France (Paris) travel guide
Indian ordinary-passport holders need a short-stay Schengen visa before travelling to France for tourism. France has no visa on arrival and no ordinary tourist e-visa. You apply through France-Visas, book a VFS Global appointment and submit biometrics. Visa assistance is included in our packages, but the visa fee is extra.
Facts checked 3 Nov 2026
France is part of the Schengen Area, so an Indian ordinary-passport holder needs a short-stay Schengen visa before a tourist trip. The application is made online, with an appointment and biometrics, and it requires a set of supporting documents. The process takes time, so start early. This guide sets out the steps, the passport rules and the documents usually needed. It draws on the entry requirements we hold for France, and it tells you where to confirm the latest rules.
Yes. Indian ordinary-passport holders need a short-stay Schengen visa before travelling to France as tourists. France does not offer a tourist visa on arrival or an ordinary tourist e-visa for Indian travellers, so the visa must be approved before you fly. If your trip also visits other Schengen countries, confirm with France-Visas how your application should name the main destination.
A standard short-stay visa permits up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This limit applies across the whole Schengen Area, not only France. If your trip is one to two weeks, the limit is not a concern, but keep it in mind if you plan a longer or multi-country route.
The process follows a clear order. Read each step, and check the current official details before you start.
Book your appointment as early as you can, because slots can be limited. Allow time after the appointment for processing before your flight.
Your passport should generally have been issued within the last ten years. It needs at least two blank pages, and it must remain valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen Area. Check these details before you book flights, since a passport that does not meet them can cause a refusal or a missed trip.
The official France-Visas checklist controls the final requirements, but applicants usually need to provide:
Requirements can vary by case, so use the checklist on the official site and confirm each item before your appointment.
From 10 April 2026, Indian ordinary-passport holders who transit airside through a French airport to a third country no longer need an airport transit visa. This applies subject to conditions, which French authorities set. Confirm the current conditions before you fly, especially if your ticket involves a stop in France rather than a stay.
We do not list a visa fee or a processing time here, because the figures we hold do not confirm the current amounts. Visa charges and service fees can change, so check the official France-Visas information and the VFS Global channel for the current charges before you pay. Budget for the fee separately from your trip cost.
Yes, visa assistance is included in our France packages. The visa fee, travel insurance and flights are not included and are arranged separately. Ask your planner what help is available for your application, and tell them your travel dates early so the paperwork can be prepared in time. Our France tour packages list the inclusions for each trip.
Once your visa is sorted, plan the route. Read how to reach France for flight times and rail links, check when to visit France for the right season, and see places to visit in France to choose your regions. The France trip cost page explains what drives the price, and the France travel guide brings the topics together.
For a ready-made trip, compare Paris Romance 4N, Paris with Disneyland 5N and Paris & Nice Côte d'Azur 7N.
Ready-made trips
Paris 4N
Paris 5N
Paris 3N · Nice 4N
*Approximate price per person, excl. GST. Contact us for exact pricing.
Packages cover stays, transfers, sightseeing and meals as listed. Flights are not included. Prices are per person, excl. GST.
FAQs
Short answers to what travellers ask about France (Paris).
Yes. Indian ordinary-passport holders need a short-stay Schengen visa before travelling to France for tourism. Apply online through France-Visas, book a VFS Global appointment and submit biometrics. Check the official checklist for your case before you apply.
No. France has no tourist visa on arrival and no ordinary tourist e-visa for Indian travellers. Your Schengen visa must be approved before you fly, so plan the application well ahead of your travel dates.
A standard short-stay visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The limit covers the whole Schengen Area, so it applies if you add other Schengen countries to your trip. Plan your route so your total stay stays within that limit.
Usually the online application, passport, photographs, travel insurance, an itinerary, accommodation proof, financial evidence and employment or business documents, plus biometrics. The official France-Visas checklist controls the final list for your case. Gather originals and copies, and keep them with your application file.
Apply through France-Visas and select India as the filing country. Complete the online form, then book a VFS Global appointment for biometrics and document submission. Keep copies of everything you submit, and confirm the current steps on the official site before you start.
Your passport should generally be issued within the last ten years, have at least two blank pages, and stay valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen Area. Check these before booking any flights.
From 10 April 2026, Indian ordinary-passport holders transiting airside through French airports to a third country no longer need an airport transit visa, subject to conditions. Confirm the current conditions before you fly. If your trip includes a stop in France, check with your airline too.
No. Visa assistance is included in our packages, but the visa fee and any service charges are paid separately. Travel insurance and flights are also arranged separately. Ask your planner for the current list of inclusions before you pay.
Tell us when you want to travel and who is coming. A trip expert builds a day-by-day plan with prices that you can change.
Prefer to answer a few questions step by step? Use the trip planner.
