France Visa Appointment in India: Booking Step by Step

VFS Global is the exclusive service provider for the French government for visa applicants in India, but it does not decide visas; the Embassy of France in New Delhi and the consulates in Mumbai, Puducherry, Kolkata and Bengaluru do. Fees and processing times are as published on the official sources, checked on 10 October 2026. For visa types and documents, see our France visa guide for Indian applicants.

Before you book: finish France-Visas first

The VFS booking system expects a France-Visas reference number, so the order matters.

• Run the visa wizard on France-Visas. It tells you whether you need a visa, which type, which supporting documents and what fee applies.
• Complete the online application and print the form, dated and signed, with its receipt.
• Save the document checklist France-Visas generates. You will present your papers in the same order at VFS.

Booking a VFS slot before this step only creates a slot you cannot use properly.

Choosing the appointment category and your centre

Pick the VFS category that matches the visa type France-Visas assigned you. The categories listed on the VFS India visa types page include French and EU family members, family reunification, studies in France, crew or transport staff, business or other professional travel, holders of a French residence permit, and holders of diplomatic or service passports. If the category for your purpose isn't obvious, read VFS's Before booking your appointment page or ask VFS before you choose, because the category must match your application.

Walk-ins are only for diplomatic and official passport holders, spouses of French citizens and family members of EU citizens. The France-Visas India page showed the Goa centre as closed on all days when we checked, so confirm before choosing it.

Booking the VFS slot, step by step

1. Open the VFS Global France India site and start a new booking.
2. Enter your France-Visas reference number.
3. Select the appointment category that matches your visa type.
4. Choose your centre and an available date and time.
5. Add any optional services you want, then pay the 22 EUR service fee online in local currency at the rate set by the French authorities.
6. Download and print the PDF appointment confirmation letter, plus receipts for any optional services.

The service fee is charged per visa applicant, so a family travelling together pays it once for each member.

What you pay online and at the centre

The visa fee is paid at the VFS centre by debit card, credit card, UPI or cash, at the rate set by the French authorities, and it is kept even if the visa is refused. Children under 6, foreign spouses of French nationals and foreign family members of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals pay no Schengen visa fee.

On appointment day: documents and biometrics

Carry the following, arranged in the order of your France-Visas checklist:

• The printed PDF appointment confirmation letter.
• Your 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 signed France-Visas form and its receipt.
• Two recent ICAO-format photos on a neutral light gray background (not blue), not stapled to the form.
• Travel medical insurance with minimum cover of EUR 30,000 for short stays.
• All supporting documents on your checklist, with French translations where a document is in a language other than English or French.
• Optionally, a factual explanatory note of up to one page with your identity, passport number and France-Visas reference.

At the counter, VFS takes your photo and 10 fingerprints as biometrics; children under 12 are exempt from fingerprints. Only an immediate family member (parent, child, sibling or spouse), one member of a group collecting for the group, or a company representative may collect your passport for you; they need a photocopy of their government ID, the original VFS receipt (ICR) and your authorisation letter.

How far ahead to book and how long a decision takes

• Short stay: no more than 6 months before travel. The France-Visas India page says at least 5 days before departure for Indian passport holders born in India; VFS India advises at least two weeks.
• Long stay: at least 1 month before departure and no more than 3 months before arrival.
• Decision: Schengen short-stay applications are decided within 15 calendar days of lodging, extendable up to 45 calendar days in individual cases.

Because the two lodging guidelines differ, plan around VFS's two-week advice rather than the 5-day minimum.

Booking errors to avoid

• Booking VFS before completing France-Visas, or with a reference number from a different application.
• Choosing a category that doesn't match the visa type France-Visas assigned.
• Paying for optional services you don't need; none are required to apply.
• Bringing blue-background photos or stapling them to the form.
• Arriving without the printed appointment letter.

Your checklist will usually include travel and stay details. A verifiable flight reservation lets you show your plans without buying a non-refundable ticket before the decision, which embassies generally advise against; requirements vary, so follow the France-Visas checklist.

If you want the supporting papers prepared, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram arranges flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Can I book a France visa appointment without a France-Visas reference number?

No. VFS asks you to complete the online application on France-Visas first and book with its reference number and the correct appointment category. Complete France-Visas, then book.

Is the VFS service fee for France refundable if my visa is refused?

The official pages state that the visa fee is kept even if the visa is refused. The 22 EUR VFS service fee is a separate charge for VFS's handling, and the pages we checked don't describe a refund for it, so check VFS's terms before you pay.

Which French office decides my visa if I apply in Chennai or Hyderabad?

VFS only receives applications. Decisions are taken by the Embassy of France in New Delhi or the French consulates in Mumbai, Puducherry, Kolkata and Bengaluru.

Do children need to give fingerprints at the France VFS centre?

Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprints. Each child still needs their own application and photos, and children between 6 and 12 pay a 45 euros visa fee.