Updated on: March 15, 2025 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
Inviting family members to France often involves navigating the country’s visa requirements, which can vary depending on the relationship and nationality of the invitee. Whether you are inviting your spouse, children, siblings, parents or your grandparents, understanding the right type of visa and the application process is crucial for ensuring a smooth and successful visit.
This guide will walk you through the key steps when inviting a family member to France, helping you bring your loved ones closer.
Note: Short-stay visas (Type C) can neither be renewed nor extended in France, except some rare situations.
Schengen Tourist Visa
A schengen tourist visa allows visiting the following 29 countries for stays up to 90days during a 180-days rolling period.
Austria 🇦🇹, Belgium 🇧🇪, Bulgaria 🇧🇬, Croatia 🇭🇷, Czech Republic 🇨🇿, Denmark 🇩🇰, Estonia 🇪🇪, Finland 🇫🇮, France 🇫🇷, Germany 🇩🇪, Greece 🇬🇷, Hungary 🇭🇺, Iceland 🇮🇸, Italy 🇮🇹, Latvia 🇱🇻, Liechtenstein 🇱🇮, Lithuania 🇱🇹, Luxembourg 🇱🇺, Malta 🇲🇹, Netherlands 🇳🇱, Norway 🇳🇴, Poland 🇵🇱, Portugal 🇵🇹, Romania 🇷🇴, Slovakia 🇸🇰, Slovenia 🇸🇮, Spain 🇪🇸, Sweden 🇸🇪 and Switzerland 🇨🇭.
You do not have to provide any documents and so the visa applicants must do everything using their own documents, finances, accommodation booking, etc. Of course, you can do it for them but using only their documents.
Here is a practical example with all the required information including documents, accommodation, financial resources, etc.
- Schengen Tourist Visa Application experience – Delhi.
- VFS Checklist: Documents for Schengen Tourist Visa application
- Travel: List of Schengen countries in Europe and Travel Regulations
- Schengen Area: List of Temporary Border Controls by various EU countries 2024-2025
Attestation sur l’honneur
- The document (affidavit) should explicitly mention that the visa applicant will not engage in any kind of professional activity during the stay in France.
- This can be done on a simple A4 sheet with the following text and your actual signature.
- Sample Text: Attestation sur l’honneur Template for Schengen Tourist and Visitor visas
Important Note
- Adding a clear travel itinerary is very important. If not, the visa application might not be seen as a reliable one and can be rejected.
- Spouses can apply but there is a higher chance of rejection. Apply for a dependent visas explained in the end.
- Young working age adults can easily receive a visa rejection.
- So, submitting a signed affidavit stating that they will not engage in any professional activities during the stay and will leave the country on or before the visa expiry date.
- The affidavit must be accompanied by supporting documents to explain the need for returning back to home country.
- For example: a NOC from college (if student), employer, business activity, family commitments, etc.
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Short-stay Visitor Visa
The Short-stay visitor visa can be used for inviting your spouse, children, siblings, parents, and grandparents for visits up to 90 days. Some of the most common uses of this type of visitor visa are,
- Students invite their parents and siblings to the graduation ceremony.
- Couple invite their parents or grandparents for assistance during childbirth.
- People invite their parents, grandparents, and siblings for family visits and tourist purposes.
- Parents and siblings are invited to marriage in France.
Here is a practical example with all the required information including documents, accommodation, financial resources, etc. Short-stay Visitor Visa Application Experience by Nikitha – Hyderabad
Attestation d’accueil
- Before starting the visa application, an important document known as attestation d’accueil” must be obtained from the local Mairie in France.
- More details in How to apply for an Attestation d’accueil in France?.
- It costs 30 euros (stamp fee) and takes around 2-4 weeks.
- This original attestation must be sent to the visa applicant in India and submitted during the visa appointment. Photocopies will not be accepted and lead to a rejection.
- The visa duration will be based on this attestation.
- Flight tickets are not required for obtaining the attestation but mandatory for the visa application.
Attestation sur l’honneur
- The document (affidavit) should explicitly mention that the visa applicant will not engage in any kind of professional activity during the stay in France.
- This can be done on a simple A4 sheet with the following text and your actual signature.
- Sample Text: Attestation sur l’honneur Template for Schengen Tourist and Visitor visas
Important Note
- Spouses can apply but there is a higher chance of rejection. Apply for a dependent visa explained in the end.
