS service charge are paid at the centre on the day; Vistolane does not collect them.