Arranging a visit to France, be it in tourism, business or family visit is a thrilling affair. France is going to receive millions of visitors annually, be it the romantic streets of Paris, the beautiful vineyards of Bordeaux, the snowy peaks of the French Alps, etc. But before you are ready to venture into the adventures of France, there is one important thing between you and your trip; which is the acquisition of your France visa. Most of the travelers tend to underestimate the role of time as far as obtaining a visa is concerned. Knowing the optimal time to apply to France Visa will save you the stress of applying at the last minute, getting into unjustified delays and worst still, rejection.
The visa application procedure in France is not that difficult as it follows several steps, such as collecting the necessary documents, scheduling an appointment, and attending a visa interview at the nearest VFS or embassy center. Every process is time-consuming, and depending on the travel season, processing times can vary. Thus, being aware of the right time to apply for France visa is just as important as knowing how to apply. Early or late applications can have an impact. At Go Kite Tours, we have assisted thousands of travelers in planning their trips to France with zero complications through our easy, step-by-step visa guidance.
Learning about the France Visa.
It is imperative to understand the type of visa to apply before deciding on the right time to apply to France visa depending on the purpose of travel. France is a Schengen nation, which has obliged most non-European visitors to acquire a Schengen visa when traveling on a short term basis or a national visa on a long term basis.
1. Short-Stay (Schengen) Visa
With this visa, you can spend up to 90 days in staying in France and other Schengen nations out of 180 days. It is ideal when visiting a friend on a tour, business or family.
2. Long-Stay Visa
Should you stay in France over 90 days (either due to work, studies or family reunification), you will need a long-stay visa (also referred to as D visa).
3. Transit Visa
It is necessary in case you are going via a French airport on your way to any other non-Schengen state and you have a nationality that will need a transit visa.
There are the processing time and the application requirements of each type of visa that may influence the time of applying to France visa.
Why Timing Matters
Close booking before your travel date may result in delays; particularly during peak travel seasons like the summer (May-August), and Christmas (November-January) seasons. During these periods, the processing centers tend to receive a lot of applications hence it is advisable to get the application done early so that your France visa application can be processed without any hassles.
In Go Kite Tours, we advise tourists to ensure that they begin preparing their visa forms at least two months prior to the anticipated date of their departure. This will give you enough time to collect supporting documents, visit your biometric attendance, and solve any unforeseen problems.
France Visa Processing Time
The time taken in visa processing will depend on your nationality, the kind of visa you are applying, and the season of the year. The average processing time is as follows:
Short-Stay Visa: 10–15 working days
Long-Stay Visa: 3–6 weeks
Student or Work Visa: 4–8 weeks
Family Reunion Visa: 6–12 weeks
These off-peak periods may be stretched by days or even weeks during peak travelling periods. As such the best strategy is to apply early.
Application Process to France Visa.
Information about the opportune time to apply to France visa is half the battle, it is also important that you adhere to the right process of France visa application. The process is described as follows in a simplified fashion:
Step 1: Find out what type of visa you need.
Determine the right visa type according to the reason of travel that is, tourist, business, student, family visit.
Step 2: Complete the Online Application.
Go to the Visa France-VISA official site and fill your visa application. After this, print out the confirmation.
Step 3: Prepare Necessary Documentation.
Typical documents include:
Valid passport (not less than 3 months after planned return)
New passport size photographs.
Flight and accommodation details (travel itinerary)
Proof of sufficient funds
Travel insurance (minimum cover of 30,000 Euros)
Letter of explanation of trip.
Proof of employment or study
Visa fee payment receipt
Step 4: Book Your own appointment.
Make a reservation in the closest VFS Global or French Embassy. Slots are booked fast especially on peak seasons and it is advisable to make reservations.
Step 5: Your Biometric appointment.
Present your papers and biometrics information (photo and prints) at the application center.
Step 6: Wait for Processing
Monitor your France visa application. After approval collect your passport or get it delivered.
Optimal France Visa Application Time Depending on the Intention of Travel.
1. For Tourism
In case you are intending to spend some time in France, the best period to apply France visa is 6-8 weeks prior to your traveling. This will provide you with sufficient time to organize your flights, lodging and tourism arrangement.
2. For Business Travel
Business travelers are expected to apply at least 46 weeks before hand since you might be required to provide more documents such as invitation letter of a French company.
3. For Students
At the latest, students are supposed to apply not less than 812 weeks prior to the commencement of their academic program. There is also extra paper work like admission letters, financial evidence and house confirmation.
4. For Family Visits
In going to relatives or friends in France, one needs to apply 6 8 weeks before so that a negotiation can be made smoothly and in good time.
5. For Long-Stay or Work Visas
Those who intend to have long term visas are advised to apply 10-12 weeks before hand since the background checks and document verification may take some time.
How to avoid making mistakes when applying to France Visa.
Too late application: When you apply too late to your departure date, you may miss on your travel plans as your application may take long than it could have taken.
Unfinished Documentation: The absence of any of the necessary documents may postpone your application to the visa in France.
Neglecting Peak Season: It is always crucial to consider longer wait times during holidays and the summer seasons.
Wrong Visa Type: Applying to a different category of visa has the ability to result into rejections.
Lack of Financial Evidence: it is important to present clear and verifiable evidence of money.
Go Kite Tours Hints to a Smooth Visa Application.
Go Kite Tours currently has travel experts to assist you with all your visa process in France including; checking the documents, and arranging an appointment. These are some of the professional tips:
Get ready early: Get your paperwork ready at least 2 months before you are going.
Official sources: Starting with the official sources, it is always necessary to refer to the France-Visas portal in order to submit the form.
Be precise: Check all the personal and travel information twice before submitting.
Seek expert assistance: Our tourism company Go Kite Tours will ensure that you can make no mistakes and go through with your application to get a visa to France in the most effective way possible.
What to Do After Your Visa is delayed.
In case your visa is later than you expected:
Monitor your application with your reference number.
Check updates on the contact center or embassy with the VFS center.
Do not rebook flight or accommodation until you are given your visa.
You can also be requested to submit more documents in isolated instances and therefore, have both digital and hard copies, which one can submit easily.
Conclusion
Being aware of how to best time the application of France visa can be a revelation of your planning experience of the travel. Being early guarantees the flexibility and being late may result in an avoidable stress or even flights missed. The point is that you should begin working on your France visa application at least 6-8 weeks prior to your vacation, all the papers should be filled, you should have appointments that are scheduled in advance and you must be calm before traveling.
The process may appear to be a nightmare, be it short-term Schengen visa, long term student visa or a business visa, but with proper guidance, it would be an easy task. At Go Kite Tours, we deal with assisting travelers with their applications of France visas in a reliable and effective manner. We ensure that your apply France visa process is smooth and hassle free since it goes through form filling to document review. Therefore, do not hesitate, get your papers ready and apply in time so that you can have a hassle free trip to one of the most beautiful places in the world- France. Let Go Kite Tours will be your reliable friend in fulfilling your dream of travelling throughout Europe.