Schengen Visa France

As one of the prominent countries of the Schengen region, France is visited by a large number of individuals from the UAE for travel, education, work, and other purposes. However, before initiating the application process, you would first need to be aware of whether you require a Schengen visa to enter the country.

Owing to the arrangements between the UAE and the Schengen countries, a Schengen visa France is not a requisite for all travellers travelling from UAE although some individuals will necessarily need it. In this article, we will focus on the Schengen visa for France, France Schengen visa requirements, travel insurance for Schengen visa France, and other related details.

Do You Need Schengen Visa for France?

UAE citizens with valid passports can enter France or any of the Schengen countries and stay for up to 90 days without a Schengen visa. However, if you stay in the UAE but don’t have a valid passport or if you are a national of a country without a visa-free arrangement with the Schengen region, it would be mandatory for you to get a Schengen visa.

In this article, we have focused on individuals who need a Schengen visa for France -

• UAE passport holders who have been denied visa-free entry to the Schengen area formerly 
• Nationals of any countries which don’t have a visa-free tie-up with the Schengen countries 
• Foreigners residing in the UAE on a permanent or temporary residence permit

Requirements to Apply for France Schengen Visa

Even though UAE citizens with a valid passport travelling to France for up to 90 days don’t require a visa, they must carry a few documents with them while travelling such as-

• A valid original UAE passport or a travel document (it must be valid for a minimum of 3 months beyond their stay in France)
• Valid documents stating the purpose of the visit
• Proof of financial sources to arrange different funds during your stay in France

How to Apply for Schengen Visa for France?

If you have already planned your visit to France from UAE, here’s a detailed process on how you can apply for a Schengen visa France –

• Examine when to send your Schengen visa France application. It is suggested to apply for the visa at least a month or more prior to your travel date. This is because the concerned authorities require sufficient time to process and evaluate your visa application.
• If you wish to apply for the Schengen visa France early, make sure not to submit the application before 6 months of your trip
• Select the type of Schengen visa type you want to avail of by choosing a visa type as per the purpose of your visit to the country from the available options
• Once done, opt for the entry category. For instance, if you choose the multiple entry one, you will be able to arrive and depart the country multiple times.
• Reach out to the French embassy located in Abu Dhabi or apply online from any of the recognised online visa application portals.
• Fill out the Schengen visa France application – there is an option to apply for the visa online as well
• Fix an appointment with the French embassy and carry all the essential documents to avoid any trouble during the process
• Complete the interview process and wait till you get notified by the embassy authorities about the approval or rejection of your Schengen visa France.

Documents Required for Schengen Visa France

You can keep the following documents ready when applying for a Schengen visa France –

• Visa Application Form: The application form must be entirely filled out with accurate information. Make sure to print two copies of the application form and sign them.
• Valid Passport: Your passport must be less than 10 years old and must be valid even after your France trip ends
• Two Photographs: As per the guidelines, you must carry photographs that are no older than three months
• Proof of UAE Residence Permit: The validity of the residence permit must last for a minimum of 3 months after you plan to depart from the Schengen country
• France Travel Itinerary: This must include all the details about your flight tickets from UAE to France as well as for the return journey
• Accommodation Proof: The documents for this may include your hotel booking, home rental information, accommodation invitation arranged by your host, and more
• Cover Letter: The cover letter must describe the reason for your visit to the Schengen country, the entire duration of your stay, and all other related information
• Proof of Financial Support: This is required to show that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in the Schengen country. Some of the documents applicable for this are –
  • Bank Account Statement: You may be required to present your bank account statements for the previous three months
  • Sponsorship Letter: The sponsorship letter is provided by individuals or organisation who will provide you with funds to support your trip to the Schengen country. Keep in mind that the sponsor may also need to provide their bank statements for the previous three months.
  • Travel Insurance Policy Documents: You must also have a travel insurance plan when travelling to a Schengen country. This travel insurance must have a minimum coverage of 30,000 Euros.

Do I Need Travel Insurance for France Schengen Visa?

Travel insurance is a must-have when applying for the Schengen visa France. As per the Schengen guidelines, individuals requiring a Schengen visa France will also need a travel insurance plan that has a minimum coverage amount of EUR 30,000 and is valid across all the Schengen countries.

Here’s what you can get covered for with Schengen travel insurance –

• Trip Cancellation and Curtailment: If an unexpected situation results in the cancellation of your flight and hotel bookings, a Schengen visa France travel insurance policy can reimburse the non-refundable amount for your flight and hotel bookings.
• Emergency Medical Expenses: During your travel to the Schengen country, a travel insurance policy will provide you coverage against any medical emergency and cover medical expenses including hospital-related bills, transportation for care, treatment, and more.
• Loss of Personal Possessions: Personal belongings like wallets, passports, luggage, or visas may get stolen or lost during a trip. In such instances, travel insurance can help you recover those items or arrange replacements with its coverage.
• Personal Accident Cover: Accidents and bodily injuries, often arising during a trip, are usually more difficult to manage considering the unfamiliar surrounding as well as high treatment costs. Getting yourself secured with insurance can save you a lot of money, as your insurance plan can cover all the expenses involved in the treatment for the same.
• Personal Liability Cover: If your (unintentional) actions result in third-party damages or injuries, your travel insurance plan can come in handy. With the personal liability cover, you can expect financial assistance from your provider with respect to the legal fees, third-party compensation, and more.
• Delayed Departure: Your insurance provider can cover you and provide compensation for the inconvenience caused due to delayed flights, whether due to technical fault, bad weather, or any other such reason.
• COVID-19 Coverage: If the policyholder tests positive for COVID-19, their travel insurance plan can cover the expenses resulting from the disease including RT-PCR testing, treatment, quarantine, and more.

Processing Time for the France Schengen Visa

Generally, the processing of the Schengen visa France takes around 15 days. However, the Schengen visa France processing time could extend beyond the specified duration due to various reasons such as criminal history in your profile, unclear statement of purpose for your travel, an excessive number of applications received at a time, and more.

When Should You Apply for Schengen Visa to France?

If you wish to apply for a Schengen visa France, you can submit the visa application form before 6 months of your journey date. The latest you can apply for the Schengen visa for France is 15 days. However, it is always recommended to initiate the process as early as possible to avoid any later hassle.

Schengen Visa to France Fees

How Long is Your France Schengen Visa Valid?

There are primarily two types of Schengen visas available for travelling to France – Type C and Type D visas. The validity of your Schengen visa France depends on your chosen category –

• Type C: This type of visa allows a stay of up to 90 days and can be availed as a single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visa. It’s crucial to note here that the latter-most visa can be valid for up to 5 years. However, even with it, you would be able to stay in the region only for a maximum of 90 days within each 180-day segment of the tenure. 
• Type D: Suitable for individuals planning to stay in France for a prolonged duration, the Type D visa has a maximum validity of 1 year

Key Takeaways

While most UAE citizens can visit France and other Schengen countries without a Schengen visa for up to 90 days, the mentioned type of visa would be required in some cases due to nationality, tenure of stay, and other reasons. While applying for a Schengen visa France, you must be aware of all the fees, documents required, and visa types to have a seamless application experience. 

As travel insurance is an integral part of your travel from UAE to France, you should get only the best travel insurance for your journey. This can be easily achieved at policybazaar.ae, where you can find a wide range of insurance products and select one that suits your requirement. You can easily browse through our website and find the best travel insurance plans at reasonable prices. For any further queries, you can also reach out to our 24*7 customer care support through call or email.

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