France has made a major change to its visa application process by requiring all visa appointments to be booked online for every nationality and visa type — including short-stay Schengen visas and long-stay national visas. This update, which took full effect in February 2026, replaces older methods like walk-ins, phone calls, or informal email requests with a digitised appointment booking system to improve efficiency, transparency, and security.
How the New Online System Works
Under the updated rules:
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🇫🇷 Online booking is mandatory: Every visa applicant must schedule a visa appointment through the official France-Visas portal before visiting a consulate or visa application centre. Traditional walk-ins or in-person appointment requests are no longer accepted.
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📋 Eligibility check first: Applicants begin by using the Visa Wizard tool on the France-Visas platform to determine whether they need a visa and which type is appropriate. Only eligible applicants can proceed.
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🖥️ Appointment via Démarches Simplifiées: After eligibility is confirmed, applicants use the Démarches Simplifiées portal to select and request an appointment slot. You must confirm the proposed date by email once notified — failure to respond can cancel your appointment.
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👤 In-person visit still required: Even though appointments are booked online, applicants must visit a visa centre or consulate on the scheduled date to submit documents, give biometrics (photo and fingerprints), and complete the application.
Why France Made the Change
The French government says this shift is designed to:
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🎯 Reduce fraud and ‘ghost’ bookings by limiting unofficial appointment practices.
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🕒 Shorten queues and administrative bottlenecks, especially during peak travel seasons or high-volume months.
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📊 Enhance transparency and predictability for visa applications by centralising scheduling and tracking online.
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📡 Improve security screening by integrating eligibility checks before appointments are confirmed.
French authorities have also warned the public to avoid unofficial appointment sellers or third-party agents claiming guaranteed slots, as these practices are not recognised and may be illegal.
What This Means for Applicants
If you’re planning to apply for a France visa in 2026:
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Start early: Book your visa appointment well in advance through the France-Visas portal to avoid delays, especially for popular travel months.
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Use only official tools: Always use the Visa Wizard and Démarches Simplifiées platforms — unofficial methods won’t be accepted.
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Confirm quickly: Check your email after requesting an appointment and confirm your slot by the deadline to avoid automatic cancellation.
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Bring complete documentation: On the day of your appointment, make sure all necessary papers, photos, and supporting documents are ready so your application isn’t rejected for missing information.
The new system marks a significant technologic upgrade in how France handles consular services, making the process more structured but also requiring applicants to plan ahead and follow digital steps carefully.