Short Stay France Tourist Visa
If you are a Canadian citizen who intends to visit France, you are not required to obtain a France Tourist visa. However, if you are a non-Canadian citizen resident in Canada and do not come from a country that has a visa-free agreement with France, you must obtain a France Tourist visa to visit France.
To know more about the France Tourist visa, its eligibility requirements, the costs involved, or the services we offer, Total Law can help. Call us today on +1 844 290 6312 or message us online.
Do Canadians Need a French Tourist Visa?
Canadian citizens do not need to obtain a France Tourist visa to be allowed to enter France. The reason is that France is a member state of the Schengen area, and Canadian citizens are not restricted from entering any country in the Schengen area.
The length of stay for Canadian citizens who are granted visa-free entry into the Schengen area is only 90 days within a 180-day period; this is why the France Tourist visa is a Short-stay visa. But if you wish to remain in France beyond the stated 90 days, you must obtain a France visa that meets your travel purpose.
However, if you are not a Canadian citizen who resides in Canada and your country of birth does not have a visa-free agreement with France, you must obtain a France Tourist visa to enter the country. When you obtain a France Tourist visa (valid for 90 days within a 180-day period), you will be granted free entry into all the countries in the Schengen area during the validity period of the visa.
France Tourist Visa Application Requirements
Canadian residents who want to enter France for tourism, to visit family, etc. within 90 days must meet the following France Tourist visa requirements. They include:
- Two passport-sized photographs that are not older than 3 months.
- Copies of previous visas. You are required to bring copies of visas that have granted you entry into any other country in the past.
- Your valid Canadian international passport. You must have received it within the last 10 years. Additionally, it must be valid for at least an extra 3 months after the expiration of your France Tourist visa. The passport must bear at least 2 blank pages where your visa sticker will be affixed.
- Evidence of paid visa fees.
- Travel medical insurance worth €30,000 to cover your expenses while in France and other countries in the Schengen zone.
- France Tourist visa application form. Ensure you fill out the appropriate application form with the correct details as required.
- Proof of sufficient funds. This must prove that you have enough finances to cover your expenses while in France and other Schengen countries, you may have planned to visit during the validity of your France Tourist visa. To prove this, you must bring the bank statements you have obtained in the last 3 days covering the last 3 months, payslips, scholarship showing how much you will receive for your stay in France, etc.
- Criminal history. You must obtain a certificate of criminal record from the Canadian Police Information Centre. Your criminal record must prove that you do not have criminal charges against you in Canada. It must also prove that you are of good conduct.
- Travel itinerary. You are required to explain the plan of your trip to France, your arrival and expected departure dates along with proof of booked flight ticket back to Canada.
- Proof of accommodation. You must prove that you have a place to stay in France and that you will not become a burden to the French government. To prove this, you must present a hostel or hotel reservation, or an invitation letter from a friend or family member resident in France.
Providing all the needed documents for a France Tourist visa requires experience and attention to detail. Omitting a crucial document in your application might lead to a delay or in the worst-case scenario cause the refusal of your Tourist visa application.
This is why it is ideal to seek the assistance of an immigration lawyer to help you through the France Tourist visa application stages. Our immigration lawyers at Total Law are readily available to offer you the help you may need in any France visa application and to keep up with the France Tourist visa checklist. Call us today on +1 844 290 6312 or message us online.
France Tourist Visa Application Fees
Canadian citizens applying for a France Tourist visa must be willing to make the financial commitment that comes with it. The fees associated with the Tourist visa application include:
- €80 visa fee for adults.
- €40 visa fee for children below 12 years.
Besides these stated fees above, you are required to pay your biometric fees. Also, there may be additional administrative fees charged when private subcontracted companies handle the processing of visa applications.
How To Apply For a France Tourist Visa From Canada
Canadian citizens must follow a certain step-by-step guide to apply for a France Tourist visa. This includes:
Fill Out the France Tourist Schengen Visa Application Form
Canadian applicants seeking to obtain a France Tourist visa must locate and fill out the visa application form on the website of the French embassy in Canada. You may also choose to demand a form to be sent to you by the French embassy via email.
