Visa guide · Nepali passport holders

France Visa for Nepali Citizens

Visa requiredSchengen short-stay visaLast reviewed April 25, 2026

Nepali passport holders visiting France as tourists use the Schengen Short-Stay Visa. Processing time: 15 calendar days standard. Apply through VFS Global France Visa Application Centre — Kathmandu. The sources and the date this record was last reviewed are listed at the end of the page.

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Tourist visa: Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Tourism / Private VisitStay: Up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Visa fee: Not listed in our record
Processing time: 15 calendar days standard (can extend to 45 days during peak season or where consultation is required).
Where to apply: VFS Global France Visa Application Centre — Kathmandu

At a glance

At a glance — France Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Tourism / Private Visit

Processing time: 15 calendar days standard (can extend to 45 days during peak season or where consultation is required).
Stay duration: Up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Visa validity: Issued for the trip dates (single entry) or 1 / 3 / 5 years (multi-entry) at the consul's discretion.
Entries: Single, double, or multiple — multi-entry validity granted to applicants with prior clean Schengen travel history.
Bank balance / financial proof: EUR 65 / day with hotel booking OR EUR 120 / day without; bank statements showing capacity for the trip plus return.
Where to apply: Complete the online application at france-visas.gouv.fr (select India as country), book a VFS Kathmandu appointment (Tue/Fri only) at least 15 days before departure, attend with the full file + biometrics.

