# France Visa FAQs for Indians: 25 Questions Answered > Twenty-five short, sourced answers to what Indian applicants ask most about the France visa: fees, appointments, documents, decisions, refusals and student routes. _Published: 2026-10-17 · Reading time: 6 min · Words: 1447_ ## TL;DR A France short-stay visa costs Indian adults 90 euros plus a 22-euro VFS service fee, and decisions are taken within 15 calendar days of lodging, extendable to 45. You apply on France-Visas first, then submit documents and biometrics at a VFS Global centre. ## Key takeaways - Adult short-stay fee: 90 euros; children aged 6 to 12: 45 euros; children under 6: free. - VFS Global charges a 22-euro service fee per applicant, paid in local currency. - Decisions are taken within 15 calendar days of lodging, extendable up to 45 days. - Since 10 April 2026, Indians staying in the international zone of French airports need no airport transit visa. - A refusal can be appealed within 30 days, in French, by post to the authority in Nantes. **According to France-Visas and VFS Global, an Indian adult pays a 90-euro visa fee plus a 22-euro VFS service fee for a France short-stay visa, applies online on France-Visas before submitting at a VFS centre, and usually gets a decision within 15 calendar days of lodging, extendable up to 45 days in individual cases.** ## Article The 25 answers below are drawn from France-Visas, the Embassy of France in India, VFS Global, Campus France India and the European Commission, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Each answer is kept short so you can find your question quickly. For the full step-by-step application, read our France visa page for Indian citizens. ### Do Indians need a visa for France, and which one? #### 1. Do Indian passport holders need a visa for France? Yes. India is listed in Annex I of EU Regulation 2018/1806, so Indian ordinary-passport holders need a Schengen visa obtained before travel. France-Visas lists only Indian diplomatic-passport holders as exempt from the short-stay visa. The short-stay visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period. #### 2. Is there a France eVisa or visa on arrival for Indians? No. You fill the form online on France-Visas, but the application only takes effect when you submit the file in person at a VFS centre, with biometrics unless exempt. The visa is then affixed to your passport. #### 3. Do I need a transit visa to change flights in Paris? Not if you stay in the international zone. Since 10 April 2026, Indian ordinary-passport holders no longer need an airport transit visa for French airports, according to the Embassy of France in India. Leaving the international zone requires a Schengen visa. #### 4. Can I get a multiple-entry visa for France? Yes, if you qualify. Under a European Commission decision of 18 April 2024, Indians residing and applying in India who have obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years can receive a 2-year multiple-entry visa. A lawfully used 2-year visa can lead to a 5-year visa if passport validity allows. ### How much does a France visa cost? #### 5. What is the France visa fee for Indians? The Schengen visa fee is 90 euros for adults and 45 euros for children aged 6 to 12. Children under 6, foreign spouses of French nationals and foreign family members of EU, EEA or Swiss nationals pay nothing. #### 6. Why can't I find the fee in rupees? France-Visas sets fees in euros and converts them to INR at the rate set by the French authorities. You pay in local currency at the VFS centre by debit card, credit card, UPI or cash. #### 7. What does VFS Global charge? The VFS service fee is 22 EUR per applicant. Optional extras include Courier at 550 INR, Photograph at 200 INR for 4 photos, Prime Time at 3 000 INR and Premium Lounge at 40 EUR. None of these is required. #### 8. Do I get the visa fee back if I am refused? No. The official fee table notes that the visa fee is kept even if the visa is refused, so check your file against the checklist before you pay. ### How do I apply and book an appointment? #### 9. Where do I start my application? Start on France-Visas. Its visa wizard tells you whether you need a visa, which type, the supporting documents and the fee. You then book a VFS appointment using your France-Visas reference number and attend in person. #### 10. How early should I apply? No more than 6 months before departure. France-Visas says Indian passport holders born in India should apply at least 5 days before departure, while VFS India advises at least two weeks. Following the longer VFS advice is safer. #### 11. Why are there no VFS appointment slots? The Embassy or consulate sets the number of slots per calendar, and new slots open at random times. If none are available, VFS cannot add appointments. Booking is online only. #### 12. Which French office decides my visa? The Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Puducherry or Kolkata, depending on your state. VFS forwards your file to the right post. #### 13. Do I have to give fingerprints? Yes. Your photo and 10 fingerprints are collected at the VFS centre. