France Visit Visa – Fees & Cost

France is the fifth most visited country in the world, after the UK, USA, China and Spain. The nation’s tourism contributes about €77.7 billion to the economy, 30% of which is due to international visits, according to information published on Wikipedia

The major attractions that draw tourists from all over the world are the nation’s fairytale castles, spectacular beaches, fashion industry, great cuisine and so much more. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, France has been on the top of the list for Most Popular Tourist Destination for 25 years now.

Related: How to apply for French visa

Planning a visit to this beautiful country begins with filling up the France Visa Application Form. Along with this, there is a non-refundable and mandatory Schengen Visa fee that needs to be paid.

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What’s the Fees for French Visa

The visa fee needs to be paid after submitting the application. A payment receipt is generated, you should keep safe since you will need to produce it, along with other documents, to complete the visa application process. 

Visa TypeFee in Euro
Airport Transit60
Short Stay Visa for French Overseas Department or Region60
Short Stay Visa for French Overseas Territories15
Student Visa50
Other Long Stay Visas99
Long Stay Visa for adopted child by a French Citizen15
Short Stay Visa for children35
Short Stay60
Visa for African Nationals60


The service charge differs from country to country, although it does not exceed €30 per application. Apart from this, a biometric fee is also included in the visa application procedure.

Things to Remember 

The visa fee has been synchronized by the Schengen countries. This means that it remains unchanged until mutually decided by the member nations. The Schengen Visa basically depends on the type of visa and the applicant’s age. If you are below 25 years of age and participating in seminars, educational and cultural events, conferences and so on, you might be exempted from paying the fee altogether.

Also read: Documents required for a French visa

It is crucial to remember that the visa fee is non-refundable, even if your visa has been denied. The fee can be paid at the French embassy of your home country via cash, debit or credit card. Paying by credit card, however, might not be allowed by some consulates.

French Visa Fee Exemptions

If you fall under any of these common categories, you are exempted from paying the fees:

  1. Family member of a citizen of another Schengen country. 
  2. Spouse of a French citizen. 
  3. Teaching assistants, language assistants and foreigners who teach French.
  4. A primary or secondary school student, traveling on a study visa. 
  5. Scientific researchers, teachers accompanying study groups and seasonal workers.
  6. Holders of French government or EU government study grants.
  7. Foreigner benefitting from Youth Mobility via the France-Canada Agreement. 

What to Do After Paying the Fee?

After you’ve submitted the form and documents, and paid the fees, you simply need to wait for a response regarding your visa. It can take 15-30 days for the visa to be processed, depending on the number of applications from your country at that time.

Meanwhile, you can track the status of your application here, by feeding in your receipt number and date of birth.

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