Complete the application form with the correct information as required. You may practice how to fill out the application form to avoid mistakes. Note that the information you fill out in this application form must be the same as other documents you submit, if not, your application will be rejected.
After completing the application form, you must print it out two times and have both copies duly signed.
Collect the Required Documents
Once you have completed the application form, gather the necessary documents needed for your Tourist visa application. Ensure you have both the original and a copy of every document. On the day of your appointment, ensure you come along with all the required documents. This is because any missing document could lead to your application being rejected.
Schedule an Appointment
After gathering the required documents, you must schedule an interview with a French embassy consular official. All Canadian applicants who are older than 12 are required to attend the interview. Visit the website of the French embassy or consulate in Canada to schedule the interview online.
Pay the Fees
As an applicant for a France Tourist visa, before you attend the appointment you scheduled at the French embassy or consulate in Canada, you are required to pay the visa fee of €80. The fees must be paid in Euros or the local currency depending on the embassy’s exchange rates.
Attend the Appointment
Ensure you attend the appointment you scheduled at the French embassy on time. If you do not arrive at the appointment punctually, your appointment may be cancelled and require you to fix another appointment at a later date. This will therefore prolong the time to get a decision on your application.
On the day of the appointment, you must dress responsibly and look a bit more formal. This interview often lasts less than 10 to 20 minutes, therefore, strive to remain composed. Prepare your documents ahead of time so you will not be holding a disorganised file when you meet with the consular official.
The interviewer will inquire about your journey to France, its aim, and other related matters. For French visas, applicants who are 12 years old or above are required to submit their visa applications in person. Also, at the appointment, your documents will be reviewed and your biometric information (fingerprints and photographs) will be needed.
Note that you may be exempted from attending a visa appointment if you have submitted your biometric information in a previous visa application within the last 59 months before this current application.
Follow-Up Your Application
After attending the France visa appointment, you are required to follow up on your Tourist visa application. When a decision is made regarding your visa application, you will be asked to come and collect it or it will be sent to you by postal services.
It typically takes up to 15 days for your visa application to be processed. However, in unique situations that require further justification of your submitted documents, the processing time may be delayed for up to 45 days.
Extending France Tourist Visa
Extension of short-stay Schengen visas is allowed. The France Tourist visa is a Schengen visa, and because of this, it can be extended, provided you have strong reasons to back up your application.
Below are some of the strong reasons that may be considered to extend your France Tourist visa:
Force Majeure
Before the expiration of your Tourist visa, if an unforeseen circumstance, such as war, extreme weather conditions, violent protest, etc. occurs you may be granted a visa extension.
Humanitarian Reasons
If you must remain in France for some humanitarian reasons you may be granted an extension of stay in the country. Some of these reasons could be to complete medical treatment, to take care of a disabled relative who totally depends on your daily support in France, etc.
Late Entry
There is a great likelihood that you will be granted a Tourist visa extension if you are not able to enter France for up to 2 weeks after your visa becomes valid.
How Total Law Can Help You
As a Canadian national, you are allowed to enter France visa-free and remain in the country for up to 90 days. You must obtain a France visa that aligns with your travel purpose if you wish to remain in the country for more than 90 days.
Gathering all the required documents for your France Tourist visa application could be tiresome and you must first meet the eligibility criteria for the visa. Our immigration lawyers at Total Law can assist you in preparing your documents appropriately and get you ready for your visa interview.
This is what we have done for several Canadian nationals who have successfully entered France. Allow us to help you secure your Tourist visa to France.
For more information about France Tourist visa from UK, how to apply, or other immigration-related questions, such as Tourist visa for France from India, call us today on +1 844 290 6312 or contact us online.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, obtaining a Tourist visa for France is easy, provided you meet all the requirements for the visa. This is why it is ideal to seek expert guidance from immigration lawyers at Total Law to help you navigate the application process and stand a better chance of having a favourable decision.
It typically takes about 15 days to obtain a Tourist visa for France.
From 2025, Canadian nationals entering France or other countries in the Schengen area are required to obtain an ETIAS travel authorization.
The French National visa is valid for up to 1 year or even more. Whereas the Schengen visas are valid for a 180-day period allowing the holder to remain in France or the Schengen region for up to 90 days.