France Schengen Visa Documents: Complete Checklist for UK Applicants 2026
Last updated: 27 August 2026. Fees, centre addresses and processing guidance in this guide are taken from France-Visas and the official French visa fee table published by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Rules change; check the linked sources before you submit.
Most France visa refusals from the UK come down to paperwork, not eligibility. A missing bank statement, an insurance policy that covers £25,000 instead of €30,000, a passport photo taken against the wrong background: each is enough to lose the fee and start again.
This guide lists the documents you need, what France checks more strictly than other Schengen states, and the three places in the UK where you can hand your file in. If the paperwork is ready and the blocker is the calendar, you can read how the France visa application works from the UK or track Schengen visa appointment availability across UK centres. It is written for UK residents applying for a short-stay visa, and every figure is sourced.
What a France visa costs from the UK in 2026
Two separate payments exist and applicants routinely confuse them. The visa fee goes to the French state and is fixed in euros. The service fee goes to TLScontact, the company that runs the application centres.
Category | Full rate | Reduced rate | Free of charge |
|---|---|---|---|
Schengen short-stay and airport transit visa | €90 | €45 (children aged 6 to 12) | Children under 6; foreign spouse of a French national; foreign family members of EU, EEA and Swiss nationals |
Short-stay visa for Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, Saint Martin, Saint-Barthélemy | €60 | €35 (children aged 6 to 12) | Same categories as above |
Short-stay visa for New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte, French Southern and Antarctic Lands | €9 | Same categories as above | |
TLScontact service fee | €40 to €55 per appointment | Refundable only if you withdraw before biometrics are taken |
Two details catch people out. First, the overseas-territory rate is genuinely lower: a trip to Martinique or Réunion is a €60 visa, not €90. Second, American Express is not accepted at the centres; bring a debit card or another credit card. For the full breakdown including optional extras, see our France visa cost breakdown for UK applicants.
Where UK residents apply: three centres, no consular area
TLScontact operates three French visa application centres in the UK. France-Visas states there is no consular area, which means a UK resident may apply at whichever centre is convenient, regardless of where they live. If London is booked out, Manchester or Edinburgh is a legitimate alternative rather than a workaround.
Centre | Address | Submission hours (by appointment) |
|---|---|---|
London | 18 Ryeland Boulevard, Wandsworth, SW18 1UN | Mon to Fri 07:30 to 15:30; Sat 09:30 to 13:30 |
Manchester | 1 Portland Street, M1 3BE | Mon to Fri 07:30 to 16:00; Sat 08:30 to 15:00 |
Edinburgh | 3 Lady Lawson Street, Argyle House, EH3 9DS | Mon to Fri 08:30 to 16:00; Sat closed |
All decisions are taken by the French Consulate General in London whichever centre receives your file. Applying directly at the consulate is possible only for two categories, spouse of a French national and family member of a European national, and only on Wednesday mornings in person. For everyone else the consulate itself advises applying through TLScontact.
When to apply, and how long it takes
Stage | Official guidance |
|---|---|
Earliest you can lodge an application | 180 days before your planned travel dates |
Total time to allow | At least 20 working days, per France-Visas |
Decision once the file reaches the consulate | Usually 2 to 15 working days |
Typical wait for a TLScontact appointment | Around 48 working hours, longer in high season |
The 180-day window is the single most useful number here. Applying five months ahead is allowed, and it removes almost all appointment pressure. The pressure appears when travel is weeks away and every slot at the nearest centre is taken. If that is where you are, read how to get a Schengen visa appointment fast in the UK, or see what to do when you cannot find a Schengen visa appointment. Visard does not monitor France appointments from the UK. For the destinations it does cover from here, it checks the centre every few seconds and sends an alert the moment a slot opens, cancellations included.
Complete document checklist for a France visa
Passport
Valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen area, issued within the last ten years, and carrying at least two blank pages. Damaged pages, a detached laminate or water staining are treated as an invalid document, not a cosmetic problem.
Application form and appointment confirmation
Complete the form on the France-Visas portal, print it, sign it, and bring the printed appointment confirmation. An unsigned form is refused at the counter.
Photographs
Two identical photographs taken within the last six months, 35mm by 45mm, plain light background, neutral expression, no glasses. France publishes an ISO/IEC photograph specification and centres apply it strictly.
Proof of UK residence
A BRP, a share code, settled or pre-settled status, or a valid UK visa. This is the document that decides whether you may apply in the UK at all, and it is the one most often missing from non-British applicants' files.
Travel booking
A confirmed return itinerary covering entry to and exit from the Schengen area. A reservation is sufficient; you are not required to buy a non-refundable ticket to obtain a visa.
Accommodation
Hotel bookings for the whole stay, or an attestation d'accueil validated by the local French mairie if you are staying with a host. France applies the attestation rule more strictly than several other Schengen states: a private invitation letter written by your host is not a substitute for the validated form.
Financial proof
Three to six months of bank statements. France expects evidence of roughly €65 per day for a hotel stay and around €120 per day where no accommodation proof is provided. A single large deposit shortly before applying invites questions; a steady balance does not.
