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Obtain Transit Visa for France

Obtain Transit Visa for France

The airport transit visa (ATV) for France is solicited for specific types of citizens who are traveling from an airport in a country that is not part of the Schengen Area. They will have to stay in the international zone of a French airport while waiting for the connection for the final destination, which can also be located outside the Schengen area. The formalities for this type of visa can be entirely handled by one of our French immigration lawyers.

Requirements for French airport transit visas

First of all, the transit visa will serve to a single purpose only, and that to change the flights while staying within the international zone in a French airport. This means that you cannot travel outside the airport and visit the city you arrived in. Citizens from countries like Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Nigeria, Eritrea, Chad, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Central Africa Republic, Cameroon, India, Mali, Russia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Sudan, South Africa, Syria, and Palestine must verify and comply with the requirements of an airport transit visa for France. We remind that France is part of the Schengen Area, so the transit visa will also be imposed by the country members of the organization. In terms of documents, the following are the most important:

  •  a valid passport with at least two blank pages;
  •  a travel insurance policy that should cover medical services of at least EUR 30,000;
  •  the visa application form completed with personal information;
  •  two photos and proof that the visa fee has been paid.

As you can see, the above-mentioned formalities are not complex, but foreigners will have to ask for legal advice to be sure their application won’t be rejected. This is where our French immigration lawyers can provide complete legal advice and assistance.

What is a transit visa for seafarers?

The Transit Schengen visa for seafarers is required for the marine crew who needs to disembark in a Schengen port. Citizens of third world countries who must transfer to other vessels, who need medical support or must take care of family emergency cases in a Schengen harbor must obtain a transit visa for seafarers. In matters of documents, the shipping company will have to issue a letter stating the reason for such a visit or stay and a copy of the work contract. We remind that having health insurance is part of the policies and requirements for this kind of transit visa for France.

Are there any transit visa exceptions for France?

Yes, airport transit visas are not imposed for citizens who hold a diplomatic passport, have a Schengen visa, are family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens or hold a residence permit issued by one of the Schengen states. This means that citizens from the above-mentioned countries who present one of these statuses will no longer need an airport transit visa for France. In order to be sure you won’t need an airport transit visa, we suggest you talk to one of our French immigration lawyers and ask for legal advice.

Transit visa applications

Foreigners will have to check the itinerary and see if they land in France and need a transit visa. It is important to note that the application must be made in time, within 15 days before the arrival in France. The process can start with the help of our immigration lawyers in France who can work closely with the Embassy and Consulate involved. It is good to note that a transit visa is available only for 24 hours. In case you need more than just one day, another type of visa will be needed, but the validity must not exceed 5 days. Feel free to talk to us for complete legal advice.

As its name suggests, the transit visa is only used by those who pass through France en route to other destinations. For those who wish to remain in the country for short or long-term purposes, such as study, employment, or business, a residence permit that suits their purpose of stay is needed. Our team can help you understand the different rules for French residency that apply according to nationality.

How can we help with a transit visa for France?

Foreign citizens should consider the legal advice of an experienced team of lawyers in immigration in France, regardless of the purpose of the visit to this country. We can help you obtain a short or long-stay visa, student visa, work visa, the residence permit in France and we can offer complete legal advice. We have also gathered information and statistics about the population and immigration in France:

  •  according to worldometers.info, around 65 million is the population of France at this moment;
  •  there are about 6.5 million immigrants in France;
  •  about 255,000 of residence permits have been issued in France in 2018;
  •  approximately 123,000 asylum applications have been registered in 2018 in France.

Foreigners who want to obtain the transit visa for France are invited to contact our team of immigration lawyers in France and ask for legal advice and support.

Our team also guides applicants who wish to obtain other types of visas and offers services to foreign nationals who are already in the country and have questions about how they can apply for French citizenship. Obtaining this status is possible after five years during which the foreign nationals have remained in the country continuously, habitually. For more information, and assistance during application, please do not hesitate to contact us.