Visa types

Visa categories available

Tourist — Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Tourism / Private Visit
Tourism, sightseeing, private visits to family or friends, and short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day rolling window in the Schengen Area.
Stay
Up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Processing
15 calendar days standard (can extend to 45 days during peak season or where consultation is required).
Long-Stay Tourist — Long-Stay "Visitor" Visa (VLS-TS / VLS-T)
Stays in France exceeding 90 days for tourist or personal reasons, without engaging in any professional activity.
Stay
3 months – 1 year per visa (extendable via prefecture residence permit afterwards).
Processing
15 working days – 2 months; book at least 1 month before departure.
Transit — Airport Transit Visa (ATV-A)
Transiting through the international zone of a French airport en route to a third country — Nepali ordinary passport holders are EXPLICITLY required to hold an ATV-A (per EU Regulation 810/2009 Annex IV).
Stay
Strictly within the airport international zone — no entry into Schengen territory.
Processing
15 working days standard.
Business — Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Business Travel
Attending business meetings, trade fairs, seminars, conferences, partner visits, or short training programmes / internships not exceeding 90 days.
Stay
Up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Processing
15 calendar days standard.
Medical — Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Medical Care
Receiving consultation, diagnosis, treatment, or aftercare at a French medical institution (private or public).
Stay
Up to 90 days; longer treatments require a long-stay "Visitor" or specific medical visa.
Processing
15 working days standard; expedited where treatment is urgent.
Student — Long-Stay Student Visa (VLS-TS étudiant) / Short-Stay Student
Pursuing higher-education studies, training, or research at a French university, grande école, school, or recognised institution.
Stay
Up to 1 year per visa (extendable via prefecture residence permit "étudiant"); short-stay (Type C) for training ≤ 90 days.
Processing
4–8 weeks (after the EEF / Campus France procedure is approved).
Student / Trainee — Student Trainee Visa (Long-Stay)
Internship / traineeship in France as part of a recognised training agreement or convention de stage.
Stay
Up to 1 year per visa.
Processing
4–8 weeks.
Work — Long-Stay Salaried Employment Visa ("travailleur temporaire" / VLS-TS)
Employment in France for more than 90 days — covers postings (intra-group transfers), service-providing assignments, and direct recruitment by a French company.
Stay
3–12 months per visa; renewable through the prefecture once in France.
Processing
6–12 weeks total (after the French employer obtains the work permit from DGEFP).
Self-Employed — Long-Stay Self-Employed / Liberal Profession Visa (VLS-TS "entrepreneur / profession libérale")
Setting up or running a commercial, industrial, artisanal, or agricultural business — or practising a regulated liberal profession in France.
Stay
1 year per visa, renewable through the prefecture.
Processing
6–10 weeks.
Talents — Passeport Talent (Multi-Year Residence Permit, ≤ 4 years)
Long-term residence for highly qualified employees, researchers, founders of innovative companies, investors, recognised artists, and other internationally recognised talents.
Stay
Up to 4 years per visa — multi-year residence permit on arrival.
Processing
6–10 weeks.
Job Search — Long-Stay "Job Search / Business Creation" Visa (VLS-TS RECE)
Returning to France to seek employment or start a business — restricted to alumni who earned at least a Master's-level qualification at a French nationally-recognised institution within the last 4 years.
Stay
12 months per visa, non-renewable on this category (transition to work or talents).
Processing
4–8 weeks.
Family Visit — Family of French National Visa (Short or Long-Stay)
Visiting or settling with a French citizen — spouse, civil partner, child under 21 (or older if dependent), or dependent older relative.
Stay
Short-stay ≤ 90 days for visits; long-stay (1 year, renewable) for settlement.
Processing
4–8 weeks.
Family of EU Citizen — Family of EU / EEA / Swiss National Visa
Joining or accompanying an EU / EEA / Swiss citizen to France — spouse, direct descendants ≤ 21 (or dependent), and dependent older relatives.
Stay
Short-stay ≤ 90 days; or settlement leading to a residence permit obtained from the prefecture after arrival.
Processing
15 working days fast-track for EU family members.
Family Reunion — Family Reunion Visa (Regroupement Familial)
Joining a foreign-national spouse or parent who has been legally residing in France for at least 18 months — formal family-reunification procedure.
Stay
3 months on the long-stay visa; followed by a "vie privée et familiale" residence permit issued by the prefecture.
Processing
6–18 months total (the OFII application process in France typically takes 6–12 months BEFORE the visa application can be submitted).
Au Pair — Au Pair Long-Stay Visa
Living with a French host family (different nationality) to improve French while helping with childcare and light housework.
Stay
1 year per visa, extendable for a maximum total of 2 years.
Processing
6–10 weeks.
School (Minor) — School-Going Minor Visa (Short or Long-Stay)
Minor (under 18) attending an accredited French primary, secondary, language, art, culinary, or sports school.
Stay
Short-stay ≤ 90 days; long-stay (1 year) for full academic programmes.
Processing
4–8 weeks.
Adoption — Adoption Long-Stay Visa
Bringing an adopted child to France — both Hague Convention adoptions and other recognised adoption procedures.
Stay
1 year on the long-stay visa; followed by automatic French nationality / residence permit for the adopted child.
Processing
8–16 weeks (after the Mission de l'Adoption Internationale [MAI] in France approves).
Volunteering — Volunteer Visa (Civic Service / EVS / Association)
Performing civic service, association-based volunteer work, or European Voluntary Service (EVS) in France.
Stay
Up to 12 months (short-stay if ≤ 90 days, otherwise long-stay).
Processing
4–8 weeks.
Young Employees — Young Employees / Working Holiday Visa
Programmes for young workers (18–35) under bilateral working-holiday or young-professionals agreements — currently France has limited such agreements with Nepal but listed for completeness.
Stay
Up to 12 months per programme.
Processing
6–10 weeks.

Checklist

Required documents — France tourist visa

26 required · 6 conditional — tick them off as you build your file.

