Updated August 2018
Applying Schengen Visa from French Embassy Online
The process in applying for Schengen Visa through the French Embassy has changed since I applied in 2007 and 2011. It is now more efficient with the submission of documents done online.
Every information you need is now available on the new France-Visas website. After filling the visa application form, you will be redirected to the on-line appointment and tracking systems of VFS Global.
Philippine passport holders are required Schengen visa to visit one or more of the states in the Schengen Region in Europe. This visa is valid in all Schengen states for a stay of up to 90 days within a six-month period for a visit, tourism or business. It is not valid for employment.
Schengen Region
The Schengen area consists of the ff countries
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, the Czech Republic.
As of 2014, valid Schengen visa (type: double or multiple entry), who have already entered the Schengen area, may travel to the following without additional visa and may stay for period equal to the remainder of the time for which the Schengen visa is valid.
– Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania
Philippine passport holders are required Schengen visa to visit one or more of these Member States. This visa is valid in all Schengen states for a stay of up to 90 days within a six-month period for a visit, tourism or business. It is not valid for employment.
When to apply for Schengen Visa?
Applications can be made earliest three (3) months before the planned entry.
How much is Schengen Visa?Â
The visa-processing fee is EUR 60. The fee is non-refundable even if application is unsuccessful.
What are the requirements in applying Schengen Visas?
1. Signed and filled up Schengen Visa Application Form (click this) with photo attached, plus 1 additional photo.
Photo Specification
- Color photo taken against white background;
- Clear and of good quality;
- Printed on normal photographic paper;
- 45 mm high x 35 mm wide in size
- Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or tinted spectacles, or a head covering
- The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows) and the applicant should be facing forwarding, looking straight ahead.
2. Valid passport with 3 months validity from the end of visa duration. Photo copy of valid and former visas, if any.
3. Cover letter explaining the purpose of your trip and detailed itinerary. If you don’t have this, you have to write one on the spot before they will accept your requirements. Here is the cover letter addressed to the Honorable Consul I made in 2007.
4. Details of your trip
- Round trip ticket reservation. Reservations only.
- Itinerary of the whole duration including departure and arrival dates.
- Accommodations – hotel vouchers, seriously. If you’re staying with a good friend who is a French resident/national, then you need them to provide you with something called Attestation d’accueil (Certificate of Board and Lodging) and your host’s national identity card or residence permit.
Why I said good friend?  Because it’s a lot of trouble for them to get this. If you have a French national host, just cut and paste below list for the document you needed from them.  These are basically records of their existence in France such as title of property or contract of lease, utility billing statement as address proof, bank statements, medical records, pay slip, and finally they have to go to the city hall to have all these certified. Like I said, lots of trouble. :)
The attestation d’accueil is a form needed to be presented to the City Hall with the following documents:
- la carte nationale d’identité ou le passeport, ou la carte de résidence
- livret de famille de l’hébergeant
- justificatifs de domicile (EDF-GDF, facture Télécom, facture Eau)
- titre de propriété (taxe foncière) ou de location (taxe d’habitation)
- contrat de bail ou descriptif du logement
- 2 derniers bulletins de salaires ou justificatifs divers de ressources mensuelles (retraite, CAF)
- dernier avis d’imposition ou de non imposition
- noms, prénoms de l’étranger, date et lieu de naissance, adresse exacte, n° du passeport et sa copie, copie du document justifiant le lien de parenté s’il y a lieu
- attestation d’assurance médicale de l’hôte
- un timbre spécifique dit « timbre OMI » d’un montant de 15 euros, il sera demandé à l’issue d’une réponse favorable. Disponible dans les perceptions et chez les buralistes.(Attention : il faut autant de timbres que de personnes accueillies sauf s’il s’agit de l’accueil d’une même famille avec des enfants mineurs).
5. Proof of employment
- Certificate of employment stating monthly salary and approved leave of absence.
- If self employed, official business registration for current and previous year.
6. Proof of Income
- Income Tax Return
- Recent Bank Certification
- Photocopy of the last 3 months statement of Account of the same bank account.
- If someone other than yourself is paying for the the trip, then submit financial document of the sponsor instead.
7. Identity / Marital Status:
- Photocopy of First page of Passport and all relevant obtained visas
- Authenticated birth certificate from NSO. If married, bring photocopy of your marriage contract.
8. Travel insurance that covers the entire duration of your intended stay with minimun coverage EUR 30,000. The medical policies must state the following points :
- Medical attention and treatment will be given in case of illness or accident
- The injured or ill traveller can be transported home for treatment + body repatriation in case of death
- The insurance coverage is a least 30 000 euros (50 000 US dollars)
- The insurance must be valid for all 25 Schengen member states which should be listed on the policy
- The insurance company must be re-insured, the name of the re-insurer and his TOLL FREE phone number must be listed on the policy
- The policy must allow CASHLESS SETTLEMENTS of claims. The name of the company in charge of such settlements and their toll free number must be clearly stated on the policy.
