United Kingdom
Applying for a visa in the United Kingdom to visit France
In the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Man, the Bailiwicks of Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands) visas applications to go to France are processed by the French Consulate General in London where all decisions are taken.
TLScontact’s has been appointed to welcome the public, receive their applications and return the passports in their three visa application centres located in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Residents in the UK can apply freely in any of those 3 centres as there is no consular area. You may submit your visa application up to 180 days prior to your planned dates of travel. You are strongly advised to allow at least 20 working days of processing delays.
Once visa applications are transferred to the Consulate in London, they are generally processed within 2 to 15 working days. However note that delays may vary according to different factors and that they are given as a general guideline.
Health conditions
The visa section of the Consulate General of France in London has resumed issuing unrestricted visas. The three TLSContact visa application centres (London, Edinburgh and Manchester) are also now open from Monday to Friday.
For all visa enquiries and to schedule an appointment, please visit TLS Contact .
Brexit
On 1 January 2021, new conditions will apply for the entry and residence of British citizens and their family members in France. All the applicable rules are available on our dedicated page accessible by clicking on withdrawal agreement.
Visa network in the country (consulates and service providers)
TLScontact’s role is to inform, receive and return the applications in their two visa application Centers in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. There are no consular areas and you can choose freely between the TLScontact Visa Application Centers in London, Manchester and Edinburgh
French consulate in London
Certain categories of visa applicants who do not wish to make use of the service provided by TLScontact still have the option of applying for their visas directly at the French Consulate General in London, known as direct appointments. This possibility only applies to applicants for short stay visas "spouse of a French national" and "family member of a European national".
Appointments are compulsory and must be made through TLScontact by calling (+44) 203 040 0460, Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. By leaving your contact details, option 4, a Customer Service Representative will call you back shortly, usually within a day.
Note that direct appointments are only available on Wednesday mornings and you will have to apply in person. Processing delays still apply. There is a longer appointment waiting time for the French Consulate General so you are highly advised to submit your application at TLScontact.
Appointment waiting times
The Consulate General of France in London endeavors to shorten the time to obtain an appointment at TLScontact visa center. The appointment is usually available within 48 hours (working days), but it may vary during the high season.
Practical Informations on the progress of the appointment
Health conditions
Social distancing and special protective equipment are in place to preserve the health and well-being of all. Please help us protect everybody by strictly respecting those guidelines : access to the TLSContact centre will only be possible after confirmation of an appointment. You must attend at the exact time of your appointment. Wearing a face mask is recommended and you must bring your own pen. Visa and service fees must be paid by Card only.
Prepare your visit
Visa appointments can only be booked via the local outsourcing partner TLScontact. As of 1st February 2022, the service fee must be paid when making an appointment on the TLScontact website. Select a time and date at your convenience to submit your documents at the TLScontact Visa application center. The available time slots are highlighted in blue.
At your appointment do not forget :
- Your appointment confirmation document, (to be printed) ;
- Your passport ;
- Your documents presented in order according to the the list of requirements ;
- The means of payment of the visa fees and any optional service fees.
NB : If your visa application is incomplete (i.e. missing documents), you may choose not to submit your application until you have all the required documents and come back to the Centre at a later date after making a new appointment. You will not have to pay any processing fees if you decide not to submit your application at this time. However, if you do decide to submit your incomplete application, you will be asked to sign a document indicating that your application is incomplete and that certain documents are missing.
Submitting a complete application does not guarantee that the consular authorities will grant you a visa.
Biometric data
All visas issued by France are biometric visas. Applicants who are over 12 years of age are required to appear in person at the time of their first application. The following biometric identifiers are collected: a photograph, scanned or taken at the time of the application, and 10 fingerprints, taken flat and digitized. However, it is possible to retrieve your biometric data if a previous biometric Schengen visa has been issued to you less than 59 months ago.
Children under 12 years of age: children under 12 years of age are not required to provide the biometric data, short stay Schengen visa application may be submitted by the child’s parent/legal guardian. The ISO/IEC format photograph (pdf) of the child will be scanned.
TLS contact centre in London
Contact details
18 Ryeland Boulevard, Wandsworth
SW18 1UN London
United Kingdom
Call center
(+44) 203 040 0460 From Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m
Website
Submitting applications
(appointment only)
| Monday | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. |
| Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Collecting passports
(without an appointment)
| Monday | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. |
| Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
TLScontact centre in Edinburgh
Contact details
3 Lady Lawson Street
Argyle House, Edinburgh EH3 9DS
United Kingdom
Call center
(+44) 203 040 0460 From Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Website
Submitting applications
(appointment only)
| Monday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Collecting passports
(without an appointment)
| Monday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
TLScontact centre in Manchester
Contact details
1 Portland street
Manchester, M1 1RG
United Kingdom
Call center
(+44) 203 040 0460 From Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Website
Submitting applications
(appointment only)
| Monday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Collecting passports
(without an appointment)
| Monday | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Consulate General of France in London
Contact details
6a Cromwell Place
SW7 2EN London
United-Kingdom
Call center
NA
Website
Submitting applications
NA
Collecting passports
NA
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Public Holidays in 2022:
Monday 3d of January : New Year's Day (substitute day)
Friday 15th of April : Good Friday
Monday 18th of April : Easter Monday
Monday 2nd of May : Labour Day
Monday 2nd of May : Early May Bank Holiday
Thursday 2nd of June : Spring bank Holiday
Friday 3d of June : Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday
Monday 6th of June: Whit Monday
Monday 29th of August : Summer Bank Holiday
Monday 26th of December : Boxing Day
Tuesday 27th of December : Christmas Day (substitute day)
Security information
For security reasons, visa applicants are not permitted to bring any objects deemed to be a security risk for the Visa Application Centre such as :
- Any sharp objects ;
- Weapon or weapon-like objects.
