Visas for France
Please Note: The French Consulate in Chicago in no longer accepting third-party submissions; you must appear in person for a French Visa.
Call: 312-327-5229.
US Passport Holders do not require a visa to France for short tourist or business trips. Please call us if you have special circumstances. This information is for non-US Passport Holders with residency in the US.
FRANCE participates in the Schengen Visa program. The countries of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden have agreed to simplify the visa process by issuing one visa which allows for travel to all fifteen countries. It is required that the applicant apply to the country of main destination or the country where the applicant is staying the longest. If duration of stay is equal for all countries, the visa application is made through the country of first entry.
Step 1: Have a Valid Passport
You must have a passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining and visa pages available for the visa stamp. If you need to obtain a United States Passport, renew a US Passport or add pages, we can help you with that - click "Get a US Passport" above.
Step 2: Complete France application
This file contains the application you will need to complete.
Note: 2 application forms and 3 photographs are required for citizens of the following countries : Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Azerbaidjan, Bahrein, Egypt, United Arabs Emirats, Irak, Jordan, North Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lybia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, as well as holders of re-entry permits and refugee travel documents.
3 application forms and 4 photographs for citizens of Algeria and Iran.
Click the icon below for the application:
Step 3: Assemble Documents
We will take your documents to the Consulate of France and once the visa is completed, the applicant must pick it up in person.
There may be occasions when the Consulate will want to see additional documentation; AVS will contact you as soon as we are notified of any problems. We cannot always predict what additional items the Consulate may need to see.
In addition to your completed application, you must provide the following:
| For All Applicants |
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+ Valid Passport - see Step 1. Please sign the passort
+ 2 Passport-type Photos - 2 inches x 2 inches, color photos on a white background. See note above - some passports require more photos
+ Original Alien Registration Card ("Green Card"), or other US visa plus a copy of the front and back of card
+ Proof of socio-professional status - letter of employment in the U.S confirming your salary, hire date, position and dates of vacation (business registration if self employed) + your last 2 paystubs or letter from your school or university confirming and enrollment status and attendance + 1 photocopy of each
+ Financial guarantee - your last 2 bank statements + 1 photocopy
+ Original of the confirmed itinerary +1 photocopy . The Consulate reserves the right to request the original of the airline tickets. If you have open tickets, please have the airline company put a sticker with the dates of travel.
+ Proof of medical coverage abroad - a letter from your insurance company stating that you are covered abroad or a travel insurance to be purchased from a travel agency + 1 photocopy
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| For tourism |
For business |
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+ Confirmed hotel reservations for your entire stay in Schengen states or a letter from your travel agent stating that you are part of a tour. If you are staying with friends or family: original of "Attestation d'Accueil" that your host has to request at the City Hall (Mairie) in France + 1 photocopy
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+ Original business letter on company letterhead signed by Senior Management (other than the applicant) stating the following:
- complete name, address and phone number of contact in France
- how long the applicant has been employed by the company
- length and purpose of visit
- statement of financial responsibility
- mention of round trip tickets
(Click here for a sample business letter)
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| For non-US Passports |
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+ Copy (front & back) of Alien Registration Card ("Green Card"), or copy of other US visa
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Important Notes
Remember that after we sumit your application, you must pick the completed visa up in person.
Applicants under 18, traveling without parents: notarized copy of birth certificate, notarized authorization from both parents allowing travel or notarized authorization from one parent if minor is traveling with only one parent + 1 photocopy. In cases of divorce, certified copy of divorce decree stating full custody.
Step 4: Place order and send documents
Once you have completed the application, gathered all the necessary documents and review any Important Notes you are ready to place you order with American Visa Service.
Please note: For French visas choose "Provide your own airbill/Pick up in our office" as your shipping option of you will be charged $20.
Enter your departure date and type of processing requested below and this will generate the cost of the request. If you are paying by credit card (Vis , MC, or Amex) follow the instruction below. If you are paying by check or need more than one type of service, generate the cost below then click HERE to proceed.
