Are France’s Visa Rules Changing? Here’s What’s Actually Happening

Multiple media sites have reported that there is a mandatory change to the France visa application process for both short-stay and long-stay visas.

Still circulating on various news sites, it's being communicated that all France visa appointments must be booked through the new Démarches Simplifiées website, adding yet another layer to an already multifaceted process.

However, is this true? Is France's visa process changing? And what do travelers need to know in order to submit their visa applications successfully?

We have the details.

France's new administrative website

France's new Démarches Simplifiées website is a platform designed to help French citizens and residents simplify all of their administrative procedures for official documents (such as driver's licenses or resident permits).

It is an official government website that aims to become a "one-stop shop" for everything admin for French residents.

While this new government website has the hope that different branches and organizations will opt in, it isn't mandatory. Organizations can choose whether or not to connect their services and processes to it. This means that prefectures could choose to use this website or not.

When it comes to travel specifically, Démarches Simplifiée is not a part of the Schengen visa application process.

What is known

According to an inside source, a radical change to the visa application process has not been formally announced or implemented.

When applying for a Schengen visa for France, the steps are still as follows:

• Applicants must start the process on the official France-Visas website.
• The applicant will be redirected to the appointed Visa Processor (i.e., TLScontact, VFS Global, etc.), or consulate in some cases, to book an appointment.
• The applicant will attend their appointment and submit their application.

This new website is not designed to be a part of the Schengen visa application process.

With this in mind, it may be used for people who are already French residents who need to renew their Carte de Séjour, for example (their residence permit), or complete other admin-related tasks.

If a resident needs to use this new site, they will be informed during the applicable process.

Which changes are confirmed

There is one major change that is in the works, and that is the complete digitization of the Schengen visa application process.

A brand new online platform called EU VAP is currently being developed that will revolutionize the process once launched.

What is today a very manual process will tomorrow be a simplified one (not to be confused with the Démarches Simplifiées site, of course).

Instead of printing out all of the required documents and attending an in-person appointment to submit applications, visa-hopefuls will be able to complete the process from the comfort of their homes.

While this takes most of the process online, the process won't be entirely digital. Applicants must still submit biometric information (fingerprints) in person, and an appointment will be mandatory.

There may be some situations where applicants don't need to attend the biometrics appointment, however. If applicants have submitted their biometric information within the past 59 months and are applying for a new visa, they may be exempt from this in-person part.

EU VAP won't just be for France. It will be a "universal" platform for all Schengen visa applications, developed and maintained by the European Union. There are currently 29 countries in the Schengen area, including popular destinations like Spain, Italy, and, of course, France.

All of that to be said, Démarches Simplifiées and EU VAP are not the same thing, and really don't have anything to do with one another.

When applying for a Schengen visa for France, travelers should make sure that they follow the directions provided to them on the official France-Visas website and by the Visa Processor (or consulate if their country doesn't have an appointed visa application center).

In addition to that, travelers should understand that with EU VAP on the horizon, which is expected to launch in 2028 with limited availability and full functionality by 2030, changes are indeed coming.

Any significant changes or overhauls to the visa application process (for France or any other Schengen country) will be formally announced.

If applicants aren't sure about what the process is or what they should do, they should always check with the France-Visas site and/or their regional visa application center.

To reiterate, Schengen visa applicants do not need to use the Démarches Simplifiées website.

What does this mean for residents?

If you're a French resident, you may be directed or advised to use the Démarches Simplifiées for future administrative procedures.

Know that this is a safe and secure government website designed to ease historically tedious processes.

Make sure you are following Insurte for the latest details on European travel and Schengen visas.

FAQs: France visa changes

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