- Young working age adults can easily receive a visa rejection.
- So, they must submit a signed affidavit stating that they will not engage in any professional activities during the stay and will leave the country on or before the visa expiry date.
- The affidavit must be accompanied by supporting documents to explain the need for returning to India.
- For example: a NOC from college (if student), employer, business activity, family commitments, etc.
- Also, adding a return flight ticket shows a strong intention to leave France and helps in avoiding a visa rejection.
Long-stay Visitor Visa
The VLS-TS long-stay visitor visa can be used for inviting your spouse, minor children, parents and grandparents for visits lasting more than 90 days. However, it is not really recommended for spouses and children. Some applications were successful but there have been so many visa rejections. Ideally, they must be invited via the family reunification visa process or Passport Talent family visa.
Some of the most common uses of the long-stay visitor visa are,
- Couple inviting their parents or grandparents for assistance during childbirth.
- People inviting their single parent (father or mother passed away) to spend their life in France and avoid staying alone in India.
Example Visa Applications
Here are a few practical examples with all the required information including documents required, accommodation, financial resources, etc.
- Long-stay Visitor Visa Application experience – Delhi
- Long-stay Visitor Visa Application experience – Mumbai
Attestation sur l’honneur
- The document should explicitly mention that the visa applicant will not engage in any kind of professional activity during the stay in France.
- This can be done on a simple A4 sheet with the following text and your actual signature.
- Sample Text: Attestation sur l’honneur Template for Schengen Tourist and Visitor visas
Financial Resources
- Each visitor must have sufficient proof of your resources reaching an annual amount at least 17,115.69 € per person (bank balance certificates, bank statements, pension documents for pensioners, savings, etc.).
- If visa is applied for a period less than a year, then it will 1,426.30 € per month per person.
- These values are based on SMIC and will keep changing regularly.
- For more information, SMIC: French Minimum Salary increases on 1st November 2024.
- If you are inviting your parents and showing your own funds including the salary income France, then you must provide all the relevant documents as explained in the 2 examples mentioned earlier.
- Your total income must be sufficient for the entire family in France, including the invitees and family members already living here.
- Failure to show these minimum financial requirements can lead to a visa rejection.
Comprehensive Health insurance
- Mandatory for all the applicants. For more information: Which travel insurance for long-stay visitor visa?.
- It must be a single policy for the entire duration of the stay. For example, If you are going to stay for a year but purchase a 2 x 180 days policy, it might be rejected in most cases.
- Inadequate insurance is one of most common reasons for rejection of long-stay visitor visas. Avoid the regular travel insurances.
- After completing three months in France, people on VLS-TS long-stay visitor visa can apply for their French Social Security Number. For more information: How to Apply for a Social Security Number in France?
After Arrival in France
- These visitor visa holders must validate their VLS-TS visa within 3 months of arrival in France. For more information: Should I validate my long-stay visa or do I have to apply for a residence permit directly?.
- After the validation, the visa becomes valid for the entire duration and can be renewed every year via the ANEF website.
- After completing 5 years in France, a 10-year resident card can be applied. For more info: French PR | Carte de Resident | Personal Experience from Nanterre Prefecture
Family Reunification Visa
People having resident permits other than “Passeport Talent” must follow the very long family reunion procedure known as “regroupement familial”.
- Applicable for inviting spouse and minor children.
- You must be residing in France regularly for at least 18 months, before you can start the process for your dependents.
- The entire regroupement process can take anywhere from 6 to 18 months.
- It involves 3 parts. First the OFII process in France, then the approval by Prefecture and finally the family visa application at a French Embassy/Consulate outside France.
- The following article explains this topic in detail. Family Reunification: How to bring your family to France?
Note: Adult children, parents and grandparents cannot be invited to France using this visa.
Passport Talent Family Visa
Passport Talent resident permit holders in France can invite their spouse and minor children as dependents to France. These dependents benefit from a simplified invitation procedure. So, the entire visa process takes 2 to 4 weeks.
- Applicable for inviting spouse and minor children.
- A dependent spouse can apply for this visa, as soon as the host spouse receives the “Attestation de décision favorable” in France.
- They do not have to wait until the availability of your resident permit card.
