Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) Visa
France visa checklist
Everything the France consulate typically asks for on a short-stay (Type C) application, in one place — cross-check it against the official page before your appointment.
Not authoritative — verify before you rely on it. General guidance only — always verify current requirements against the official France-Visas / VFS France page before your appointment. Requirements and fees change without notice.
Last checked: 2026-07-01
Where to apply
VFS Global / France-Visas (France Visa Application Centre)
Documents
Original passport + photocopy of first/last page
Valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen area, issued within the last 10 years, with at least 2 blank visa pages.
Previous passport(s), if any
Include any old passports showing prior Schengen or other visa history.
Cover letter
Explains purpose of visit, itinerary, funding, and ties to India. SchengenKit's cover-letter tool generates a first draft from your details.
Round-trip flight reservation (not necessarily a paid ticket)
A confirmed reservation showing entry/exit dates is normally sufficient — most consulates do not require a fully paid ticket.
Proof of accommodation for every night of the trip
Hotel bookings or an invitation letter covering every night. SchengenKit's itinerary builder links each night to free-cancellation hotel search so you never pre-pay for a booking you might not need.
Employment proof
Employment/leave letter (or NOC) on company letterhead, or business registration documents if self-employed.
Civil status documents (if applicable)
Marriage certificate, birth certificate of minors travelling, or similar — only if relevant to your application.
Forms
Completed Schengen visa application form
Signed, with answers matching your passport and supporting documents exactly.
France-Visas online application confirmation
Complete the application on the official France-Visas portal first; print the signed confirmation to submit at the centre.
Photo
Recent passport-size photograph(s)
See photo specification below — a mismatched photo is one of the most common rejection reasons.
Financial proof
Bank statements (last 3–6 months)
Personal or salary account statements showing consistent balance and activity.
Income Tax Returns (last 2–3 years)
ITR acknowledgement/computation for self-employed or salaried applicants.
Insurance
Travel/medical insurance
Minimum €30,000 coverage, valid across the entire Schengen area for the full duration of the trip, including repatriation. We link out to IRDAI-licensed insurance aggregators for comparison — we do not sell or advise on insurance.
Financial threshold
Proof of sufficient means of subsistence for the stay
France has historically referenced daily minimum resource figures (higher without prepaid accommodation, lower with it) — verify the current figure on the official France-Visas page before applying.
Photo specification
35mm × 45mm (biometric passport photo format)
Plain white/light grey background, no shadows, neutral expression
Taken within the last 6 months, matching current appearance; digital upload plus printed copies are commonly required.
Format quirks to watch for
- France-Visas requires the application to be completed online first — VFS/TLScontact submission is only the biometric + document-drop step.
- Supporting documents not in French/English may need certified translation.
- Long-stay and short-stay France visas use different portals and checklists — this checklist covers short-stay (Type C) tourism only.
Applying from a specific city?
Local jurisdiction and the nearest VFS centre can differ slightly by region.
Ready to plan the trip itself?
Build a day-by-day itinerary with refundable hotel search links for every night, then draft a cover letter that matches it.