Advice on entry to the France and visas

General information

Depending on your nationality, a visa is required when intending to travel to France. All visas must be applied for prior to departure at the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.

The type of visa required depends both on the duration and purpose of your stay in France: tourism, professional purposes, studies, family purposes.

If you do need a visa then you can apply at:

https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/home 

For stays equal to, or shorter than 90 days

You will need to apply for a short-stay visa.

Regulations and types of visas vary according to the French territory you intend to visit:

For European territory (mainland France), France complies with Schengen regulations related to the Schengen area, and issues a short-stay Uniform Schengen visa;

Short-stay visa

This type of visa is generally issued for tourism, business trips or family visits.

It is also issued to persons entering to France to take part in short training programs, internships, conferences, and corporate meetings, or to engage in remunerated activities (whatever the form), not exceeding 90 days.

Invitation letters

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel. We are able to provide invitation letters confirming conference registration and acceptance of any abstracts for which you are the main presenter. You can request this when registering for the conference, or by contacting us at khalid.lamnawar@insa-lyon.fr