- The following article explains this topic in detail. Dependent visa for spouse and children of Passport Talent visa holders
Note: Adult children, parents and grandparents cannot be invited to France using this visa.
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I am working with CDI, with salary visa, I have in my account 4000euros and every month I sent to my wife account, in her account we have 7lakhs, she is housewife.
Now how much I can show her account,
Some people they told don’t show in her account, because already has in her account every month she manages my loans in loans
Now how much I can show in her account and my account
Hello Anjaneyulu,
Need some basic details before I can answer your questions.
1. Whom are you inviting & for how long?.
If you are going to invite your married spouse, a visitor visa is not a ideal option. I have already explained the reasons in the article and the options for inviting spouses. You can apply but the risk of visa rejection is very high.
2. If you are going ahead, it’s sufficient to show your French payslips, French income tax returns & French bank statements for her visitor visa application. Add a cover letter as a sponsor. All these things are already explained in detail on the short-stay visitor visa example mentioned in the article.
Hello Prasanth sir . I am currently working under CDI contract and I have started my application for changing my visa status from student to work ..now my wife is in Germany and I wanted to migrate her her in France so what will be the process for salaire visa holder and how much time it will take ..please could you help me .
Thanks you
Hello Deepak,
Unfortunately, you must follow the long Family Reunification Visa process explained in Chapter 4 above, for inviting your spouse to France. Please refer to the detailed article in it.
Cheers,
Prasanth
good morning i have try to bring my family to France.1st I ask for a reunification. Familiar .For my mom and my siblings. It was rejected. The second time I asked for a private visa for just my mom .And it was rejected also and I .I have a residence permit of 10 years .I don’t know what to do .And now I’m trying to do asylum visa for them .I don’t know if it’s gonna work .So do you have any idea?
Hello Analia,
Everything you need is explained in the above article. 1st rejection appended because family reunion procedure is not applicable to parents and siblings of non-EU citizens. I don’t have enough details to answer about 2nd rejection but this article has all the answers.
For Asylum topic, please contact an immigration lawyer. I am leally qualified to answer questions regarding asylum and refugee status.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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hi please i want to bring my brother to france to join the football academy?what should i do please?
Hello Joel,
To answer your question, I need a lot more details to understand and provide the required information. I can answer if you have any specific questions.
You can also contact a Campus France office in your country. https://www.campusfrance.org/fr
Cheers,
Prasanth
Hi Prasanth,
I am currently working on talent passport visa.I current have my decision favourable document but not yet received the card ..is decision favourable document enough to move forward with my wife talent passport family application..will there be any issue if i dont have the card for processing..tried following up for the card multiple times but no response from the prefecture
Hello Rahul,
Explained in Dependent visa for spouse and children of Passport Talent visa holders https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/06/vfs-dependent-visa-for-spouse-and-children-of-passport-talent-visa-holders/
For your card, please refer to my detailed explanations in Chapter 3 of https://prasanthragupathy.com/2023/06/what-are-the-online-attestations-of-french-resident-permits-anef/
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hi Prashanth,
I applied for a long term visitor visa for my spouse to France. I am a salaried visa type.
The visa got rejected. The reasons mentioned was
1. Risk of misuse of the visa by staying illegally in France even after the visa expiry
2. The justification of the purpose and conditions of the intended stay are incomplete and not reliable.
The same visa is applied by my colleague whose visa is accepted, with whom I checked and compared my visa application and documents. The main difference i found is approved visa has hosting as company and in my case the hosting is me.
Do you think does it made any difference the hosting part.
Please help and suggest me in this, I am thinking to reapply if that is the main reason ,with my company as hosting.
Hello Mahendra,
Unfortunately, this rejection is very common when applying a visitor visa for spouses. Sometimes people are lucky and sometimes not. Please go via the regroupement familial process explained in the article orplease try to find a job that pays Passeport talent salary.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hi,
I am currently residing in Paris as a Master’s student and soon will be starting my doctoral, and I would like to invite my brother, who is a student in India, to attend my graduation ceremony. He has received an official invitation letter from my academic program addressed to him. As he is currently a student, I would like to enquire whether I can act as his financial sponsor for his short-term visit if needed. I would be able to provide a signed sponsorship letter, my recent bank statements, and proof of my residence and student status here.
