France, with all its exquisite beauty, is incomplete without a visit to its overseas territories. However, to visit them, one has to undergo a French Overseas Visa Application Form. The French Overseas Territories Visa Application Form may be obtained from the French Embassy or the consulates. Visa rules differ from the territorial part of the country, as the visa policy of the French overseas territories differs depending on the overseas department, collectives and other territories. The French Overseas Territories Visa Policy is a set of clearly laid down rules and regulations. It is expected that visitors are well aware of them before they embark on a visit.
Before we get into the French Overseas Territories Visa Requirements for the French Overseas Territories Visa Application Form, it is pertinent that we get to know the French Overseas Territories.
Most of us are aware of France, situated in South Western Europe. France has been of immense influence for centuries across the world. Through its cultural uniqueness, language, cuisine, literature, and fine arts, it has established a vast network of Francophiles across the length and breadth of the globe. However, France is vaster than that. Most travellers miss out on the long list of French Overseas Territories, primarily because of a lack of knowledge. Hence, whilst travelling, one must do ample research on French overseas territories and how to reach there.
Here is the list of French Overseas Territories that is a must-visit for every world traveller:
Each has separate French Overseas Visa Requirements, which is an important thing to know for travellers.
The visa law is categorized under the following head:
Nationals from the following countries are allowed to visit without a French Visa but only for short stays of up to 3 months to Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Martinique, and Reunion:
Nationals from the following countries are allowed to visit without a French Visa but only for short stays of up to 3 months to French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, New Caledonia and its dependencies, (Terres Australes et Antarctiques françaises (TAAF)), Mayotte, Saint Pierre et Miquelon:
France usually allows short stay trips across its territories, though longer trips are allowed to nationals of the countries mentioned above. There are also restrictions based on the reason for visit and nature of work. It is generally done to prevent illegal immigration, crime, and unfair employment advantages. After one has acquired the requisite knowledge of the French Overseas Territories comes the important aspect of applying for it. How to apply for visas has often befuddled visitors. Let us look at the steps to help visitors apply for visas for entering the French Overseas Territories.
It has to be remembered that the French Overseas Territories are not part of the country’s European Territory. Hence, the Schengen agreements and all rules and regulations about it are not applicable here. So visitors on a short stay visa to the Schengen territories will be barred from entering from the French Overseas Territories and vice versa. Obtaining a visa for the overseas territories has to be a separate activity and will not be clubbed with formalities about visits to countries on the mainland.
For those who plan to visit both the Schengen Territories and the French Overseas Territories, then separate visa applications have to be submitted.
One of the mistakes that most applicants make is applying for visas at the last moment. It can lead to the cancellation of the trip since every consulate has its own processing time. Therefore, it is advisable that travellers, intending to visit the French Overseas Territories apply for their respective visas much earlier, but not earlier than three months from the date of travel, to prevent any inconvenience caused.
It is also advisable that a complete visa application be submitted since the consulates will not entertain any half-baked ones and reject them outright. The documents that are submitted need to be in French.
The instructions provided by the French Passport office are precise and have to be followed vigorously.
There are plenty of documents that are required, along with the application for a Visa.
The Passport
It is the single most important document that the traveller has to carry with him or her. The passport has to be issued in the last 10 years and not more and must be valid for a minimum of three months after the departure date from the said French Territory.
Do know that they are all short-stay visas, the form of which shall be downloaded from the provided link.
Passport Size Photographs
Three passport-sized photographs have to be submitted along with the form. These Photographs have to be recent and clicked in front of a light background. Any discrepancy arising out of the photograph and there is a high possibility of the application getting rejected.
Evidence of Sustainability
France takes the evidence of sustainability with extreme seriousness since it is particular about letting illegal immigrants enter its borders. Hence, the traveler has to submit the following documentation, proving sustenance during the stay:
Cost
The cost for the application of the short-stay visa varies from €35 to €60. This depends on the nationality of the applicant. The fees are non-refundable and even if the visa application is rejected, it won’t be returned.
It needs to be known that like most consular services across the globe, quite a few visa-related services have been outsourced to third-party vendors. Because of this, an additional charge may be levied on top of the usual charges.
The usual steps involved in applying for a visa for the French Overseas Territories are as follows:
The usual time taken for processing the visa application is 15 working days. Under certain circumstances, it may take a bit longer. Hence, as suggested earlier in the article, the visa should be applied earlier, though not earlier than 3 months from the journey date.
It is also helpful if the applicant looks out for any information that the French Ministry of External Affairs puts out concerning changes in rules and regulations.
Rejection
The consulate may reject the visa application on many grounds. The visa application fee, being a non-refundable one, will not be returned. The reasons for rejection will be provided in writing, along with the opportunity to appeal against the rejection. The relevant authorities may be asked to reconsider the rejection and recheck the application. One of the oft-used reasons for rejection has been incomplete application forms or incorrectly filled ones. It has to be taken care of.
A visit to the French Overseas Territories is a dream come true for many. However, due diligence has to be followed for it to become a reality while applying for the visa.