France Visa from Bangladesh: An A to Z Guide
Every year, hundreds of people from Bangladesh get help from agencies to secure French visas. While these are designated services, they also come with an eye watering processing fee. In reality, everything that you need to complete your own visa application is already out there.
To make things easy for you, we decided to compile everything there is to know about French visas, their types, eligibility, the application process as well and why your visa might get rejected.
So hang tight and read along for an A to Z guide on securing a French Visa from Bangladesh.
Step 1: Determine the Visa Type
Selecting the right visa category is your first and essential step. It sets the foundation for your entire application process.
Step 2: Complete the Application Process
Follow the application procedures for either short stay or long stay visas, ensuring accurate form submission, fee payment, interview scheduling
Step 3: Monitor Your Visa Status
Regularly check your visa application’s progress on the official website to stay updated on its various stages, from submission to decision.
Types of French Visa for Bangladeshis
Bangladeshi nationals are eligible for French visas under several categories. However, all the visas issued by the French government fall under two overarching visa categories. They are:
- Short Stay Visa or Type C visa
- Long Stay Visa or Type D visa
| Visa Type | Eligibility |
| Airport Transit Visa | Only applicable if you are using France as a transit point Only grants access to the international area Does not entail Schengen benefits |
| Business Travel Visa | Granted to attend conferences, seminars or trade fairs Prior invitation to the said program needs to be attached with the visa application |
| Tourist Visa | Requires a detailed travel itinerary Granted for a maximum duration of 90 days Requires additional verification by other Schengen countries |
| Visitor Visa | Requires an invitation from friends, family or relative to visit France Granted for 90 days with either single or multiple entry over a duration of 6 months |
| Cultural Visa | Granted to those seeking a French visa for religious, cultural or sports purposes.Requires verifiable document proving affiliation in any of the above three cases Granted for 90 days over a period of 6 months |
| Medical Treatment Visa | Granted for medical purposes Requires additional medical documents supporting the need to visit France Granted for a duration of 90n days |
| Student Visa | Granted to students who hold valid admission to a designated French educational institution. Students are required to get a residence permit after reaching France |
| Employment Visa | Granted to those who holds a valid employment offer from a designated French employer |
| Job Seeker Visa | Granted to those who completed their higher studies in France and left the countryGranted only if the individual applies within 4 years of graduation |
| Family Reunion Visa | Granted to those wishing to visit their family in France The visa is granted based on the relationship and the intended duration of stay |
| Researcher Visa | Granted to those willing to undertake research work in France Needs to hold a valid invitation from a French institute The invitation needs to stipulate the duration of the stay |
| Freelancer Visa | Freelancer visa is awarded to those wishing to visit france on a self employment basis to engage in liberal works Must show proof of ability to sustain oneself during the stay of visit |
| Language Course Visa | Granted to those wishing to undertake language studies in France Needs to have admission documents from a designated French institute |
| Student Internship Visa | Granted to those wishing to pursue internship in France Needs to hold a valid internship offer with a stipulated duration of the internship |
1. Short Stay Visa for Bangladeshis
Bangladeshis visiting or wishing to visit France for a short duration for different purposes can apply for a short stay or a Type C visa.
The visa entails that a person visiting under the short-stay visa cannot stay in France for more than 3 months.
Short-stay visas can have both single entry or multiple entry based on the type of the short-stay visa.
Airport Transit Visa
The airport transit visa is necessary if you are planning to catch a connecting flight from France.
While it is technically not a visa that grants you access to France, it is part of the short-stay visa and one that is specifically required for Bangladeshis and some other nationals if they want to catch another flight through France.
As per the law, the transit visa allows access to the international area of the airport. This visa is not required by holders of diplomatic passports
Business Travel Visa
A business travel visa is granted to attend conferences, seminars, trade fairs, or even as an invitation from business partners residing in France. The visa is valid for France and the Schengen-designated areas for 90 days.
Tourist Visa
The tourist visa is granted to Bangladeshi citizens for a cumulative total of 90 days. Typically the tourist visa is designated with single entry but depending on the case, it might have multiple entry provisions as well.
It is important to note that a French tourist visa also holds the Schengen tourist visa status.
