Step 1: Complete The France-Visas Form
Create an account on the France-Visas website by entering your personal email address and a password.
Please note that the France-Visas form should be completed and printed prior to booking an appointment. As soon as your form is validated your application form will be sent to your email address. The form must be signed by the applicant in person.
Step 2: Check Your Document List
Read the list of documents on the France-Visas website which need to be submitted with your visa application based on your travel purpose and prepare the documents carefully. Please always choose the correct travel purpose.
Step 3: Create Your TLScontact Account
Please create your personal user account, and activate your account by clicking the provided link in the email sent to you.
If you wish to continue your studies in France, please contact Campus France Chine.
Step 4: Input Your Data
Log in to your account, fill in the requested personal data. If you are a member of a group of people applying for a visa together, please fill in the data of those accompanying you too. Submit the group when you finish.
Step 5: Make An Appointment
Choose a date and time of your convenience to submit your application at our Visa Application Centre. Do not forget to print out your notification as it will be required at our welcome area.
Enjoy the convenience of our agents coming to the place of your choice to proceed with your visa application(s). For more information, click here.
You hold an official Chinese passport: diplomatic, service, PAP
For applicants holding a diplomatic / service / public affairs passport: when the visa application form is completed, please print it out, sign it and hand it to the Chinese authority in charge of your visa application together with the other documents in your file, according to the indications given to you by the competent authority.
The Consular Affairs Office (if the application is filed in Beijing) or the Waiban (if the application is filed in a Consulate General other than Beijing) will make an appointment for you with the relevant Consulate. For the follow-up of your application, please contact the consular affairs office or the waiban, depending on where your application was submitted.
You hold an offical passport but not a Chinese citizen
Official passport holders with a nationality other than Chinese must complete the form, print it and sign it. The form will be attached to the necessary documents. The appointment with the consulate of your place of residence is managed by TLScontact, by clicking on this link. Applications must be submitted to the embassy or consulate general and not to TLScontact.
Step 6: Application Submission
Please arrive on time for your appointment with the appointment confirmation letter. If you are late or you fail to attend your appointment, you will be required to make a new appointment.
- An extensive range of Added Value Services is available to facilitate your application submission process;
- Your application and supporting documents will be checked for completeness according to the requirements of the Consular Authority and your biometric data will be captured;
- The visa and service fees are paid in the Visa Application Centre. Following completion of these steps, your application is transferred to the Consular Authority for decision making.
Biometric exemptions:
- Children under 12 years old;
- Applicants who are physically unable to submit their fingerprints for scan. However, if it is possible to scan at least one fingertip, then applicants have to go through the biometric step. In the case of a temporary inability to provide the fingerprints (plaster, bandage, etc.), then the applicant will have to come in person to allow the fingerprints scan the next time they apply for a visa;
- Applicants who are applying for a new Schengen visa and have already submitted their biometric data within the past 59 months during a past successful Schengen visa application. Applicants in this case will have to provide the visa sticker number and a photocopy of the previous visa. This exemption does not apply to long stay visa applicants and applicants visiting the DROM-CTOM, for whom any new visa application requires the biometric data capture.
Important: If “VIS 0” is written on the last Schengen visa sticker, this means that only your alphanumeric data and photograph have been collected, but not your fingerprints. You are therefore required to appear in person to submit your biometric data.
You can track your application at any time by logging in your personal account.
Step 7: Visa Processing
Your application will be considered by the Consular Authority. TLScontact does not make any decision related to your visa application.
The Consular Authority may ask for more information or additional document. If this happens, you will be contacted by email or phone with detailed instructions.
Important notice: You can track your application anytime by visiting your personal account on our website.
Step 8: Passport collection
After the Consular Authority has made a decision on your visa application, your passport will be returned to the Visa Application Centre. You can collect your passport in person or by a representative:
Collection in person:
- ORIGINAL TLScontact Visa Application Checklist (obtained upon submission of your visa application at Visa center);
- ORIGINAL and copy of ID card of applicant (or legal guardian of minor applicant),
Collection by representative:
Representative may retrieve your passport on your behalf with the documents listed below:
- ORIGINAL TLScontact Visa Application Checklist (obtained upon submission of your visa application at Visa center);
- ORIGINAL filled and verified Authorization letter (Template to download) provided by the French Consular Authority (fully filled, signed and being the one submitted as verified by TLScontact)
- ORIGINAL ID document of the representative that is the same type as indicated on the Authorization letter
In case of collection way or representative change before passport collection
- ORIGINAL filled and verified authorization letter with PREVIOUS representative information, and verified by TLScontact; (Not applicable for “collection method change from self-collection to representative)
- ORIGINAL filled and signed Authorization letter with NEW representative information;
- New Authorization letter need to be resubmitted at the Visa Application Center in person for TLS acceptance.
- If the Representative change was not notified and verified by TLScontact in advance, TLScontact will not allow the non-approved representative to collect the passport.
If you have chosen Express Courier Return Service, your passport will be sent to the address chosen during the submission.
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