Could you kindly confirm if this arrangement would be acceptable for his visa application?
Thanks for your time.
Regards,
Sandra
Hello Sandra,
Assuming you have read the above article and understood the explanations including the highlighted text in red, you can try it. But there are chances for a rejection in this situation, if the application is not done properly.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hi Prasanth,
I moved with my wife to France on EU Blue card visa in Grenoble on 16 April 2025. I am on CDI Contract and my wife is pregnant. I want to call my parents on long stay visa so that they can help me. I earn 60K yearly and i have savings on 7k in France and 10K in India. My parents don’t earn and are dependant on me. Is it advisable to apply long stay visa or short stay visa? Do i need to apply to marie in this case. Someone from administration told me that you need to get ATTESTATION DE PRISE EN CHARGE FINANCIERE from the marie. I am little confused how should i go about it.
Hello Sumit,
Everything you need is explained in the above article. Short or long-term depends how long you want them to stay here and they require different set of documents.
Please follow the explanations given above and also check other comments under this article. If something is not covered in my article, I can explain here.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hi Prasanth,
I have just moved to France for my Masters. My wife is employed in India, and we have a newborn child.
In this situation, which visa route would be the best option for us if they want to visit me?
Hello Karan,
All the 5 options listed in the article are possible but options 1-3 (tourist & visitor visas) have chances of rejection for people in your situation. If you want to apply one of these visas for a short visit, please refer to my details explanations above. If they are moving to France, either option 4 or 5 for them, depending on your residence permit category.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hi Prasanth,
If my parents receive the one-year long-stay visa (fingers crossed ) and we validate it within the first three months, I understand that after three months of residence in France, they can apply for the Carte Vitale.
I wanted to check — for the Carte Vitale process to go smoothly, do my parents need to remain in France until they receive it, or can they make short trips to India if needed for family reasons or emergencies? Would such travel affect their Carte Vitale application?
Also, would these trips have any impact on the renewal of their titre de séjour after one year?
Thanks,
Hello Jyoti,
Short trips are not a problem. Regarding SSN & Carte Vitale, there is a dedicated article https://prasanthragupathy.com/2023/12/how-to-apply-for-a-social-security-in-france/
Please make sure that the total duration of stay outside France in a year does not cross 5-6 months. Ideally not cross 2-3 months. Also, FYI https://prasanthragupathy.com/2023/06/faq-can-i-stay-outside-france-for-more-than-6-months/
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hi Mr. Prasant,
I am a Master’s student at Lyon and would like to invite my sister to visit France and stay with me for a month during her summer vacation (June 2026). As for financial support, my parents would be sponsoring her. In this case, is the short stay visitor visa applicable or the tourist visa? In case of visitor visa, would I be able to get the attestation d’accueil from the Mairie as I am not sponsoring her?
Thanks a lot!
Hello Shree,
A simple tourist visa is a better option for this situation and not a visitor visa. Details are available above.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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One of the documents requested is: Proof of socio-professional status. My mother is a senior citizen (80 years old) living in a rented apartment. She has no pension. How does one show proof of socio-professional status for such situations? Any experiences.
Hello Raviraj,
Proof of socio-professional status for which visa application?
Short-term Visa <3 months stay (Type C)
Hello Raviraj,
You can submit a no income certificate from India but it must be apostilled & officialy translated to France.
or you can also try to submit an Attestation sur l’honneur stating that she is not earning any income anywhere and you will support her stay.
Letter template: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/simulateur/calcul/AttestationHonneur
Note: There is a high probability that her visa is rejected.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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Hi Prasanth, Hope you can help me with my below query for obtaining attestation d’accueil
Does a 39 sqm apartment (me and wife living currently) qualify for attestation d’accueil to invite my parents( both mom and dad) so 4 in total? From what I understand it should be 22sqm for couple without children and 10sqm per additional person(Ideally 42 sq m)
Will there be any exceptions if the apartment falls short only by couple of sqm?
Is it advised to call the mairie to check if I qualify with apartment sze requirments before submitting a formal application? What would be your recommendation for a safe approach to bring my parents on a short term visit? Thank you in advance and appreciate your input.
Hello Abhishek,
Please try your luck and see how it goes. Sometimes, they are strict and sometimes lenient.
Cheers,
Prasanth
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