Updated August 2018
Applying Schengen Visa from French Embassy Online
The process in applying for Schengen Visa through the French Embassy has changed since I applied in 2007 and 2011. It is now more efficient with the submission of documents done online.
Every information you need is now available on the new France-Visas website. After filling the visa application form, you will be redirected to the on-line appointment and tracking systems of VFS Global.
Philippine passport holders are required Schengen visa to visit one or more of the states in the Schengen Region in Europe. This visa is valid in all Schengen states for a stay of up to 90 days within a six-month period for a visit, tourism or business. It is not valid for employment.
Schengen Region
The Schengen area consists of the ff countries
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, the Czech Republic.
As of 2014, valid Schengen visa (type: double or multiple entry), who have already entered the Schengen area, may travel to the following without additional visa and may stay for period equal to the remainder of the time for which the Schengen visa is valid.
– Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania
Philippine passport holders are required Schengen visa to visit one or more of these Member States. This visa is valid in all Schengen states for a stay of up to 90 days within a six-month period for a visit, tourism or business. It is not valid for employment.
When to apply for Schengen Visa?
Applications can be made earliest three (3) months before the planned entry.
How much is Schengen Visa?
The visa-processing fee is EUR 60. The fee is non-refundable even if application is unsuccessful.
What are the requirements in applying Schengen Visas?
1. Signed and filled up Schengen Visa Application Form (click this) with photo attached, plus 1 additional photo.
Photo Specification
- Color photo taken against white background;
- Clear and of good quality;
- Printed on normal photographic paper;
- 45 mm high x 35 mm wide in size
- Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or tinted spectacles, or a head covering
- The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows) and the applicant should be facing forwarding, looking straight ahead.
2. Valid passport with 3 months validity from the end of visa duration. Photo copy of valid and former visas, if any.
3. Cover letter explaining the purpose of your trip and detailed itinerary. If you don’t have this, you have to write one on the spot before they will accept your requirements. Here is the cover letter addressed to the Honorable Consul I made in 2007.
4. Details of your trip
- Round trip ticket reservation. Reservations only.
- Itinerary of the whole duration including departure and arrival dates.
- Accommodations – hotel vouchers, seriously. If you’re staying with a good friend who is a French resident/national, then you need them to provide you with something called Attestation d’accueil (Certificate of Board and Lodging) and your host’s national identity card or residence permit.
Why I said good friend? Because it’s a lot of trouble for them to get this. If you have a French national host, just cut and paste below list for the document you needed from them. These are basically records of their existence in France such as title of property or contract of lease, utility billing statement as address proof, bank statements, medical records, pay slip, and finally they have to go to the city hall to have all these certified. Like I said, lots of trouble. :)
The attestation d’accueil is a form needed to be presented to the City Hall with the following documents:
- la carte nationale d’identité ou le passeport, ou la carte de résidence
- livret de famille de l’hébergeant
- justificatifs de domicile (EDF-GDF, facture Télécom, facture Eau)
- titre de propriété (taxe foncière) ou de location (taxe d’habitation)
- contrat de bail ou descriptif du logement
- 2 derniers bulletins de salaires ou justificatifs divers de ressources mensuelles (retraite, CAF)
- dernier avis d’imposition ou de non imposition
- noms, prénoms de l’étranger, date et lieu de naissance, adresse exacte, n° du passeport et sa copie, copie du document justifiant le lien de parenté s’il y a lieu
- attestation d’assurance médicale de l’hôte
- un timbre spécifique dit « timbre OMI » d’un montant de 15 euros, il sera demandé à l’issue d’une réponse favorable. Disponible dans les perceptions et chez les buralistes.(Attention : il faut autant de timbres que de personnes accueillies sauf s’il s’agit de l’accueil d’une même famille avec des enfants mineurs).
5. Proof of employment
- Certificate of employment stating monthly salary and approved leave of absence.
- If self employed, official business registration for current and previous year.
6. Proof of Income
- Income Tax Return
- Recent Bank Certification
- Photocopy of the last 3 months statement of Account of the same bank account.
- If someone other than yourself is paying for the the trip, then submit financial document of the sponsor instead.
7. Identity / Marital Status:
- Photocopy of First page of Passport and all relevant obtained visas
- Authenticated birth certificate from NSO. If married, bring photocopy of your marriage contract.
8. Travel insurance that covers the entire duration of your intended stay with minimun coverage EUR 30,000. The medical policies must state the following points :
- Medical attention and treatment will be given in case of illness or accident
- The injured or ill traveller can be transported home for treatment + body repatriation in case of death
- The insurance coverage is a least 30 000 euros (50 000 US dollars)
- The insurance must be valid for all 25 Schengen member states which should be listed on the policy
- The insurance company must be re-insured, the name of the re-insurer and his TOLL FREE phone number must be listed on the policy
- The policy must allow CASHLESS SETTLEMENTS of claims. The name of the company in charge of such settlements and their toll free number must be clearly stated on the policy.
Where to Buy Travel Insurance in the Philippines
I used to buy insurance with an agent, but I now buy Travel Insurance through Pacific Cross, World’s Nomad
How long does it take for Schengen Visa to be released?
Related Visa Posts
How to Apply Australian Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Japan Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Chinese Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply UK Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Tongan Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Korean Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply South African Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Romanian Visa in the Philippines
Wanderlass,
Thank you very much for taking your time
to answer my questions by the way last question If I apply a visa for u.k naman can we submit the same papers Lang din?