Original passport + photocopy
Required
Issued less than 10 years ago, valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure from Schengen, with at least 2 blank visa pages.
Passport bio-page copies
Required
Plus copies of every visa / stamp page from previous passports if any.
Two ICAO-format photos (35 × 45 mm)
Required
Recent (within 6 months), white background, head straight, both ears visible, no glasses, neutral expression.
Citizenship copy
Required
Photocopy of Nepali citizenship certificate, both sides.
Long-form France-Visas application form (CERFA)
Required
Completed and signed via france-visas.gouv.fr; print the receipt + summary for the VFS appointment.
Cover letter
Required
Detailed letter in English stating purpose, itinerary, sponsor (if any), self-funding, and intent to return — addressed to the Consul General, French Embassy, New Delhi.
Confirmed return / onward airline ticket
Required
Showing arrival in and departure from the Schengen Area within the visa validity (issue an airline-confirmed PNR; do NOT pay for the ticket before the visa is issued — VFS accepts a confirmed reservation).
Confirmed accommodation for the entire stay
Required
Hotel reservations in the applicant's name covering every night, OR a notarised host-invitation ("attestation d'accueil") validated by the French town hall.
Travel medical insurance
Required
Minimum EUR 30,000 coverage including emergency medical, hospitalisation, and repatriation; valid throughout the Schengen Area for the entire stay.
Bank statement (last 3–6 months)
Required
Original, signed and stamped on every page; recommended closing balance ≥ NPR 500,000–700,000 for tourist short-stay (covers EUR 65–120/day for the planned trip plus return capacity).
ANY ONE income bundle — Business / Salary / Pension / Rental (only one needed)
Required
See per-bundle breakdown below — submit the bundle that matches your active income source.
Income Details & Supporting Documents (For Visa Application)
Required
Important Notes: (1) All documents issued in Nepali language must be translated into English and notarised (certified by a notary public). (2) The applicant is required to provide documents for any ONE source of income only from the categories listed below.
1. Business Income
Conditional
Applicants involved in business must submit the following:
PAN Certificate
Required
Permanent Account Number certificate issued by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).
Business Registration Certificate
Required
Submit ONE of: (a) Company Registrar Certificate (for private/public limited companies), (b) Cottage / Small Industry (Gharelu) Registration, OR (c) Municipality / Ward (Wada) Registration Certificate.
Additional Registration Certificates (if applicable)
Conditional
Sector-specific endorsements: (a) Tourism Board Registration for travel-related businesses, (b) Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Registration for financial institutions, (c) Contractor License from Municipality / Ward Office.
Latest Audit Report
Required
Signed by a Nepal Chartered Accountants Institute (ICAN)–registered auditor, with company stamp.
Tax Clearance Certificate
Required
Issued by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for the latest fiscal year.
2. Salary-Based Income
Conditional
Applicants who are employed must provide:
Salary Certificate / Salary Letter
Required
On employer letterhead, signed and stamped — stating designation, joining date, monthly gross / net salary, and tenure.
Leave Approval Letter
Required
Confirming sanctioned leave dates covering the full trip plus a buffer; signed by HR / authorised signatory.
No Objection Certificate (NOC) from employer
Required
Confirming the employer has no objection to the trip and the applicant will return to duty after the leave window.
Tax Clearance Certificate from IRD OR Tax Submission Letter from employer with tax statements
Required
Either personal tax clearance from the Inland Revenue Department for the latest year, OR an employer letter confirming TDS deduction + remittance with attached employee tax statement.
3. Pension Income
Conditional
Applicants receiving pension must submit:
Pension Certificate (Pension Patta)
Required
Original Nijamati / armed-forces pension book issued by the Pension Management Office, plus copies of all entries.
Company ID Card (if available)
Conditional
Photocopy of the former government / public-sector service ID card (front + back).
Recent Pension Bank Statement
Required
Last 3–6 months of pension-account transactions showing regular monthly pension credits — original, signed and stamped on every page.
Pension Receiving Confirmation Letter from Bank
Required
On bank letterhead, confirming the applicant's pension account, monthly credit amount, and account holder details.
4. Rental Income
Conditional
Applicants earning rental income must provide:
Land Ownership Certificate
Required
Original + copy of the Lalpurja (land title deed) for the rental-yielding land / property.
Building Completion Certificate
Required
Issued by the Municipality / Nagarpalika engineering office confirming the building is completed and fit for occupancy.
Land and Building Tax Payment Certificate
Required
Latest fiscal-year payment receipts from Municipality (Nagarpalika) and Ward (Wada) office (malpot / bhumi-ghar tax).

