The short answer: yes, a type C Schengen visa
An Indian national holding an ordinary passport must apply for a uniform short-stay visa, known as a "type C" visa, for a tourist, family or business trip of up to 90 days. France processes it when Paris is your main destination, or your first point of entry if you are splitting your time equally between several countries. Once issued, the visa opens up the 29 countries of the Schengen Area.
Indian diplomatic passports are exempt from short-stay visas, and a valid residence permit from another Schengen country also exempts you from needing a visa for France. This article deals with the ordinary passport.
Where to apply: France-Visas, then VFS Global
Everything starts on France-Visas, the official portal of the French state: an account, the online form, a precise list of supporting documents and a receipt to print. In India, applications are not received by the consulate but by the service provider VFS Global, which then forwards them to the consular post covering your place of residence (the French Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates General in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Pondicherry).
As of September 2026, VFS Global operates fourteen centres in India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Puducherry and Pune, plus Kathmandu and Thimphu for residents of Nepal and Bhutan. You book a slot online at the centre for your district and attend in person with the complete file and the printed appointment letter. VFS Global service fees are in the region of INR 2,000 to 2,500 per application, excluding paid options (priority submission, courier, SMS).
The supporting documents to prepare
Follow the list generated by France-Visas to the letter; for a tourist stay it generally includes:
- Passport less than ten years old, valid for at least three months after your return date, with two blank pages. Include old passports bearing Schengen, US or UK visas.
- Signed application form and a recent photo on a light background, meeting ICAO standards.
- Travel insurance covering at least €30,000 in medical and repatriation costs throughout the Schengen Area. Our page on emergencies and health in Paris explains what it actually covers.
- Accommodation booking for every night: choose a cancellable option from our hotels in Paris by budget.
- Return flight reservation, without buying a confirmed ticket until the visa has been granted.
- Bank statements for the last three to six months, recent income tax returns (ITR), an employment certificate with salary and approved leave, or proof of business activity for the self-employed.
- A cover letter describing your plans and a day-by-day itinerary for a multi-country trip.
Documents in Hindi or a regional language must be translated into French or English. A weak case regarding your ties to India is the leading cause of refusal.
Multiple entries for frequent travellers
If you have already made proper use of one or more Schengen visas, you can apply for a multiple-entry visa, valid from six months to five years. The rule of 90 days in any 180-day period still applies. For a first trip, the consulate usually issues a visa covering only your travel dates.
Fees and processing times noted in September 2026
The Schengen visa fee is the same throughout the Union: €90 per adult, €45 for a child aged 6 to 11, free under 6. It is collected in rupees at the chancery exchange rate, around INR 9,500 for an adult, and is kept by the authorities even if the visa is refused. Add the VFS Global service fee, insurance and, where applicable, the courier.
The Visa Code sets the framework: apply no earlier than six months before departure and no later than fifteen days before, with a decision within fifteen calendar days, extendable to 45 days if the application requires further examination. In India, the difficulty is getting an appointment: between March and June, slots in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru go weeks in advance. Apply six to eight weeks before your trip, and time your bookings with our tips for booking ahead in Paris.
Biometrics, EES and the 90/180 rule
At the VFS Global centre, your ten fingerprints and your photo are recorded in the VIS system. They are kept for 59 months; if you apply for another visa within that period, your fingerprints are in principle not taken again. Children under 12 are exempt, but must be present. Remove any henna before your appointment: illegible fingerprints mean you will have to come back.
At the border, the Entry/Exit System (EES) has been in place since 12 October 2025 and fully operational since 10 April 2026. The stamp has disappeared: on your first entry, the border police record your face and fingerprints in a digital file; on subsequent entries, a quick check is enough. The system calculates your days of presence for the whole area: a maximum of 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, across all visas. An overstay is kept on record for five years and weighs on your future applications.
Children and stays of more than 90 days
Every child needs their own passport and their own visa. Add to the file the birth certificate, copies of the parents' passports and, if the child is not travelling with both parents, a notarised authorisation signed by the absent parent. A minor under 12 does not give fingerprints.
For a semester of study, a job or a stay of more than three months, the C visa is not enough: you need a long-stay visa (type D), also processed via France-Visas and VFS Global, at a fee of €99, with submission recommended at least one month before departure. Students also go through the Études en France procedure. A tourist visa cannot be extended once in France.
On arrival at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle
Direct Air India and Air France flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru arrive at Terminal 2 at Roissy; the Gulf carriers use Terminals 1 and 2. At passport control, present your passport open at the visa page. The officer may ask for your hotel booking, return ticket, insurance and proof of funds: keep these documents close at hand. The PARAFE automatic gates are not open to visa holders; follow the "All passports" queue.
As soon as you are out, two priorities: a local connection, with our comparison of eSIM and SIM cards in France, and a suitable means of payment. RuPay cards are rarely accepted in France and UPI does not work in Paris shops; our guide paying and managing money in Paris details the options. To reach the centre by RER, bus or flat-fare taxi, read getting from the airport to central Paris.
Preparing your stay once you have the visa
Check the dates, the number of entries and the spelling of your name on the visa sticker: a mistake can be corrected before departure. Keep your boarding passes and hotel invoices, which will support a future multiple-entry visa application, and leave the Schengen Area before the visa expires: the EES leaves no margin.
Summary: steps, places, timings, costs
| Step | Where | Timing | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online form | France-Visas | 30 to 45 min | Free |
| Appointment and biometric submission | VFS Global centre (14 cities in India) | From a few days to several weeks' wait depending on the season | Service fee of around INR 2,000 to 2,500 |
| Visa fee | Paid when submitting, in rupees | Immediate | €90 adult (around INR 9,500), €45 aged 6-11, free under 6 |
| Processing | Embassy in New Delhi or the relevant Consulate General | 15 calendar days maximum in principle, 45 days if further examination is needed | Included |
| EES check on arrival | Roissy or Orly airport | 1 to 2 min per person | Free |
Amounts noted in September 2026; the exact amount is shown on France-Visas when you apply.
Going further
The procedure is similar to the one followed by Chinese or Russian travellers applying for a visa for Paris, but the service provider, service fees and documents differ: follow the list for your country on France-Visas.