Where to Buy Travel Insurance in the Philippines
I used to buy insurance with an agent, but I now buy Travel Insurance through Pacific Cross, World’s Nomad
How long does it take for Schengen Visa to be released?
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How to Apply UK Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Tongan Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Korean Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply South African Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Romanian Visa in the Philippines
ako po ay isang 18 taong gulang at gusto po ng tita ko na mag tour sa sweden for 3 months..papayagan ba ako ng embassy?
It depends upon your documents, if you got the complete requirements and attestation regarding the residency of your Aunt.. My friend got her visa that’s a Schengen Visa she coming back and forth to Sweden without hassle.
asko ko lng if anyone here tried applying in Norway embassy? is the schengen visa valid there as well?
hi po sa lahat,magtatanng lang po.interview ko na po kasi sa feb 5 sa italian embassy for tourist isa,bibisitahin ko po ang aking girlfriend,ang problema ko po wala po akong sariling bank account,pero balak ko magbukas ng account at magdedeposit ng 195k at kukuha ako ng letter of support mula sa lola ko with her bank statement.ang tanong ko po ok lang po ba yung gagawin ko?hindi po kaya madedeny?maraming salamat po sa lahat ng sasagot
Hi Jonathan, I remember in UK visa application they required the applicants to sign an authorization to allow UK embassy to inquire for your Bank account movement thru your Bank. I am not sure if the Italian embassy has the same policy. It might raise suspicion if you just opened your account days before your visa filling.
Sino mag shoulder ng travel expenses me? your lola? then you need all her financial documents to show them they will check kase when you open the account red flag yan kung kakaopen lng
ako po magpprovide ng travel expenses ko kaso lang bago lang ako nag-open ng account ko.alanganin po ba talaga pag ganun?kahit verifiable naman yung account mo?kukuha sana ako ng affidavit of support sa lola ko,same sa ginawa ng gf ko dati,pero sa kanya land title ang ipprinesenta nya,ako naman bank statement ng lola ko sana kasi alam kong malaki ang nakadeposit sa kanya.
I’m so thrilled to be able to land on this thread. I just wanted to ask a bit of advice from you, guys, as this would be my first time to go abroad and apply a visa. My questions are stated below:
1. I have all the necessary requirements I need. (solvency from my sponsor, letters and other documents) I am a student on leave (i just took this leave after last semester SY 2013-2014 and i’m planning to come back by June of 2014). It’s just that I’m worried, is it really necessary that I should be enrolled or a certificate will do coming from my university stating that I’m on leave and that I intend to finish my studies by next year? Will this justify that I would be coming and wouldn’t overstay there?
2. I am a single mom. If i include my son’s birth certificate on my application, will it justify that I am not planning to go beyond the date of my stay in the Schengen territory?
I am looking forward to all your responses! I’m in dire need of help, i’m very clueless about this
Will be travelling to London early next year and we have plan to go to Paris. Since the flight details are required for visa, can we just use our roundtrip reservation for the UK flight? Or we really need to reserve a ticket from UK to Paris? We plan to go to Paris via train…
You need to show a detailed itinerary of your trip to the consul flight/train hotel reservations only
i’m a filipina currently working in thailand.. can i apply for schengen visa here in BKK? or do i need to go back home to the phil.? thanks!
Hi wanderlass I love your Blog. :))
Thank you. I’m happy to know. :)
Hi Everyone,
I just applied for my schengen visa and received it after 5 days. I think you just need to have a complete set of requirements and you need to assure the consul that you will be back to the philippines, this is why certificate of employment is very important indicating the approved leave of absence from employer. For Hotel Bookings, you can try bookings.com for a reserve now pay later. For flight details you can ask a travel agency for flight reservation, I got mine without any payment. haha. My suggestion is research first. Learn from the experience of others, learn from their mistakes.
Hi ask Lang po what po mga requirements mag apply visa pupuntang Norway? And boyfriend ko di pa Kami nag kita piro sa personal piro lag I Kami magkausap skype. At xa lahat sasagot sa aking travel papuntang Norway. Answer pls po.
hi mam… when you say If someone other than yourself is paying for the the trip, then submit financial document of the sponsor instead. yung company po ba dito sa ph ang magsusubmit, travel incentive ko po kasi na na hit sa company yung europe trip na nakuha ko, bale mga 10 person po kaming aalis, some of us konti lang po ang laman ng bank account, ano po ang kailangan naming ipaprovide sa company. thank you po
pa help naman po
Question lang po, ang company po namin dito sa philippines ang magshoushoulder ng expenses like airplane, hotel etc, all expense paid trip ng company, incentive ko po ito kasi na hit ko ang quota nila last year and this year, 2 tikets po for 15 days 14 nights trip to europe, ,ano ano po ang hihingin kong documents sa company, sabi po kasi nila yung visa kami ang kukuha