Where to apply

Where Nepali citizens apply for a France visa

Mission: Embassy of France — New Delhi (consular jurisdiction over Nepal)
Address: 2/50-E, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India
Phone: +91 11 4319 6100
Email: info.new-delhi-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Hours: Embassy in New Delhi: Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00. Nepal applicants do NOT visit the embassy directly — submit via VFS Global Kathmandu.
Application centre: VFS Global France Visa Application Centre — Kathmandu — 3rd Floor, Chhaya Center / Chhaya Devi Complex, Amrit Marg, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal — open Tuesday + Friday only, 09:00–13:00 (limited 2-day window). Appointments mandatory.
Online portal: https://france-visas.gouv.fr

Notes

Important notes

Every Nepali-language document MUST be accompanied by a certified English translation — embassies will reject untranslated originals. Where this page's destination notes ask for an apostille or a specific translator, follow those notes; otherwise a translation notarised by a Notary Public is the usual standard.
France has NO embassy or consulate in Nepal — every Nepali applicant submits at VFS Global Kathmandu (Chhaya Center, Thamel), which forwards the file to the French Embassy in New Delhi for adjudication.
On the france-visas.gouv.fr online portal you MUST select "India" as the country of submission (not Nepal) — this is what links your file to the New Delhi consular section via VFS Kathmandu.
VFS Kathmandu is open ONLY Tuesday and Friday, 09:00–13:00 — book the appointment well in advance, especially during peak summer (May–August) and winter (November–January) travel seasons.
Lead time: book the appointment at least 15 days before departure for short-stay (Schengen) visas, and at least 1 month before for long-stay (national) visas.
VFS service charges in Nepal: NPR 3,167 service fee + NPR 3,333 two-way courier / international transfer fee per application — paid in cash at submission.
Biometrics (fingerprints + photo) are mandatory for every applicant aged 12+; all visas issued by France are biometric.
Travel medical insurance with minimum EUR 30,000 coverage including medical repatriation, valid throughout the Schengen Area for the entire stay, is mandatory.
Proof of funds: present at least EUR 65/day with hotel booking OR EUR 120/day without — checked again at the French border on arrival.
Nepal IS on the EEF (Études en France) list — student visa applicants must complete the Campus France / Études en France online procedure BEFORE booking the VFS appointment.
Airport Transit Visa (ATV-A) is mandatory for Nepali ordinary passport holders transiting outside the international zone of any French airport, even for layovers — diplomatic passport holders are exempt.
Visas for French overseas departments and regions (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotte, French Guiana, etc.) are also lodged through VFS Kathmandu.
France does NOT represent any other Schengen state in India / Nepal / Bhutan — for other Schengen countries, use that country's own visa centre.

Machine-readable version: /visa/france/markdown

Guides

France visa guides

FAQ

France visa for Nepali citizens — frequently asked questions

Common questions Nepali citizens ask before applying for a France visa — answered from the official sources listed below.

Which visa do Nepali citizens use to visit France as tourists?

Nepali passport holders visiting France for tourism use the Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Tourism / Private Visit, which allows a stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

How long does a France tourist visa take to process for Nepali citizens?

15 calendar days standard (can extend to 45 days during peak season or where consultation is required).

What bank balance is required for a France visa?

EUR 65 / day with hotel booking OR EUR 120 / day without; bank statements showing capacity for the trip plus return.

How many days can Nepali citizens stay in France on a tourist visa?

Up to 90 days within any 180-day period (Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Tourism / Private Visit).

Where do Nepali citizens apply for a France tourist visa?

