Transit Visa France 2026
If you are planning a trip with a layover in France, you might have to apply for a Transit Visa.
A correctly filled application is important to ensure a less uncertain process that might leave you having to change your travel plans. At Total Law, our immigration experts can help you avoid last-minute troubles and improve your chances of securing a France Transit Visa. Call us at +44 (0)333 305 9375 or use our online contact form.
Page Contents
What is a France Transit Visa?
A transit visa is a form of short-term immigration authorisation that allows international travellers to enter a country for a limited time (usually 24-72 hours), if they have to leave the international transit area or pass through customs to catch a connecting flight.
Certain countries mandate an airport transit visa even for those travellers who remain inside the international transit area of an airport without passing through border controls.
If you are travelling to a non-Schengen country via the Schengen area and have a layover in an international airport located in any of the Schengen countries (such as France in this context), you may need to apply for an airport transit visa (ATV), also known as the type A Schengen visa, unless you are exempt.
ATV also applies to those who serve as an aircraft staff member or plan to join a ship in France (Seafarer’s Transit Visa). It falls within the Short-Stay Visa category and is valid for 24 hours.
There are three types of ATV:
- One-way ATV: It allows the concerned international traveller one-way transit through France
- Return ATV: It authorises the traveller for return airport transit through one or two Schengen countries including France
- Multiple ATV: Holders are allowed several transits through one or more Schengen countries including France
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Who Needs an Airport Transit Visa in France?
Overview
For a short layover in any of France’s 30-plus international airports, you may (or may not) have to apply for an ATV depending on certain factors, such as:
- Your nationality
- Your eligible family member’s nationality
- Your passport type
- The passport (or equivalent travel document) issuing authority
- Your refugee status (if any)
- Any eligible visa/residency permit you may hold, etc.
Who Needs an A-type Airport Transit Visa to Enter France?
Foreign nationals holding any of the following passports or travel documents will have to apply for an ATV in France:
- An ordinary, service or special passport issued by any of the following countries:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka
- An ordinary passport issued by any of the following countries:
Angola, Bolivia, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, the Philippines (unless you are a seafarer, the Republic of Guinea, the Republic of the Congo, Russia (if you are travelling from an airport in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Turkey, or Egypt), Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Turkey, Uzbekistan
- A service passport issued by the Republic of Guinea
- A travel document for Palestinian refugees
- A travel document for Palestinian refugees issued by the Egyptian, Lebanese or Syrian authorities
Who Can Transit Through France Without a Visa?
Holders of a diplomatic passport are exempt from applying for a France Transit Visa. In addition, you also don’t need an ATV if you:
- Are an eligible family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss national
- Hold a valid Schengen visa, a national long-stay (‘D’) visa, or a residence permit issued by any of the Schengen countries
- Hold a valid residence permit issued by any of the EU or EEA member states
- Are an aircraft crew member
You will be exempt from applying for an ATV in France provided you hold a valid residence permit issued by Monaco, the Principality of Andorra, Japan, Canada, the UK, the US, the Republic of San Marino, or by one or more countries or public bodies from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Likewise, you will be exempt from applying for an ATV in France if you hold a valid visa issued by an EU/EEA member state, Canada, the US, Japan, or by one or more abovementioned countries or public bodies from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
How to Apply for a France Transit Visa?
French visa application is an online process, but you will be required to physically attend a visa appointment at your country of residence.
Start with establishing whether you will need an ATV for a short layover in France. Visit the france-visas.gouv.fr site to check through the visa wizard app if you need an ATV or not as well as what supporting documents you may need in case you are required to apply for an ATV. The visa wizard app will also tell you about the visa processing fees you will have to pay.
Once you have determined that you will need an ATV for France, start collecting your required supporting documents. Before you begin with the online application, you must have your current and valid passport (or the equivalent travel document), two recent photos in ISO/IEC format (.pdf), and soft copies of all your other supporting documents ready with you.
- Start filling in your online application form. You will first need to create a France-Visas account with your valid email ID. This account will be required at each step of your ATV application process
- Book an appointment at your local French visa application centre (VAC). Ensure to schedule your appointment on a date that is well ahead of your departure date, to allow the French visa processing authorities sufficient time to review your application
- Submit your application form to your local VAC on your scheduled appointment date. Carry all your required documents with you. They will review your application, and collect the visa fee and your biometric data
- The VAC will forward your original passport and the copies of your supporting documents to the French consular authorities for visa processing
Supporting Documents for France Transit Visa Application
You will be required to submit relevant documents along with your ATV application form. You will have to provide a few personal details (like your nationality, age, country of residence, etc.), your immigration reason(s), and your proposed length of stay on the visa wizard app to get a list of required supporting documents.
We have provided below a general list of documents for your reference. However, this is not an exhaustive list by any means. French immigration authorities may ask you for additional documents or information depending on your personal circumstances.
For an ATV, you will need the following:
- Valid passport, residence permit, or travel document not older than ten years and recognised by the French authorities. (The expiry date of the passport should be a minimum of 3 months beyond the return date.)
- A correctly filled and signed Short-Stay Visa application form
- Two recent passport-sized photos
- Valid visa to the destination country
- Copy of confirmed round-trip air tickets
- Photocopy of the National Identity Card
- Supporting documents proving that you won’t stop over in the Schengen countries.
- Cover letter explaining the reason for travelling to the destination country. If related to work, the cover letter should be signed by the employer.
- A list of family members or children living far from the home country of the candidate (if required)
- Parental authorisation or legal representative’s agreement to leave the territory (notarial act) for minors.
France Transit Visa Cost and Processing Time
A France Transit Visa application costs €90, which should be paid when submitting your documents. However, there are exemptions.
Usually, applicants aged 12 and above are required to pay the full fee amount, while you will pay a reduced fee for children aged 6-11 years. No fees are required for children under six. Moreover, the fee for visa applicants and holders of a biometric passport from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, and Ukraine is €35.
ATV applications are usually processed within 15 calendar days from the date of submission of your documents and biometrics. However, if your respective French embassy or consulate is receiving a higher volume of visa applications at the time or if your case is complex, the timeline may increase up to 30-45 days. Do not make travel arrangements until the visa is approved.
How Total Law Can Help
At Total Law, we understand the intricacies of securing a France Transit Visa. Our experienced immigration lawyers possess immense, up-to-date knowledge of the French immigration system and the Transit Visa France requirements.
So, if you’re planning a trip with a layover in France, we can help you correctly fill out and submit your Transit France Visa application to minimise the chances of refusal. If you are seeking overall advice with your French ATV application or would like an immigration expert to complete it on your behalf, we are here for you.
We also offer document and application checking support if you just need a final check to confirm that your documents and application adhere to the French ATV guidelines. Call us today at +44 (0)333 305 9375 or contact us through our online chat.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
FAQ
A layover is a short stop (less than 24 hours) during a trip where the passengers remain in the airport, waiting for a connecting flight. Transit is when the passengers have to change aircraft in a foreign airport and go through immigration procedures.
No, a Transit Visa isn’t required for all layovers in a French airport. Whether you would need a visa to transit France will depend on your nationality, the type of visa you hold, plus the laws of the destination country.
The French embassy allows most applicants to complete and submit the application form and documents through their online portal. Those who prefer offline processing can find visa centres authorised by the French embassy in their respective countries.
