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France Visa for Chinese Citizens

Chinese citizens need a Schengen visa for France. We prepare your application; you give biometrics in person.

From $35

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Visa information

France Visa for Chinese citizens

For tourism, business or family visits of up to 90 days in the Schengen area.

visa required

Chinese citizens need a short-stay Schengen visa. It is usually valid in all 29 Schengen countries.

Visa fee

€90

Children aged 6 to 11 pay €45, under 6 free. Not refundable.

Usual decision time

15 days

Calendar days. Up to 45 days if more checks are needed.

Stay

90 days in any 180

Counted across the whole Schengen area.

Frequent travellers

Up to 5 years

Multiple-entry visas get longer after lawful use of earlier ones.

When to apply

6 months to 15 days ahead

Later only in justified urgent cases.

Where to apply

France-Visas online

Then fingerprints and a photo at a visa centre.

Passport

3 months beyond your trip

Issued in the last 10 years, with 2 blank pages.

Insurance

At least €30,000

Medical cover for the whole Schengen area.

Apply for Your France Visa

We prepare and check your application. You then give a photo and fingerprints at your appointment.

Get started for free

Start with a free eligibility check. You pay after you fill in the application form.

Last checked in October 2026. Sources: Applying for a Schengen visa (European Commission), EU Visa Code, consolidated text (EUR-Lex), France-Visas, the official visa website

France Visa documents for Chinese citizens

Valid Passport

Issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, with at least 2 blank pages.

Travel Medical Insurance

Valid in all Schengen countries for your whole stay, with at least EUR 30,000 cover, including medical repatriation.

Proof of Funds

France: EUR 120 per day without proof of accommodation, EUR 65 for hotel-booked nights, EUR 32.50 with other proof of accommodation.

Trip Purpose and Stay

Documents on the purpose of your trip, your accommodation and your intention to return. The consulate may ask for more.

Photo and Fingerprints

Taken in person at your first application and reused for 59 months. Children under 12 give no fingerprints.

France Visa application steps for Chinese citizens

Your journey to the France in 4 easy steps.

Fill Application

Answer our questions once about you and your trip. We prepare your Schengen visa application form.

Upload Documents

Upload your passport, travel insurance, bookings and proof of funds. We check them against the Schengen rules.

Pay Securely

Pay our service fee and the official visa fee. We guide you to book your appointment at the consulate or visa centre.

Give Biometrics

Lodge your application in person with your photo and fingerprints. The decision normally comes within 15 days.

France Visa cost for Chinese citizens

No hidden fees. Pay only for what you need.

We are not affiliated with any government or embassy. Visa decisions are made solely by the consulate.

Estimates only - not legal advice or a guarantee. Total cost may include third-party fees beyond the government fee and our services.

Short-Stay Visa (Type C)

$35

Decision normally within 15 days, up to 45
Application form prepared for you
Documents checked before your appointment
Guidance for your biometrics appointment

Apply for France Visa

*Consular fee (€90) is paid separately to the France Embassy.

What happens after you pay?

Order Confirmation

You get an email with your order details and a link to follow your visa application.

Document Review

We check your passport, insurance cover, bookings and funds against the Schengen rules and tell you what is missing.

Form and Appointment

We complete your application form and guide you to book an appointment at the consulate or visa centre.

Biometrics and Decision

You lodge the application and give fingerprints in person. The consulate decides within 15 days, up to 45 in some cases.

In Progress

Document Check✓ Verified

Application Form✓ Completed

Consulate ReviewIn progress

Visa DecisionAwaiting

Which France Visa do you need?

Short-stay Schengen visa (type C)

For tourism, business or family visits. The fee is €90 (€45 for children aged 6 to 11, free under 6), and you can stay up to 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area. Fingerprints are taken in person and reused for later applications within 59 months.

Multiple-entry visa for frequent travellers

Under the general rule, 3 visas used lawfully within 2 years lead to a 1-year multiple-entry visa, then a 2-year and a 5-year one. The fee stays €90. Some countries of residence have their own adapted rules.

Airport transit visa (type A)

Needed to change planes in a Schengen airport by citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka. Some countries add other nationalities. A valid Schengen visa exempts you.

Long-stay national visa (type D)

For study, work or family stays longer than 90 days. You apply to the country concerned, under its own rules and fees.

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Individual results may vary. The consulate makes the final decision.

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Individual results may vary. The consulate makes the final decision.

France Visa FAQ for Chinese passport holders

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for France?

Yes. Chinese citizens need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) to visit France. If France is your main destination, meaning your longest stay or your first entry when stays are equal, apply at its consulate or visa centre, as a rule in the country where you legally live. You lodge the application in person and give a photo and fingerprints. The visa is valid for all 29 Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

How much does a Schengen visa for France cost?

The official fee is EUR 90 for applicants aged 12 and over and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to under 12; children under 6 pay nothing. School pupils, students and accompanying teachers on study trips, researchers and non-profit event participants aged 25 or under are also exempt. The fee is charged in euro or the local currency where you apply and is not refundable. A visa centre may add its own service fee, as a rule no more than EUR 45. Visarun's service fee is separate and shown in the pricing section.

How long does a Schengen visa for France take?

The consulate decides within 15 calendar days of receiving an admissible application. In individual cases this can be extended to a maximum of 45 days, and justified urgent cases can be faster. Apply no earlier than 6 months before your trip (9 months for seafarers) and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before it; an appointment may be required. National application portals are linked from the European Commission's Schengen visa page at home-affairs.ec.europa.eu.

How long can Chinese citizens stay in France?

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, as shown on your visa sticker, across all 29 Schengen countries. Visas can be single, double or multiple entry, valid for up to 5 years. If you have lawfully used earlier visas, you can get multiple-entry visas valid for 1 year (after 3 visas in the previous 2 years), then 2 years and then 5 years. Since 10 April 2026, the EES records each entry and exit. France's territories outside Europe are not covered by the Schengen visa: if your nationality needs a visa there, you need a separate national visa too.

What documents do Chinese citizens need for a Schengen visa?

You need a passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area and with at least 2 blank pages, plus travel medical insurance valid in all Schengen countries with at least EUR 30,000 cover. Add documents on the purpose of your trip, your accommodation, your financial means and your intention to return; the consulate may ask for more. At your first application you give a photo and 10 fingerprints in person; fingerprints are reused for 59 months, and children under 12 give none.

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