# Is There a France eVisa for Indians? How France-Visas Works > France has no eVisa for Indian citizens. Here is what France-Visas does online, what still needs a VFS visit, what you pay and which French office decides your file. _Published: 2026-10-16 · Reading time: 6 min · Words: 1369_ ## TL;DR France does not issue eVisas to Indians. The France-Visas form is filled online, but the application only counts once you submit it in person at a VFS Global centre with biometrics, and the visa is affixed to your passport. The short-stay fee is 90 euros plus a 22 EUR VFS service fee. ## Key takeaways - France issues no eVisa to Indians; the France-Visas form is online but submission at VFS Global is in person. - The Schengen short-stay fee is 90 euros (45 euros for children aged 6 to 12), plus a VFS service fee of 22 EUR. - Only the Embassy in New Delhi and the consulates in Mumbai, Puducherry, Kolkata and Bengaluru decide French visas in India. - Since 10 April 2026, Indians staying in the international zone of French airports need no airport transit visa. - Decisions usually come within 15 calendar days and can be extended to 45 days in individual cases. **No. France does not issue an eVisa to Indian citizens. According to France-Visas, the official French visa website, you fill the application form online, but it only takes effect once you submit the file in person at a VFS Global centre in India, give biometrics, and receive a visa affixed to your passport.** ## Article The confusion is understandable, because almost every step before your VFS visit happens on a screen. This guide separates the online part from the in-person part, lists what you pay, and shows which French office decides your file, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. ### What does France-Visas actually do? France-Visas is the official online application platform of the French government. Its 'Visa wizard' tells you whether you need a visa, which type fits your trip, which supporting documents to attach and which fee applies. You then complete the application form on the same site and receive a France-Visas reference number. That reference number is not a visa. It is what you use to book an appointment with VFS Global, the exclusive service provider for the Government of France for visa applicants in India, Nepal and Bhutan. VFS collects your documents and biometrics but takes no decision. Visa decisions are taken only by the Embassy of France in New Delhi and the French consulates in Mumbai, Puducherry, Kolkata and Bengaluru. ### Why is there no France e-visa for Indian passport holders? India is listed in Annex I of EU Regulation 2018/1806. Nationals of Annex I countries must hold a Schengen visa obtained before travel, and France-Visas lists only Indian diplomatic-passport holders as exempt from the short-stay visa. There is no visa on arrival either. A French Schengen visa also needs your photo and 10 fingerprints, collected in person at the VFS centre. Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprints. Applicants holding a Schengen visa whose fingerprints were registered in the last 59 months may be exempt from biometrics. Once approved, the visa is affixed to your passport rather than sent as a PDF. One rule has become easier. Since 10 April 2026, Indian ordinary-passport holders no longer need an airport transit visa when they stay in the international zone of French airports, according to the Embassy of France in India. This is a transit exemption, not an eVisa. Leaving the airport still requires a Schengen visa. ### Which steps are online and which are in person? StepWhere it happensOnline or in personCheck visa type, documents and feeFrance-Visas 'Visa wizard'OnlineFill the application form and print it, dated and signed, with its receiptFrance-VisasOnline, then printedBook an appointment using your France-Visas reference and the correct categoryVFS Global India websiteOnline onlyPay the 22 EUR VFS service feeVFS GlobalOnline, in local currencySubmit documents, pay the visa fee, give biometricsVFS Visa Application CentreIn personTrack your applicationVFS website or France-Visas 'Follow an application'OnlineGet your passport back with the visaVFS centre or courierIn person or courier (550 INR)VFS sends an SMS when your application is submitted. To track it, use the reference number on your VFS receipt and your last name. The step-by-step VFS guide is on the VFS Global France India apply page. ### What goes into the file you hand over at VFS? Because there is no eVisa upload, the paper file still matters. The common documents published by VFS and France-Visas are: - A printout of the PDF appointment confirmation letter. - A passport issued within the previous 10 years, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, with at least 2 blank pages on both sides, plus a copy. - The printed France-Visas application form, dated and signed, with its receipt. - Two recent ICAO-format photos: width between 35 and 40 mm, neutral light grey background (not blue), not stapled to the form. - Travel medical insurance with minimum cover of EUR 30,000, valid for the whole Schengen area and the whole stay. - Every supporting document on the checklist France-Visas generates, in the same order as that checklist. - Proof of funds: France-Visas mentions your personal bank statements for the last 3 months and your last 3 pay slips. You may add an optional explanatory note of no more than one page with your identity, passport number and France-Visas reference. Documents in languages other than English or French may need a French translation. ### How much does a French visa cost if there is no e-visa fee? - Schengen short-stay visa: 90 euros for adults. - Children aged 6 to 12: 45 euros. Children under 6 pay nothing. - Long-stay visa: 99 euros, with a reduced rate of 50 euros for students handled through Campus France. - VFS service fee: 22 EUR per applicant, paid online in local currency. 