The use of mobile phones, cameras and other video recording devices is strictly forbidden.
Bags may be subject to search at the entrance of the Visa Application Centre. Anyone carrying a luggage will not be authorized to enter the Visa center as bringing luggage is not permitted.
Only applicants and authorized accompanying parties (such as those providing assistance to the mobility-impaired or those requiring translation) will be allowed access to the VAC via the security checkpoint.
Children who are below 12 are not allowed in the premises of the Visa Application Center.
Tracking your application
You can follow the progress of your request from your France-Visas account, under "My requests".
Collecting your passport
Once informed of your passport return at the TLScontact center, you will be invited to collect it without appointment. You will need :
- Your application checklist ;
- A valid ID ;
- The birth certificate of your child/children if you wish to retrieve his/her/their passport(s).
Do not forget that if you fail to produce the original of your application checklist and a valid ID, you won’t be able to retrieve your passport.
If you wish to designate a third party to pick up your passport, your representative should bring :
- Your application checklist ;
- A photocopy of your valid ID ;
- Original and photocopy of his/her own passport, driving license or other valid ID;
- A written authorization letter signed by you.
Particular situations
The Consulate General of France in London is accepting visa applications from all United Kingdom residents (England, Northern Ireland, the Bailiwicks of Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, Isle of Wight, Scotland and Isle of Man).
All Member States of the Schengen area have a Consulate or are represented in the United Kingdom. Please make sure you apply for your visa at the correct Consulate, according to your main destination and duration of stay.
African countries represented by France
- The Republic of Djibouti for a maximum stay of 10 days ;
- The Central African Republic for a maximum stay of 30 days..
For longer stays, please contact directly the relevant Embassy in France or in the country of your choice.
Monaco
Monaco is represented by France for stays over 90 days.
Exemption cases : In application of Directive 2004/38, the family members (spouse, underage children, children aged under 21 dependent on the EU/EEA family member, direct parent dependent on the UE family member) of a European Union citizen are exempted of short stay visa if :
- Their British Resident Permit bears the mention “Family Member of an EEA national” or “Permanent Residence Card” ;
- And they are travelling to France along with their EU/EEA family member.
ATTENTION : The Consulate General of France recommends nevertheless to the holders of a “Permanent Residence Card” to apply for a short stay visa before their travel in order to ease the control at the border and the circulation into the Schengen area. Please note that family members of an EU/EEA national may have to present the official documents establishing the family link.
LEGAL OBLIGATION OF A VISA : If you don’t hold a British Residence Permit with the mention « Family Member of an EEA national » or « Permanent Residence Card », you will have to hold a visa in order to travel to the Schengen area. You will have to present the following documents along with your application :
- Proof of the family link with the UE/EEA national (official document) ;
- Proof of the nationality of the EEA/EU family member (passport, id) ;
- Proof of intention to travel along with the EU national.
How to get your visa if you’ve been accepted in a higher education program in France for the year 2021-2022 ?
Campus France UK which is a part of the Higher Education, Science and Innovation service will launch the new platform “Etudes en France” the 28th of May.
Registering on the “Etudes en France” platform is mandatory before applying for a long-stay student visa.
You need to register up to 3 months and at least fifteen days before your program begins in France.
You have to register on this platform if you have been accepted in the following types of programs:
- A first-year university program through the Parcoursup French platform
- A Licence 2 or a Licence 3, a first or second year of a master’s degree through your French higher education institution’s own recruitment procedure
- A dual-degree or an Erasmus program lasting more than 90 days
- A PhD as a full-time non-working student
- French as a Foreign Language student for more than 90 days
You will find all the information in this step-by-step document to get your student visa.
The platform opens the 28th of May
To get the information as soon as it is updated follow our social media and our partners’:
Non-EU schoolchildren living in the UK can travel visa free to France as long as:
- They are pupils at a general education school (up to sixth form);
- They are travelling on an organized school trip with their own school;
- They have their own valid passport, recognized by France and they are resident in the UK (valid residence permit);
- They are accompanied by a teacher from the school;
- The school must ensure it provide the accompanying teacher with a list of the pupils (full name, date and place of birth, nationality) on a headed paper signed, dated and stamped by the head of the establishment.
Cost-free
Both visa fees and service fees are gratis for holders of diplomatic, service and official passport.
Procedure
Holders of diplomatic, official and service passports are kindly invited to create an account and enter the necessary data required to proceed with their visa applications – they are however not required to pre-schedule an appointment and may attend the Visa Centre in the early afternoon to submit their applications and biometrics.
Fees
Visa fees
TLScontact service fees
The basic service fee is set in euros and is collected in local currency. Approximately 26GBP per file and are not refundable unless the applicant decides not to submit his file before the collection of biometric data.
Additional fees are also offered to visa applicants.
Payment of service fees :
- By debit or credit card (American Express cards are not accepted) ;
- By cash.
Credit/Debit card accepted for payments :
- Mastercard ;
- Maestro ;
- Visa ;
- Visa electron ;
- Solo ;
- VCB ;
Please note that the payments made by credit card may be subject to an additional non-refundable bank transaction fees of £3 which are not refundable.
Help
All the information you require to apply for a visa can be found on the FAQ pages and other pages of the TLScontact website.
However, if you have specific queries about the visa application, you can :
- Fill the form, after registration on our website ;
- Call us on the 0845 730 0118, from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 to 16.30 by leaving your contact details, option 4 so that one of our Customer Service Representatives will be in touch shortly.
Please note that our Customer Service Representatives do not reply directly to calls. You will be contacted shortly but do not leave messages as it would congest our lines.