France, officially French Republic,a country of northwestern Europe. Historically and culturally among the most important nations in the Western world, France has also played a highly significant role in international affairs, with former colonies in every corner of the globe.
Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, the Alps and the Pyrenees, France has long provided a geographic, economic, and linguistic bridge joining northern and southern Europe. It is Europe’s most important agricultural producer and one of the world’s leading industrial powers.
The Schengen Visa is a visa for the Schengen Area, which consists of most of the European Economic Area, plus several other adjacent countries. The visa allows visitors to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
The visa is valid for tourism, family visits, and business trips or to reside in France permanently. Most Ghanaians can travel to France without restrictions. Depending on the purpose of your travel to France, there are different types of visas that will apply to the occasion.
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Types of France Visa
Short-stay France Visa
France uses the Uniform Schengen category C visa as its short-stay visa. This is valid for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. It can be granted for tourism, business trips, short-term study, family visits, medical care, and short-term work-related purposes. The Schengen visa allows you to travel around the Schengen Area for its duration.
Temporary long-stay France Visa
Temporary long-stay France visas (VLS-TS) are valid for up to one year and are non-renewable. If you come to France on a VLS-TS and want to stay longer than a year, you will need to apply for a France residence permit and meet the criteria for extending your stay.
The VLS-TS acts as a temporary residence permit in France. You need to validate this permit within three months of arriving in France. Once you complete the validation process, you can travel freely around the Schengen Area for the duration of your permit.
Long-term France Visa
General long-stay France visas are for any stays lasting longer than a year. Typically, the initial visa is granted for one year. After this, you need to obtain a longer-term residence permit from your local préfecture. Sometimes you may initially get the temporary VLS-TS if your stay may not last beyond a year. You can then apply for a residence permit if you end up staying beyond a year, providing you meet the necessary criteria.
How to apply for France visa from Ghana
Step 1: Ghanaian citizens need to get a visa for France by going to the nearest embassy.
Step 2 : Fill out the application form for France completely and with sincerity. You can also fill out the Visa application form electronically and then print a hard copy.
Step 3: After filling, provide the required documents with your passport and make the payment and submit your visa application at the embassy of France.
Step 4: Once the visa application for France is approved, you will be notified by the e-mail you provided.
Step 5: Pick up your passport from France embassy.
Step 6: You can now travel to France and stay for the duration on your visa. You are advised to apply for this visa at most 3 months before the intended travel date.
General required documents for a France Visa Application:
- Download the France Visa Application form, and fill it out completely and with sincerity. You can also fill out the France Schengen Visa application form electronically and then print a hard copy.
- Photos must be attached; the photo should be of passport format – a recent whole-face capture with a light background. Learn more about photo requirements and specifications for a French Visa.
- Your passport and copies of your previous visas – valid for at least 3 months beyond the return date– are required. Your passport must have at least two blank pages.
- A copy of your return ticket reservation. It is not recommended to purchase the ticket before obtaining the visa – if not otherwise required.
- Travel visa insurance confirmation of minimum 30,000 € coverage within France and the entire Schengen area. In order to apply for a French visa, the French embassy/consulate requires a Schengen travel insurance policy that is valid in all Schengen countries. French embassy/consulate also requires the confirmation of coverage letter as the proof of coverage to be submitted along with other requested documents and France visa application.
- A cover letter stating the purpose of a visit to France and itinerary
- Flight ticket reservations. Find out how to get a flight reservation for France Visa Application without paying for the actual flight.
- Proof of accommodation for your entire stay in France. Book a hotel in France online!
- Proof of civil status (marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, ration card if applicable)
Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay. As the European Commission specifies, any foreigner seeking to enter France, since 19 June 2014, when applying for a France visa must be able to attest to the France Embassy or Consulate possessing the daily money amount of 120€ if holding no proof of prepaid accommodation.
However, if the applicant has a prepaid hotel, then this amount reduces to 65€/daily for the period of covered hotel accommodation, while the rest is 120€. Also, in case the applicant proves cheaper forms of accommodation the amount decreases to 32.25€/ day.
French Visa Application Fee
A fee applies to each applicant who submits a French visa application.
Regular application fees for submitting a French visa application:
- If required a short-stay or airport transit visa for France the application fee is 60€ (unless otherwise stated on the visa sticker)
- If required a short-stay or airport transit visa for a French Overseas Department or Region the application fee is 60€
- If required a short-stay or airport transit visa for a French Overseas Territories the application fee is 9€
- If required a long-stay visa for France the application fee is 99€
- If required a national long-stay student for French territory the application fee is 50€
- If required a national long-stay visa for France and other French territorial areas, for a foreign child legally adopted by French citizens the application fee is 15€.