France Spouse and Dependant Visa for Indians: Joining Family

Joining a spouse or parent for more than 90 days needs a long-stay visa, valid from 3 months to 1 year; a family trip of up to 90 days uses the Schengen short-stay visa instead. Either way, the decision is taken by the Embassy of France in New Delhi or the French consulates in Mumbai, Puducherry, Kolkata and Bengaluru. VFS Global only receives files and biometrics. Fees and processing times below are as published on the official sources, checked on 10 October 2026. Our France visa guide for Indian citizens covers the other categories.

Pick the family category that matches the person you are joining

France-Visas lists three long-stay family categories. The right one depends on the nationality and status of the family member in France, not on yours:

VFS publishes its appointment categories by name only, so the right-hand column follows those names. Check it against what France-Visas tells you before you book. For a visit of up to 90 days rather than a move, the short-stay category is Family visit.

What spouses and dependants pay

The visa fee is paid in local currency at the VFS centre, at the rate set by the French authorities, by debit card, credit card, UPI or cash. The Schengen fee is kept even if the visa is refused. Separately, VFS charges a service fee of 22 EUR per applicant, paid online in local currency. Optional extras such as courier (550 INR) or the Premium Lounge (40 EUR) are your choice.

Apply in this order: France-Visas, then VFS

1. Run the Visa wizard on France-Visas. It tells you whether you need a visa, which type, the supporting documents and the fee for your situation.
2. Complete the online application. Print the form, date and sign it, print the receipt, and note your France-Visas reference number.
3. Book a VFS appointment with that reference number and the appointment category that matches your application, unless you qualify to walk in.
4. Attend the centre in person. Hand over documents in the same order as your France-Visas checklist and give biometrics: a photo and 10 fingerprints. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprints.
5. Collect the passport. Collect it in person or choose courier delivery when you submit; otherwise only an immediate family member (parent, child, sibling or spouse) can collect it, with a photocopy of their government ID, the original VFS receipt (ICR) and an authorisation letter from you.

Walk-in access for spouses of French citizens and EU family members

Spouses of French citizens and family members of EU citizens may walk in, without an appointment, at the New Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh and Jaipur centres. Diplomatic and official passport holders can do the same. Everyone else books a slot. The wider VFS network for France covers Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin (Kochi), Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Puducherry and Pune, with temporary service points in Coimbatore, Mangalore and Vishakhapatnam (Saturdays) and Guwahati (Fridays). France-Visas showed the Goa centre as closed on all days when we checked, so confirm before travelling there.

Documents VFS will check

France-Visas generates the exact checklist for each family category with your application. Those family checklists are not published as static pages, so treat the generated list as final. Every applicant also brings:

• A passport issued within the previous 10 years, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, with at least 2 pages blank on both sides, plus a copy.
• The PDF appointment confirmation letter, printed.
• The dated and signed France-Visas application form and its receipt.
• Two recent ICAO-format photos on a neutral light grey background, not blue. Do not staple them to the form.
• All supporting documents from your checklist, in the same order.
• Travel medical insurance with minimum cover of EUR 30,000 if the visa is a short-stay one.
• Receipts for any optional services bought online.

Two points matter for Indian family files. Documents in languages other than English or French may need a French translation, which can apply to a marriage or birth certificate issued in Hindi or a regional language. And you may add a factual explanatory note of up to one page, with your identity, passport number and France-Visas reference, which is useful when your situation needs context, such as a recent marriage or a change of surname.

When to apply and how long it takes

For a long-stay visa, VFS advises applying at least 1 month before departure and no more than 3 months before arrival. France does not publish a fixed time for long-stay family visas: processing varies with your purpose, personal situation and local conditions, and some visa types need special checks. Short-stay applications are decided within 15 calendar days of lodging, extendable up to 45 calendar days in individual cases. For short stays, France-Visas says Indian passport holders born in India can apply at least 5 days before departure, while VFS India advises at least two weeks, so use the longer lead time.

Before you book the appointment

• Match the category on your France-Visas form to the VFS category you book.
• Check whether your visa fee is zero before paying anything. Spouses of French nationals are exempt for both short and long stays.
• If your spouse is an EU citizen other than French and you are moving for a long stay, confirm the fee in the wizard; the long-stay exemption in our data covers spouses of French nationals.
• Get translations done before the appointment, not after.
• Use photos with a light grey background, not blue.

If your file also needs a cover letter, flight reservation or itinerary, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares these for visa applications, with packages from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

Does VFS decide my France family visa?

No. VFS Global is France's exclusive service provider in India and only receives applications and biometrics. Decisions are taken by the Embassy of France in New Delhi and the French consulates in Mumbai, Puducherry, Kolkata and Bengaluru.

Do I need travel insurance for a France family visa?

For a short-stay Schengen visa, travel medical insurance with minimum cover of EUR 30,000 is compulsory, valid for the whole Schengen area and the whole stay. For a long-stay family visa, follow the checklist France-Visas generates for your category.

Can my child give biometrics at the VFS centre?

Yes. Biometrics are a photo and 10 fingerprints, but children under 12 are exempt from fingerprints. Children under 6 also pay no Schengen short-stay visa fee.

What photo background does France accept?

France asks for two recent ID photos in ICAO format on a neutral light grey background, not blue. Do not staple them to the form. VFS offers a photo service at 200 INR for 4 photographs.