He got a dual citizenship born in u.k and an australian citizen as well .
Very few people like you would like to share their knowledge sa visa consultation this question would cost you a lot regardless how many questions you ask.
By the way looking at hour passport picture I got exited Sarap Mag ka visa makes you feel free Amd more confident about your self.
Your a great person thank u for helping us your kababayan .
Wonderlass,
You think I have a good chance of getting a visa. If I would only submit an invitation letter from my partner sponsor who is just traveling in France? He’s bank financial statement 3 months and bank certificate? Hotel booming under our both names and round trip ticket reservation pls enlighten me you are truly very helpful
I believe it is possible to do that. He can write a letter stating that he is covering 100% of your expenses.
ask ko lang po if by how much kaya yung magagastos if magpapastamp ng passport sa isang particular na embassy. salamat!
Wanderlass Please Help. . . :(
This is about the paragraph at the bottom part of the form “The fields marked with * shall not be filled in by family members of EU, EEA or CH citizens (spouse, child or dependent ascendant) while exercising their right to free movement. Family members of EU, EEA or CH citizens shall present documents to prove this relationship and fill in fields no 34 and 35.”
Ask ko kung sino ba ang mag fill up ng may *, ako ba or yung uncle ko? siya yung magshoulder skin dun. Visit Visa ang ina aplayan. Please help, limited nlang ang hours left ko and dito ako sa work bawal mag net. Patakas lang ako. huhuhuu HELP!
Tom na interview ko. Salamat
leave it blank ….. gaya sakin
Salamat… pinabalik ako kc ala ako travel insurance. San kayo nagpurchased and how much? 1 month lang ako dun…
ung akin nasa 2K for 22 days.. sa ‘Chartis’ chuchu…
Please help me pls… tomorrow na interview ko and I’m not that prepared. . . This is about the paragraph at the bottom part of the form “The fields marked with * shall not be filled in by family members of EU, EEA or CH citizens (spouse, child or dependent ascendant) while exercising their right to free movement. Family members of EU, EEA or CH citizens shall present documents to prove this relationship and fill in fields no 34 and 35.”
Ask ko kung sino ba ang mag fill up ng may *, ako ba or yung uncle ko? siya yung magshoulder skin dun. Visit Visa ang ina aplayan. Please help, limited nlang ang hours left ko and dito ako sa work bawal mag net. Patakas lang ako. huhuhuu HELP!
Guys ask ko lang about dun sa application form, kayo ba lahat mag fill up nun or may portion na ang host ang magfil up like sa questions 32-35. Please help dku kasi maintindihan eh… sa 15 na ang interview ko. Salamat
hi!wanderlass..
i need your golden advice..pls..im here in taiwan working as factory worker now..and i plan to spend a 5-day holiday at Brussels,Belgium in between my job here.Would it be possible for me to apply my schengen visa here?or should be at philippines?departure ticket is here but arrives at phils..would it be possible for me to do that?thank you soo much..il wait for your reply..
if u have a proper working visa in Taiwan and is considered as a resident of some sort, you can apply visa in Taiwan.
ask ko lang kung uncle ko from france ang magsponsor s akin. kailangan p ng proof of income ko.
la din kc ko malaking account s bank eh. kaya medyo kabado ko s pag-apply ng visa.
if he states he will cover u 100% then u don’t need to
thanks for the reply ms.lil. ask ko lang din ano mga kailangan kong hingin s uncle ko. same as above dn po b requirements
apply ako ng visa s france. ask ko lang uncle ko din magsponsor s akin. same lang din b reqts
Wow haba ng comments. I have applied for National Visa in Austria… purpose Marriage to Austrian Citizen… I was interviewed last June 21, 2011 pang three weeks na nya bukas hay… kahit may sponsor ako at kahit di ko na kailangan ng proof na uuwi ako ng pinas… still the embassy asked me my proof of employment, bank certificates, accounts activities within six months ang higpit ng mga embassy ngayon. I worked online so I just submitted my paypal account for the last one year. i wasn’t prepared kasi about the proof of income kasi sponsored naman ako. hay que horror talaga mga embassy.. sana lang ma-approve ako… yung friend ko netherland nagpunta mas maluwag ang netherland sa tourist visa factory worker lang yung friend ko tapos may sponsor naapprove sya..
to bhety ,
di kc strikto ang netherlands embassy , sakin din naapproved agad tourist sponsor my bf and soon plan to settle down but di ko sinabi sa embassy tht we are planning kc alam ko ma disapproved yun…kumpleto kc papers ko from bank statement and to my stand alone business kaya na grant agad kahit 20k lng pero ko sa bank… and sa host ko kumpleto din ang papers nya ung invitation letter na written talaga sa host mo plus ung sponsorship na galing sa government nila na iniinvite ka talaga …… gudluck sau …
to atash,
got confused with the original sponsorship thingy…did ur bf downloaded the sponsorship on the neds website requirements for visiting friends/family and he signed and their city hall stamped and signed by them?
Hi Atasha,
Same din kasi tau sa netherland embassy ung appointment ko next month after we get married here sa Pinas. Panu un kasi sabi ng fiance ko mag file lang ako dito ng visa pero mag stay na ako dun for good kasi kasal naman kami. Confused lang ako.