If you’re a Turkish citizen wanting to go to France from Türkiye, whether it’s for a vacation or to study or live there, having a valid visa is essential. Visas are needed every time you stay — they allow you to enter France for a defined reason and for a fixed period.
Are you a Turkish citizen who wants to go to France? We explain all about visas and how to make a successful application for a visa for France from Türkiye: which visa to choose, where and when to apply, what documents to send, the price of the visa, etc.
Is a visa mandatory to go to France from Türkiye?
Yes, whatever the reason you’re staying in France (vacation, long temporary stay, work, study, etc.), you must have a visa.
The only Turkish citizens who don’t need a visa for France from Türkiye are those staying for less than 90 days and who hold a:
– Green passport (senior government officials and administrators);
– Gray passport (state employees sent abroad on official missions, such as embassy and consulate employees).
What visas are there for France from Türkiye?
France offers two types of visa from Türkiye:
- Short-stay visa,
- Long-stay visa.
The conditions for obtaining one of these visas vary depending on your reason for entering French territory and on how long you will stay once you arrive (from three months to several years). The vast majority of visas for France from Türkiye are short-stay tourist visas.
Short-stay visa
The short-stay visa, also known as a tourist visa, allows you to go to France from Türkiye and spend a maximum of 90 days (3 months) there, over a period of 180 days (6 months). The tourist visa is multiple-entry, meaning that you can enter and leave French territory multiple times during your stay.
Long-stay visa
If you would like to go to France from Türkiye for more than three months, you’ll need a long-stay visa. There are different types of long-stay visa available:
- Temporary long-stay visa for a period of one year, which is non-renewable;
- Long-stay visa valid as a residence permit for a period of 4 to 12 months, which can lead to a residence permit;
- Long-stay visa leading to the submission of a residence permit application.
Obtaining one of these long-stay visas for France from Türkiye depends on your situation and the reason for your stay:
- Paid employment,
- Commercial, independent or artistic activity,
- Studies,
- Training or supervised internship,
- Family reunification,
- Talent passport.
You will also have to justify the reason for your stay with all the appropriate documentation (employment contract, training certificate, etc.).
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When should I apply for my visa for France?
You need to apply for your visa for France from Türkiye between six months and three weeks before your departure, as waiting times for appointments in Türkiye may be long (currently three weeks in Istanbul).
In general, it is recommended to apply:
– For a short-stay visa: no earlier than six months and no later than three weeks before your departure:
– For long-stay visas: no earlier than three months and no later than one month before.
Where do I need to make my application for a visa for France from Türkiye?
To apply for a visa for France in Türkiye, you must:
– Apply on the France-Visas website,
– Make a mandatory appointment at a VFS Global center. These are the only centers authorized to issue visas in Türkiye. There are four VFS centers in Türkiye: Ankara, Gaziantep, Istanbul Beyoglu and İzmir. Select one based on where you live.
These VFS Global centers are open Monday through Friday, with hours varying by location (typically 8:30 to 17:00). Please note that if you are part of a family or group, each member must make an individual appointment to obtain their visa.
How do I submit an application for a visa in Türkiye?
To apply for a Turkish visa for France, you must:
1. Register or log in on the france-visa.fr website,
2. Fill out and complete your visa application,
3. Print out and sign the completed form, and add it to your application file,
4. Ensure that the file contains all the supporting documents required for your application,
5. Make an appointment at your nearest VFS center to submit your file,
6. Finalize the registration of your visa application on the France-Visas website,
7. Arrive at the appointment on time with a printed copy of the appointment confirmation letter (mandatory to be allowed into the center), your passport and the completed file,
8. Pay the visa costs (visa fees and service fees),
9. Collect your passport, sent to your address by the VFS center.
To have the best chance of obtaining your visa for France from Türkiye, make sure to:
– Check that your file is complete, with all the required supporting documents,
– Not make any mistakes when filling out the application forms,
– Arrive on time for your visa application appointment.
What documents are required to obtain a visa for France from Türkiye?
When applying for a visa for France from Türkiye, you need to submit a file containing a number of mandatory documents, which vary depending on the type of visa being applied for and the applicant’s profile.
The necessary supporting documents (originals and copies) will be specified on the visa application registration receipt. As a guide, for a tourist visa for France from Türkiye, you must provide:
– A passport issued less than ten years ago, with an expiration date more than three months after the date on which you intend to leave theSchengen Area and which contains two blank pages,
– Proof of legal residence in Türkiye, if you are not a Turkish national,
– Proof of settlement in Türkiye, which will vary depending on your status (employee, student, retired, etc.) and which will be specified when applying for a visa online,
– The completed and signed visa application form,
– The visa application registration receipt,
– Two recent ID photos that are compliant with European Union standards,
– Proof of the purpose of the trip: a pre-booked round-trip plane, bus or boat ticket, or a booking confirmation for an organized trip,
– Proof of accommodation in France for the duration of the stay: hotel reservation, hosting certificate,
– Proof of financial resources showing that you will be solvent for the duration of your stay (original copies of bank statements for the last three months or your last three paychecks, proof of pension, etc.)
– Certificate of travel medical insurance (mandatory).
If you have documents required for the application that are not in English or French, they must be translated into French in order to be accepted. An incomplete file may result in your application to obtain a visa for France from Türkiye being refused.
How much does a French visa from Türkiye cost?
The price of a visa for France from Türkiye is EUR 90 (TRY 3215) for a short-stay visa, and EUR 99 (TRY 3537) for a long-stay visa. These visa fees must always be paid in cash in euro and are not refunded if the visa is refused.
These fees may be reduced depending on the applicant:
– The short-stay visa costs EUR 45 (TRY 1608) for children aged 6 to 12,
– The short-stay visa is free for children under the age of six,
– The long-stay visa costs EUR 50 (TRY 1786) for Turkish students.
In addition to the visa fee, there is a VFS center service fee of EUR 25 (approximately TRY 893) per file submitted. The money will be paid in Turkish currency.
These fees are for the standard visa application processing service (information, booking an appointment, collecting the application, data entry, etc.) and delivering the passport to the address provided. These fees cannot be refunded unless the applicant decides not to submit their file before biometric data is collected.
These fees may not be charged, depending on the applicant’s profile:
– Seasonal workers who entered through the OFII (Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration — French Office of Immigration and Integration),
– Turkish paid workers and their family members benefiting from family reunification,
– Foreign language assistants,
– French teachers,
– Researchers traveling for scientific research purposes,
– Schoolchildren and accompanying teachers traveling for study or educational purposes.
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When will I know if my visa for France has been accepted?
The processing time for a short-stay visa is fast, often under 48 hours. The processing time for a long-stay visa can be between two weeks and several months, depending on your individual situation.
FAQs
Is it difficult to get a visa for France from Türkiye?
It will depend on the visa requested and the reason for the application. Turkish tourist visas for France are most often accepted. Long-stay visas may be more difficult to get, as the conditions for getting them are more restrictive.
How to send money to Türkiye
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– With our mobile app,
– In person, by going to an agent location.
Your receiver can get the money in cash, in their account (via their Turkish IBAN) or in their mobile wallet.
This article is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal or professional advice from Western Union. This article is not intended to substitute advice from an administrative advisor or any other qualified professional.