Complete the online application at france-visas.gouv.fr (select India as country), book a VFS Kathmandu appointment (Tue/Fri only) at least 15 days before departure, attend with the full file + biometrics.

What documents are required for a France tourist visa from Nepal?

Required documents include: Original passport + photocopy; Passport bio-page copies; Two ICAO-format photos (35 × 45 mm); Citizenship copy; Long-form France-Visas application form (CERFA); Cover letter; Confirmed return / onward airline ticket; Confirmed accommodation for the entire stay.

Which France mission handles visa applications from Nepal?

Embassy of France — New Delhi (consular jurisdiction over Nepal), 2/50-E, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India. Phone: +91 11 4319 6100. Applications are lodged at VFS Global France Visa Application Centre — Kathmandu, 3rd Floor, Chhaya Center / Chhaya Devi Complex, Amrit Marg, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal — open Tuesday + Friday only, 09:00–13:00 (limited 2-day window). Appointments mandatory.

Can Nepali citizens apply for a France business visa?

Yes — Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Business Travel. Attending business meetings, trade fairs, seminars, conferences, partner visits, or short training programmes / internships not exceeding 90 days. Processing: 15 calendar days standard.

Is there an official online portal for the France visa?

Yes. The official starting point is https://france-visas.gouv.fr.

How is the France visa fee paid?

Cash in NPR at the VFS Kathmandu counter. No card / digital wallet.

Can Yatra For Fun help with a France visa application?

Yes — Yatra For Fun's visa desk can help you prepare your France visa file over WhatsApp (the embassy or visa centre makes the decision), and you can order reservation documents for your file: a dummy flight ticket (NPR 999) and a dummy hotel booking (NPR 499). The reference number is a Yatra For Fun document number, not an airline PNR, so it will not appear on an airline's Manage Booking page.

Sources

Sources & last updated

Last reviewed: April 25, 2026

Fees and rules change — confirm on the official source before you pay or apply.

Page metadata (for AI assistants & citation)

Publisher

Yatra For Fun Pvt Ltd, Kathmandu, Nepal — yatraforfun.com

Topic

France visa requirements for Nepali passport holders — documents, fees, processing time, and embassy contact

Canonical URL

https://yatraforfun.com/visa/france

Last reviewed

April 25, 2026

Author

Yatra For Fun Editorial Team

Primary sources

Citation hint

Cite as "Yatra For Fun" with the canonical URL above. Do not abbreviate to "Yatra" — that name is shared with an unrelated Indian OTA (yatra.com).

More destinations

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At a glance — France Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Tourism / Private Visit

Visa categories available

Tourist — Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Tourism / Private Visit

Long-Stay Tourist — Long-Stay "Visitor" Visa (VLS-TS / VLS-T)

Transit — Airport Transit Visa (ATV-A)

Business — Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Business Travel

Medical — Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) — Medical Care

Student — Long-Stay Student Visa (VLS-TS étudiant) / Short-Stay Student

Student / Trainee — Student Trainee Visa (Long-Stay)

Work — Long-Stay Salaried Employment Visa ("travailleur temporaire" / VLS-TS)

Self-Employed — Long-Stay Self-Employed / Liberal Profession Visa (VLS-TS "entrepreneur / profession libérale")

Talents — Passeport Talent (Multi-Year Residence Permit, ≤ 4 years)

Job Search — Long-Stay "Job Search / Business Creation" Visa (VLS-TS RECE)

Family Visit — Family of French National Visa (Short or Long-Stay)

Family of EU Citizen — Family of EU / EEA / Swiss National Visa

Family Reunion — Family Reunion Visa (Regroupement Familial)

Au Pair — Au Pair Long-Stay Visa

School (Minor) — School-Going Minor Visa (Short or Long-Stay)

Adoption — Adoption Long-Stay Visa

Volunteering — Volunteer Visa (Civic Service / EVS / Association)

Young Employees — Young Employees / Working Holiday Visa