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting. ### What documents does France ask for? #### 14. What are the core documents? Bring the printed appointment letter, a passport issued within the previous 10 years and valid at least 3 months after you leave Schengen with 2 blank pages, a copy of the passport, the signed France-Visas form with its receipt, two ICAO photos and every document on your France-Visas checklist, in the same order. #### 15. How much money should I show? The European Commission reference table for France, dated 8 June 2026, gives EUR 65 per day and per person as the minimum, EUR 32.50 per day if you hold proof of accommodation, and EUR 120 per day without it. France-Visas lists personal bank statements for the last 3 months, your last 3 pay slips and card statements as proof. #### 16. What size should my photo be? Width between 35 and 40 mm, with the face measuring 32 to 36 mm from chin to forehead. The background must be neutral light grey, not blue. Do not staple the photo to the form. #### 17. How much travel insurance cover do I need? At least EUR 30,000 for emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation, valid across the Schengen area for the whole stay. #### 18. Do my documents need to be in French? Documents in English or French are fine. Documents in other languages may need a French translation. ### What happens after I submit? #### 19. How long does a France visa take? The decision is taken within 15 calendar days of lodging and may be extended up to 45 calendar days in individual cases. The consulate can also ask for more documents or call you for an interview. #### 20. How do I track my application? VFS sends an SMS when your application is submitted. Track it on the VFS website with the reference number on your receipt and your last name, or use Follow an application on France-Visas. #### 21. Can a family member collect my passport? Only an immediate family member: parent, child, sibling or spouse. They bring a photocopy of their government ID, your original VFS receipt and your authorisation letter. #### 22. How many Indian applications does France refuse? European Commission data shows a refusal rate of 15.3% for Schengen applications lodged at French consulates in India in 2025 (31,058 visas not issued; 204,184 applications lodged), and 15.9% in 2024. This measures all applications that year, not your individual chance. #### 23. How do I appeal a refusal? Within 30 days, by post, in French and signed. Short-stay appeals go to the Deputy Director of Visas; long-stay appeals go to the CRRV, both at BP 83609, 44036 Nantes Cedex 1. This appeal is mandatory before any court case. ### What about students and long stays? #### 24. What does a student visa cost? The long-stay student visa is 50 euros under the Etudes en France procedure. Campus France India charges INR 20,000 for that procedure from 1 August 2026, up from INR 18,500. #### 25. How much money must a student show? At least EUR 877.50 per month from 1 August 2026, according to Campus France India; the earlier figure was EUR 615 per month. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for France visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter); WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Is there a working holiday visa for France for Indians? No. France's working holiday ('vacances-travail') visa is only for nationals of 16 agreement countries, and India is not on that list. India and France did welcome a Young Professional Scheme in January 2024, but its age limit and quota were not published on the official pages checked. #### What is the France 5-year alumni visa? It is a short-stay visa for Indian nationals with a Master's or higher degree who studied at least one semester in France on a long-stay student visa of at least 4 months. You apply at VFS with alumni proof, and the visa does not allow work. #### Does a France Schengen visa cover Reunion Island? No. Reunion and the other non-European French territories need a separate national visa; for Reunion, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Saint Martin and Saint-Barthelemy the fee is 60 euros. Since an Embassy notice of 7 May 2026, Indians on approved package tours of up to 15 days may be exempt. #### Can Indian students stay in France after graduating? Campus France India says a 2015 bilateral agreement lets Indian students extend their stay for 24 months after their studies, through a 12-month visa renewable once. Master's-level graduates can also use the job search or business creation permit. ## FAQ ### Is there a working holiday visa for France for Indians? No. France's working holiday ('vacances-travail') visa is only for nationals of 16 agreement countries, and India is not on that list. India and France did welcome a Young Professional Scheme in January 2024, but its age limit and quota were not published on the official pages checked. ### What is the France 5-year alumni visa? It is a short-stay visa for Indian nationals with a Master's or higher degree who studied at least one semester in France on a long-stay student visa of at least 4 months. You apply at VFS with alumni proof, and the visa does not allow work. ### Does a France Schengen visa cover Reunion Island? No. Reunion and the other non-European French territories need a separate national visa; for Reunion, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Saint Martin and Saint-Barthelemy the fee is 60 euros. Since an Embassy notice of 7 May 2026, Indians on approved package tours of up to 15 days may be exempt. ### Can Indian students stay in France after graduating? Campus France India says a 2015 bilateral agreement lets Indian students extend their stay for 24 months after their studies, through a 12-month visa renewable once. Master's-level graduates can also use the job search or business creation permit. ## Sources 1. [France-Visas - Frequently asked questions (photo size, means of subsistence, appeals, return visa, where to apply)](https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/faq) — France-Visas, Government of France 2. [VFS Global India - France: FAQ (photos, fees, appointments)](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/fra/faq) — VFS Global 3. [Embassy of France in India - France lifts airport transit visa requirements for Indian nationals](https://in.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france-lifts-airport-transit-visa-requirements-indian-nationals) — Embassy of France in India 4. [European Commission - Schengen visa statistics by consulate (2025)](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/56816949-e59f-442b-9091-5d03360bf860_en) — European Commission