How to apply for France/Schengen Visa in five easy steps

The France visa process is relatively a simple process and involves five steps as outlined below.

1. Application : Every traveler who intends to travel to France is expected to apply  and submit supporting documents on the French government site. In your application , you will state the purpose of your trip (tourism, family visit, business, study, transit ) Where you will be staying /Accomodation  details (hotel, with a host or friend or family) , source of funds for the trip (if you will be self sponsored or sponsored by a company/family/government) and medical insurance details. Every applicant must have health insurance when traveling to a schengen state. 
   
2. Booking of appointment and collection of biometrics : Next is scheduling of an appointment with Vfs global, the agency saddled with the responsibility of visa application process on behalf of some countries embassies. However they are not the ones to decide if you will be given a visa or not. There are two vfs centers in Nigeria , Lagos and Abuja, so choose the nearest one. Be sure to fill the correct information when making your appointments as incorrect or fake information can  disallow you from entering the premises of the vfs global if their officials find out errors. Note important information such as date of birth, passport number, application centre, type of visa , frequent or first time traveler. On the date of your appointment, arrive early and go with two passport photos, printed copies of the duly filled application form, evidences of payment for the visa and appointment, other supporting documents. Copies of the documents will be collected . Your national passport and evidence of funds are the only original documents required. Also, your biometrics will be taken, that is capturing of your face , your signature and prints of your ten fingers . This particular information is shared among other schengen states via visa information service (vis) and valid for up to five years. So in your subsequent applications, you may not submit new biometrics except requested. This can benefit frequent travelers to the schengen states or those who have had a schengen visa, you may opt for the “collection from home “ service. This is where the vfs global sends agents to your home or address, collect your passport for processing and return them back to you without you going to their office. This comes at a charge though it is convenient.
3. Processing of the visa : The visa application centre, after collecting your documents sends them to the embassy or consulate for processing, depending on the embassy , types of visa  requested, the processing time is typically between 4 days to weeks or months . The type of visa given is single entry (you can only enter once), multiple entry (you can enter multiple times within your visa period), duration of visa given is between 5 days  to one month for tourists, months or years for spouse , study, family or business visa , usually the validity of visa is between 90 days to years . There is usually confusion between validity and duration of visa , here is a simple explanation. For example, you are issued a multiple entry visa valid for 90 days, what it means is that you can travel any time given within the 90 days but not stay more than 30 days at a time. So if given visa in August and it expires in November. You can travel in August, October, September and November before your visa expires and only stay not more than 30 days per trip. Tourists , business travelers are not expected to work , seek employment or resort to public funds or free benefits during their stay. Some visas can be limited to just the country they apply to , but most allows for inter travel among other schengen states. So be sure of the type of visa you have. The consular officer can also reject the visa application for different reasons including not being convinced of the purpose of trip, incomplete documents, no proven record of the applicant’s attachment to his home country (work,family ties, investments), no host details, no insurance or expired insurance. While frequent travelers (these are travelers who travel often or has been to USA, Canada,Uk, or schengen countries) are at a better advantage of securing visas , however first time travelers (those who intend to go to France or a schengen country for the first time) can also be successful if their application and documentation is done right. 
4. Collection of visa : The vfs global office will notify you via email or sms when your documents are ready for collection and you can go collect them  or if you have paid for the courier service, the documents will be sent to the address you have provided and you or a trusted person can collect on your behalf . 
5. Planning for the trip : If à visa is issued in your favor, then you can start planning for your trip. Having a visa does not guarantee an automatic admission into  the country, the final authority lies with the admitting immigration officer , if he or she is convinced that your intention is genuine, in rare cases, an arriving passenger can still be deported rarely . To prevent such occurrence happening, ensure you go with your initial supporting documents to authenticate your trip.

Note : This visa application process is similar for other schengen countries (26 European countries who allow open border policy, so visitors/citizens can travel from one schengen state to another without getting another visa). 

~Travel Queen 

Do you wish your travel dreams to come true, stop dreaming and act today. Talk to us 23424606384 (WhatsApp) or send an email to travelandtoursng@gmail.com and kickstart your travel plans with ease. 

See sample of a recently issued France visa