Employment or study proof
An employer letter confirming role, salary, leave dates and return, or a university letter with enrolment confirmation. Self-employed applicants should bring company registration, recent accounts and tax records.
Travel medical insurance
Minimum €30,000 of cover for medical costs and repatriation, valid across the entire Schengen area and the full trip. The figure is in euros. A policy quoting £25,000 or £30,000 does not automatically satisfy it once converted, and this is one of the most frequent avoidable refusals.
Common document mistakes that lead to refusal
Insurance below the euro threshold. Cover quoted in pounds that falls under €30,000 after conversion.
An invitation letter instead of an attestation d'accueil. France requires the validated mairie form for private stays.
Statements that do not cover the required period. One month of statements where three to six are expected.
A passport that is technically expired for the trip. Valid on the day of travel is not enough; it must remain valid three months after departure from Schengen.
Photographs that fail the specification. Taken more than six months ago, wrong size, patterned background or glasses.
Leaving it too late. The application window opens 180 days out, and the official advice is to allow 20 working days.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a France Schengen visa from the UK?
€90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, plus a TLScontact service fee of €40 to €55 per appointment. Children under 6 pay no visa fee. Visas for Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, Saint Martin and Saint-Barthélemy cost €60.
Can I apply at any UK centre?
Yes. France-Visas confirms there is no consular area in the UK, so residents may apply at London, Manchester or Edinburgh regardless of address.
How far in advance can I apply?
Up to 180 days before your planned travel dates. France-Visas advises allowing at least 20 working days in total.
How much money do I need to show?
Roughly €65 per day with confirmed accommodation, and around €120 per day without it. Consistency across three to six months of statements matters more than the closing balance.
Do hotel bookings count as accommodation proof?
Yes for hotel stays. If you are staying with friends or family, France requires an attestation d'accueil validated by the local mairie, not a letter written by your host.
What if no appointment slots are available?
Slots are released continuously and cancellations reappear without notice. You can check all three UK centres rather than only the nearest, and France alerts are not available from the UK, and the France visa page for UK applicants says so plainly. See Schengen visa appointment booking for UK residents for the destinations that are covered. For timings, read the France visa processing time from the UK.
Sources
France-Visas, United Kingdom page: centres, addresses, opening hours, 180-day window, 20 working days guidance, service fee range, consular area, direct appointment categories.
Official visa fee table (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Ministry of the Interior): €90, €45, €60, €35, €9 and exemption categories.
European Commission, Schengen visa policy: the EU Visa Code framework behind the common rules.
France Schengen Visa Documents: Complete Checklist for UK Applicants 2026
Last updated: 27 August 2026. Fees, centre addresses and processing guidance in this guide are taken from France-Visas and the official French visa fee table published by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Rules change; check the linked sources before you submit.
Most France visa refusals from the UK come down to paperwork, not eligibility. A missing bank statement, an insurance policy that covers £25,000 instead of €30,000, a passport photo taken against the wrong background: each is enough to lose the fee and start again.
This guide lists the documents you need, what France checks more strictly than other Schengen states, and the three places in the UK where you can hand your file in. If the paperwork is ready and the blocker is the calendar, you can read how the France visa application works from the UK or track Schengen visa appointment availability across UK centres. It is written for UK residents applying for a short-stay visa, and every figure is sourced.
What a France visa costs from the UK in 2026
Two separate payments exist and applicants routinely confuse them. The visa fee goes to the French state and is fixed in euros. The service fee goes to TLScontact, the company that runs the application centres.
Category | Full rate | Reduced rate | Free of charge |
|---|---|---|---|
Schengen short-stay and airport transit visa | €90 | €45 (children aged 6 to 12) | Children under 6; foreign spouse of a French national; foreign family members of EU, EEA and Swiss nationals |
Short-stay visa for Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, Saint Martin, Saint-Barthélemy | €60 | €35 (children aged 6 to 12) | Same categories as above |
Short-stay visa for New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte, French Southern and Antarctic Lands | €9 | Same categories as above | |
TLScontact service fee | €40 to €55 per appointment | Refundable only if you withdraw before biometrics are taken |
Two details catch people out. First, the overseas-territory rate is genuinely lower: a trip to Martinique or Réunion is a €60 visa, not €90. Second, American Express is not accepted at the centres; bring a debit card or another credit card. For the full breakdown including optional extras, see our France visa cost breakdown for UK applicants.
Where UK residents apply: three centres, no consular area
TLScontact operates three French visa application centres in the UK. France-Visas states there is no consular area, which means a UK resident may apply at whichever centre is convenient, regardless of where they live. If London is booked out, Manchester or Edinburgh is a legitimate alternative rather than a workaround.
