To apply for a visa to France as a Canadian, you will need to go through a third party called VFS Global. They are the agency contracted by the French government to administer visa applications. We did encounter a few issues along the way, so here are our tips and tricks to help get things done smoothly.
VFS offers a step-by-step guide to make the process simpler.
Find Your Visa Type
Make sure you carefully read the full description of each visa type. You could be applying for either a short-stay uniform Schengen visa or a long-stay national visa. We applied for a long-stay national visa and were granted 11 months.
Begin Your Application
If you are applying for yourself and your family, you will need to submit a joint application. Each family member must complete a full application, but all applications need to be submitted under one account. We were told that not doing it this way could slow down the process.
Book an Appointment at VFS (or Pay Ridiculous Fees)
You can either drop off your application in person (with an appointment) or request a home pickup. We opted for the in-person option, as home pickup would have cost over $350 per person, in addition to the application fees.
Appointments are basically impossible to get, so be patient and check the website daily until a slot opens up. We eventually had to send an email because we couldn’t find an available appointment.
VFS has offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. We ended up making a trip to Montreal while visiting family.
When to Apply
You can only apply for your visa within the three months prior to your departure. In my opinion, the sooner the better—French administration is known for being slow.
Prepare for Drop-Off
Before your appointment, make sure you have ALL—and I mean all—required documents ready. They will not accept your application if even one small item is missing. VFS charged us $2 per photocopy, so be sure to do all your photocopies before end.
- Passport photocopies: You need copies of every page containing text, stamps, signatures, or photos.
- Supporting documents: Whether it’s banking or insurance proof, you will need a copy for each applicant—including your kids.
- School registration: If you’ve registered your children in school, bring proof. We were told this could help the process. A simple confirmation email from the school principal is sufficient.
- Photos: You must provide French visa photos, which are different from standard passport photos. Most places that offer passport photos can do these as well.
- Insurance: Make sure your travel insurance meets the requirements listed on the application form. Most policies do, but it’s worth double-checking.
- Proof of funds and employment: You’ll need proof of funds in your bank account, pay slips from the last three months, and a letter of employment (pay slips alone do not count as proof of employment).
- Letter of intention: This letter must clearly explain your intentions in France. Be sure to emphasize your ties to your home country and that your stay is temporary. French administration is very cautious about immigration and wants reassurance that you do not intend to settle permanently.
Day of Drop-Off
After reading online reviews of VFS, we expected the experience to be terrible. While it’s true that they are very strict and inflexible, keep in mind that they are simply a third party enforcing French government rules.
Honestly, if you are well prepared and show up with a smile, you shouldn’t have any problems. We actually ended up bonding with the agent—making jokes and small talk while he checked our documents. Don’t be a Karen, and you’ll be just fine!