Switzerland
Get information, make an appointment, and submit your application
Apply for a visa for France
Visa applications for France and Monaco submitted in Switzerland are examined by the French Consulate in Geneva; the only one authorized to take decisions about visas.
- For a Schengen short stay visa: plan to deposit your file at least 15 days before the planned departure date.
- For a long stay visa: plan a time from 3 weeks until 3 months between the deposit of your file and the planned departure date.
Swiss and European citizens do not need a visa for France, whatever the reason and the duration of their stay.
This visa exemption applies to French overseas territories, excepted for stay of more than 90 days in CTOM (Polynésie française, Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis et Futuna).
For a stay of more than 3 months in these territories, Swiss citizen need to apply for a long stay visa. For more information on the process, please contact the visa section directly.
Whom should I contact?
Visa applications submitted by residents in Switzerland and Liechtenstein are examined by the French Consulate in Geneva (appointment only).
What are the application fees ?
A file of visa application can be examined only after the payment of the fees (the rates are indicated in €uros but have to be paid in Swiss francs CHF). Its amount is collected in Swiss francs (CHF), only by bank card and all contactless payments (note, American Express cards are not accepted), at the current chancery rate.
The fees do not correspond to the cost of the visa but to the cost of the instruction of the file. A receipt corresponding to the paid amount is handed to the visa applicant.
No refund, even partial, is made in case of refusal of visa.
Book an appointment
Once your visa application is complete, you have to book an appointment with the visa section of the French Consulate in Geneva.
Appointment booking is only made online : book your appointment (warning: 1 person = 1 appointment, 2 persons = 2 appointments, and so on…)
From 01 April 2022, appointments will be made via our new application : make an appointment from 01 April.
When you have booked your appointment, you will be able, if necessary, to reschedule or avoid it through the tab “Revoir son rendez-vous” and also to print the appointment confirmation receipt if necessary (otherwise you can come without the receipt but with your passport).
The visa section try to handle the visa requests as soon as possible:
- 5 working days for the short stay visa,
- 10 working days for the long stay visa.
According to your nationality, the type of requested visa, the necessity of making additional checks etc., these deadlines can be extended.
We recommend you to book an appointment enough early with regard to your planned departure date to avoid disappointments.
The deposit of the file is possible from 6 months before the departure date.
Moreover, there is an increase of visa applications at the approach of the summer and winter school vacation. The applicants are invited to take the necessary measures to submit their demands with sufficient anticipation to avoid them to have to postpone their departure.
Visa section of the French Consulate in Geneva
Cours des Bastions 2
1205 Genève
Suisse
visas.geneve-cslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Standard (+41) (0) 22 319 00 00
With appointment only
Pratical information
Weekly closing on Saturdays and Sundays.
Public holidays in 2025:
- Wednesday, January 1: New Year
- Friday, April 18: Good Friday
- Monday, April 21: Easter Monday
- Thursday, May 1: Labor Day
- Thursday, May 29: Ascension
- Monday, June 9: Whit Monday
- Friday, August 1: Swiss National Day
- Thursday, September 11: Geneva fast
- Thursday, December 25: Christmas
- Wednesday, December 31: Restoration of the Republic of Geneva
Practical informations about your appointment
Practical informations about your appointmentvousPractical informations about your appointment
Personal appearance : any visa applicant aged 12 and older has to appear personally for the deposit of his file in the visa section of the Consulate.
On this occasion, the following biometric data are collected: a photograph and 10 fingerprints are digitized.
The children under age 12 are exempted from biometrics, so that their presence is not required. On the other hand the file of the child must be presented by one of his two parents or by the person holder of the parental right, with all the required documents, in particular a corresponding photo to the norme ISO/IEC (pdf).
Prepare your appointment
You must bring the following documents to your appointment ::
- A passport in good condition, issued no more than 10 years ago, the validity of which extends at least three months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen Area, including at least two blank pages
- 2 recent ID pictures in ISO/IECI format (pdf)
- The list of documents to submit
- The supporting documents from this list (originals + copy) specific to your situation and purpose of travel
- Payment of the visa fees: payment only in Swiss francs (CHF), in cash or with bank card (warning, only Maestro and Postfinance cards are accepted), ), at the current chancellery rate.
We remind to you that only the agents of the visa section are authorized to ask you additional documentary evidences and that no outside intermediary is approved regarding visas
Tracking your application
Your visa application may be tracked via the visa section with which you submitted your application. You will find further details on the Track the progress of your application page.
Your passport
The passport is not kept by the Consulate during the instruction period of your request.
In case of agreement, you will be notified the decision by the Consulate and invited to come with your passport.
If you have any problems with your visa application, please send an email: click here