Published on: August 16, 2024 | By: @rprasanth_kumar | Last updated on: September 16, 2024
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.
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
Important Note
- 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.
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 inviting their parents and siblings for the graduation ceremony.
- Couple inviting their parents or grandparents for assistance during childbirth.
- People inviting their parents, grandparents and siblings for family visits and touristic purposes.
- Parents and siblings invited for marriage in France.
Before starting the visa application, an important document known as “attestation d’accueil” must be obtained from the local Mairie 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. The visa duration will be based on this attestation.
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
Important Note
- 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.
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.
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
Comprehensive Health insurance is mandatory for all the applicants. For more information: Which travel insurance for long-stay visitor visa?. 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?
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 a resident permit and can be renewed every year. 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.
