The question of what type of visa the Canadian citizen should apply for in order to visit France has always created debates between travel agencies and consulates. The truth is that the answer changes depending on where you are, and if you plan to travel just for vacation or for business as well.The present article is meant to familiarize you with the details of applying for a French visa for Canadians.

The French visa for Canadian citizens has always been a great opportunity for the people of Canada who want to live and enjoy in France. The French citizens have never had any difficulty in issuing the visa for Canada and the process is always been very smooth.

Temporary provisions on the issuance of visas

French Visa For Canadian Citizens

Please note that the information below takes precedence over the general information that follows.

Only visa applications submitted by people falling within the categories appearing on the international travel certificate to France may be processed by the French Consulate in Montreal.

Applicants not falling into these categories must postpone their travel plan.

The appointments scheduling process remains the same. The appointment at one of the reception centers of our VFS provider (Montreal, Toronto Ottawa, Vancouver) must be made after the online pre-request on France Visas website.

Social distancing measures and use of protective equipment are put in place to preserve everyone’s health. The wearing of a mask is compulsory in all centers and hand washing will be requested at the entrance. Access will be denied to people with symptoms of COVID.

It is recommended that applicants choose to receive their passport back by mail in order to avoid another trip to the center.

The possible issuance of a visa does not guarantee the possibility of immediate entry into the territory, which remains governed by the restrictions applicable at the borders. Before applying for a visa, it is recommended to check whether you are authorized to enter France.

The current processing time for visa requests is 30 days.

Submit your application at a visa centre for France, in Canada

The reception of visa applicants is provided by VFS Global Centers in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa.

Visa applications submitted in Canada are examined by the French Consulate in Montreal.

• Appointment and processing times vary depending on the number of applicants and the season. Users are therefore advised to anticipate in order to obtain their appointment at least 1 month before their departure.
• Applications cannot be submitted more than 6 months before the departure date for short stay visa applications and more than 3 months before the departure date for long stay visa applications.

To make an appointment and find information about visa application centers, please check the “Whom should I contact ?” section.

For all special cases (beneficiaries of France-Canada youth mobility agreement, holders of official or diplomatic passports) please refer to the section “Particular situations”.

Visa wizard

Visa application

Submit application

Tracking application

Applying for a Schengen Visa from Canada  

If you are a Canadian citizen, you do NOT need a Schengen visa for France. However, if you are a non-Canadian citizen and are currently living in Canada on a permanent basis, you DO need to apply for a visa for France. You can do this easily from Canada as long as you can prove you have a legal right to remain in the country.

Where to apply for a France Schengen visa

France Schengen visas are processed by the French Consulates-General in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. However, you will apply through France-Visas’ website and submit your application to VFS Global based in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver or Ottawa.

Therefore, you can choose which office to submit your application to depending on where you reside in Canada.

Types of Schengen visas offered at the Consulate General of France

There are 3 types of visas you may apply for and the one you choose will depend on the reason and duration of your trip:

1. Schengen visa: for tourism, business, or visiting family or friends for up to 90 days
2. Airport Transit visa: if you are passing through the international transit areas of airports situated in France or any other country in the Schengen area
3. National visa: for over 90 days for employment, study, research, family reunification or residence

How to Apply for a Schengen Visa from France-Visas

It is recommended that you apply at least 1 month before you plan to travel to France. You may apply up to 3 months ahead, so the earlier the better! The last thing you want is to apply too late and risk your application not being processed in time.

France-Visas has everything you need to know about applying for a visa, so check their website before you begin. They recommend that you:

1. Gather information on your situation – you can use their visa wizard to determine whether you need a visa. The wizard will also give information on what documents you need and the required fee. Just follow the instructions and key in the requested information

Then, once you’ve done that, follow these 5 easy steps to follow to help you apply for your visa:

Step 1: Complete your application form

To complete your application form, go to the Embassy of France’s website and click on the link for France-Visas:

Then, click on: “Start your visa application”:On the next screen, read the instructions and click on: “Access the visa application”:

Then, you’ll need to create a new account before you log in to complete your application form:

Step 2: Make an appointment

Making appointments with the embassy, consulate or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, the visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below.

1. Go to France-Visas website again and click on: “Submit your application”
2. Select your continent and location
3. Click on the link where it says: “Whom should I contact?”
4. Then, select the visa application center you wish to submit your application to and click on: “Book an appointment”
5. You will have to register as a new user before logging in
6. You’ll then be able to make a convenient appointment

Step 3: Prepare your documents

The visa wizard on France-Visas website will give you a list of documents that you need to submit, so it’s advisable to use this tool before you start to prepare your documents. If you fail to provide anything that is required, your visa application may be rejected.

You should also prepare photocopies as well as providing the original documents, so don’t forget to do that too!

Documents include:

1. Visa application form – completed and signed
2. Passport photographs
3. Passport  – must be valid for at least three months after the date of departure from the Schengen zone, at least two empty pages and issued no more than 10 years ago
4. France-Visas receipt for your online application
5.  Proof of residence in Canada
6. Travel itinerary/airline reservation or detailed itinerary with tour operator’s name
7. Proof of Schengen travel medical insurance
8. Proof of financial means bank statements – and pay slips or pension statements for the last 3 months
9. Reservation of a hotel or sufficient resources to cover hotel expenses (to the amount of €120/day) or a tenancy agreement or certificate of ownership. If staying with a private individual: proof of accommodation (Cerfa form)
10. Proof of socio-professional status (e.g. employment contract, certificate of employment, extract from the trade and companies’ register, school attendance certificate, proof of pension) and any documents demonstrating the applicant’s personal links to the country of residence (e.g. copy of marriage certificate, family record book)
11. Letter of invitation along with host’s ID and/or residence permit (if applicable)