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. It is kept even if the visa is refused. France publishes the fee in euros only, so no official INR visa fee exists to quote. Optional VFS extras include a photograph service at 200 INR for 4 photos and courier at 550 INR. ### Which French office decides your application? Your file goes to the office that covers the state you live in: - Embassy of France, New Delhi: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territories of Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. - Consulate General, Mumbai: Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu. - Consulate General, Bengaluru: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana. - Consulate General, Puducherry: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Puducherry. - Consulate General, Kolkata: West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim and the north-eastern states. VFS runs 14 regular centres, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Ahmedabad, plus temporary service points in Coimbatore, Guwahati, Mangalore and Vishakhapatnam. For context, the European Commission reports a refusal rate of 15.3% (31,058 visas not issued; 204,184 applications lodged) for Schengen applications lodged at French consulates in India in 2025. That figure measures past refusals, not your individual odds. ### Which mistakes do 'France e-visa' searches lead to? - Paying a site that sells a 'France e-visa'. The official form is on France-Visas, and the only India submission partner is VFS Global. - Treating the France-Visas receipt as a visa. Nothing is lodged until you attend VFS. - Booking the wrong VFS category. Use the category that matches your France-Visas application. - Applying too late. France-Visas says at least 5 days before departure for Indian-born Indian passport holders, VFS advises at least two weeks, and you cannot apply more than 6 months ahead. Decisions usually come within 15 calendar days and can stretch to 45. - Buying non-refundable flights first. A verifiable flight reservation is a safer way to show your itinerary before the decision. For fees, centres and the full process, see our France visa guide for Indians, or the official France-Visas India page. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages range from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. Reach us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can I apply for a France tourist visa completely online from India? No. You fill and print the France-Visas form online and book your VFS slot online, but the application only takes effect when you submit it in person at a VFS Global centre. Most applicants also give fingerprints and a photo there. #### Is the France visa fee refunded if my visa is refused? No. The 90-euro visa fee is paid in local currency at the VFS centre and is kept even if the visa is refused. The 22 EUR VFS service fee is also paid per applicant. #### Do Indians need a visa to change flights in Paris? Not if you stay in the international zone of the airport. Since 10 April 2026, Indian ordinary-passport holders no longer need an airport transit visa for French airports. Leaving the international zone still requires a Schengen visa. #### Can Indians get a multiple-entry France visa? Yes, under EU rules for Indian nationals. If you have obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years, you can receive a 2-year multiple-entry Schengen visa. A 5-year visa can follow after lawful use of the 2-year visa, if your passport validity allows. ## FAQ ### Can I apply for a France tourist visa completely online from India? No. You fill and print the France-Visas form online and book your VFS slot online, but the application only takes effect when you submit it in person at a VFS Global centre. Most applicants also give fingerprints and a photo there. ### Is the France visa fee refunded if my visa is refused? No. The 90-euro visa fee is paid in local currency at the VFS centre and is kept even if the visa is refused. The 22 EUR VFS service fee is also paid per applicant. ### Do Indians need a visa to change flights in Paris? Not if you stay in the international zone of the airport. Since 10 April 2026, Indian ordinary-passport holders no longer need an airport transit visa for French airports. Leaving the international zone still requires a Schengen visa. ### Can Indians get a multiple-entry France visa? Yes, under EU rules for Indian nationals. If you have obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years, you can receive a 2-year multiple-entry Schengen visa. A 5-year visa can follow after lawful use of the 2-year visa, if your passport validity allows. ## Sources 1. [France-Visas - India (official): consulates, deadlines, VFS centres, particular situations](https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/inde) — France-Visas (Government of France) 2. [VFS Global India - France: Apply for a visa (step-by-step guide)](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/fra/apply-visa) — 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