Centre | Address | Submission hours (by appointment) |
|---|---|---|
London | 18 Ryeland Boulevard, Wandsworth, SW18 1UN | Mon to Fri 07:30 to 15:30; Sat 09:30 to 13:30 |
Manchester | 1 Portland Street, M1 3BE | Mon to Fri 07:30 to 16:00; Sat 08:30 to 15:00 |
Edinburgh | 3 Lady Lawson Street, Argyle House, EH3 9DS | Mon to Fri 08:30 to 16:00; Sat closed |
All decisions are taken by the French Consulate General in London whichever centre receives your file. Applying directly at the consulate is possible only for two categories, spouse of a French national and family member of a European national, and only on Wednesday mornings in person. For everyone else the consulate itself advises applying through TLScontact.
When to apply, and how long it takes
Stage | Official guidance |
|---|---|
Earliest you can lodge an application | 180 days before your planned travel dates |
Total time to allow | At least 20 working days, per France-Visas |
Decision once the file reaches the consulate | Usually 2 to 15 working days |
Typical wait for a TLScontact appointment | Around 48 working hours, longer in high season |
The 180-day window is the single most useful number here. Applying five months ahead is allowed, and it removes almost all appointment pressure. The pressure appears when travel is weeks away and every slot at the nearest centre is taken. If that is where you are, read how to get a Schengen visa appointment fast in the UK, or see what to do when you cannot find a Schengen visa appointment. Visard does not monitor France appointments from the UK. For the destinations it does cover from here, it checks the centre every few seconds and sends an alert the moment a slot opens, cancellations included.
Complete document checklist for a France visa
Passport
Valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen area, issued within the last ten years, and carrying at least two blank pages. Damaged pages, a detached laminate or water staining are treated as an invalid document, not a cosmetic problem.
Application form and appointment confirmation
Complete the form on the France-Visas portal, print it, sign it, and bring the printed appointment confirmation. An unsigned form is refused at the counter.
Photographs
Two identical photographs taken within the last six months, 35mm by 45mm, plain light background, neutral expression, no glasses. France publishes an ISO/IEC photograph specification and centres apply it strictly.
Proof of UK residence
A BRP, a share code, settled or pre-settled status, or a valid UK visa. This is the document that decides whether you may apply in the UK at all, and it is the one most often missing from non-British applicants' files.
Travel booking
A confirmed return itinerary covering entry to and exit from the Schengen area. A reservation is sufficient; you are not required to buy a non-refundable ticket to obtain a visa.
Accommodation
Hotel bookings for the whole stay, or an attestation d'accueil validated by the local French mairie if you are staying with a host. France applies the attestation rule more strictly than several other Schengen states: a private invitation letter written by your host is not a substitute for the validated form.
Financial proof
Three to six months of bank statements. France expects evidence of roughly €65 per day for a hotel stay and around €120 per day where no accommodation proof is provided. A single large deposit shortly before applying invites questions; a steady balance does not.
Employment or study proof
An employer letter confirming role, salary, leave dates and return, or a university letter with enrolment confirmation. Self-employed applicants should bring company registration, recent accounts and tax records.
Travel medical insurance
Minimum €30,000 of cover for medical costs and repatriation, valid across the entire Schengen area and the full trip. The figure is in euros. A policy quoting £25,000 or £30,000 does not automatically satisfy it once converted, and this is one of the most frequent avoidable refusals.
Common document mistakes that lead to refusal
Insurance below the euro threshold. Cover quoted in pounds that falls under €30,000 after conversion.
An invitation letter instead of an attestation d'accueil. France requires the validated mairie form for private stays.
Statements that do not cover the required period. One month of statements where three to six are expected.
A passport that is technically expired for the trip. Valid on the day of travel is not enough; it must remain valid three months after departure from Schengen.
Photographs that fail the specification. Taken more than six months ago, wrong size, patterned background or glasses.
Leaving it too late. The application window opens 180 days out, and the official advice is to allow 20 working days.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a France Schengen visa from the UK?
€90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, plus a TLScontact service fee of €40 to €55 per appointment. Children under 6 pay no visa fee. Visas for Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion, Saint Martin and Saint-Barthélemy cost €60.
Can I apply at any UK centre?
Yes. France-Visas confirms there is no consular area in the UK, so residents may apply at London, Manchester or Edinburgh regardless of address.
How far in advance can I apply?
Up to 180 days before your planned travel dates. France-Visas advises allowing at least 20 working days in total.
How much money do I need to show?
Roughly €65 per day with confirmed accommodation, and around €120 per day without it. Consistency across three to six months of statements matters more than the closing balance.
Do hotel bookings count as accommodation proof?
Yes for hotel stays. If you are staying with friends or family, France requires an attestation d'accueil validated by the local mairie, not a letter written by your host.
What if no appointment slots are available?
Slots are released continuously and cancellations reappear without notice. You can check all three UK centres rather than only the nearest, and France alerts are not available from the UK, and the France visa page for UK applicants says so plainly. See Schengen visa appointment booking for UK residents for the destinations that are covered. For timings, read the France visa processing time from the UK.
Sources
France-Visas, United Kingdom page: centres, addresses, opening hours, 180-day window, 20 working days guidance, service fee range, consular area, direct appointment categories.
Official visa fee table (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Ministry of the Interior): €90, €45, €60, €35, €9 and exemption categories.
European Commission, Schengen visa policy: the EU Visa Code framework behind the common rules.
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