As per the Schengen list, a Bangladeshi tourist visa application needs to be reviewed by the other Schengen countries as well before France can authorize it.
Visitor Visa
The visitor visa is awarded to individuals who wish to visit friends, family, or relatives in the Schengen area.
One of the key criteria for obtaining this visa is that the applicant needs to have an official invitation from a person (friends, family, or relative) residing in France to be deemed eligible. The duration of the visa is 90 days over 6 months.
Cultural Visa
The cultural visa is awarded to those wishing to visit France for cultural, sports, or religious purposes.
This visa specifically requires the details of the program or event the applicant wishes to attend. The duration of the cultural visa is 90 days over 6 months.
Medical Treatment Visa
The medical treatment visa is awarded to an applicant based on medical grounds. Similar to other short-stay visas, the medical treatment visa is also applicable for other Schengen areas.
The application of the medical treatment visa needs to be supported by relevant medical documents for the visa to be granted. The duration for the medical treatment visa is 90 days.
2. Long Stay Visas for Bangladeshis
Long-stay visas are issued for anyone wishing to stay in France for more than 6 months.
These visas too may have either a single entry or multiple entry depending on the type of application and the decision of the French government. Long-stay visas are also known as Type D visas.
Student Visa
The student visa is awarded to an applicant provided that they have a valid admission into a French institute of higher education.
Since the duration of stay for a student visa tends to be a multi-year ordeal, the applicants can subsequently apply for a residence permit as they are required to stay more than 90 days in France.
Employment Visa
The employment visa is granted to individuals who fulfill the conditions and are eligible to work in France.
Proof of employment by a French company is a prerequisite to applying for a French visa in this category.
Job Seeker Visa
This visa applies to those who have already completed their bachelor’s or master’s in France and left the country.
If they wish to come back to France within 4 years of graduation, then the individuals are eligible for the job seeker visa.
After securing a job, the visa status changes to the standard employment visa.
Family Reunion Visa
This visa is valid for the immediate family members of a French national who wants to visit him/her in France.
Currently, this visa falls under the tourism and private stay visa categories.
The visa granting will depend mostly on the nature of the relationship and the intended duration of stay.
Researcher Visa
The researcher visa is designated for foreign scientists who want to pursue scientific research in government-recognized research institutions in France.
The visiting researcher must be supported with proper employment/ invitation from the research institute and the duration of the research must also be stipulated.
Freelancer Visa
The freelancer visa is granted to those who aim to visit France on a self-employed status working under liberal activity status.
One of the prerequisites for this visa is that the income from self-employment must meet the required threshold for minimum living costs in France.
The nature of self-employment also needs to be verified. However, that is done within 15 days of arrival in France.
Language Course Visa
The language course visa in France is similar to the student visa. The applicant will need to show proof that they are enrolled in a French language institute and properly stipulate the duration of the language course to be eligible for this visa.
Student Internship Visa
The student internship visa is granted to individuals who want to pursue an internship in France. This visa is similar to the employment visa where an individual will have to show proof of internship acceptance in a French organization. The duration of the student internship visa (short or long stay) will depend on the duration of the internship.
How to apply for a French visa from Bangladesh?
When applying for a French visa from Bangladesh, start by determining the visa category that suits your purpose of travel. Then, complete the online application, book an appointment at the consular office, and provide the required documents. You can track your application’s progress online and prepare for a potential visa interview.
1. Determine Visa Type
Identify the specific type of French visa you need based on your purpose of travel, such as tourism, business, or study.
2. Online Application
Begin the visa application process by completing the online application form, ensuring you have a valid passport with the required validity period.
3. Book Appointment
Schedule an appointment at the local consular office for document submission, which should be done well in advance of your intended departure.
4. Document Submission
Attend the appointment and submit the necessary documents, including your passport and biometric data (photo and fingerprints).
5. Tracking
Monitor the progress of your application through the online portal, with most French visas processed within a few weeks, though it can take up to 45 days.
6. Prepare Financials
Make sure you have sufficient funds and proper documentation, as well as travel insurance. Be prepared for an interview at the embassy to discuss your purpose of travel, accommodation, and financial status.
How to Apply for a French Visa from Bangladesh?
The application process for both short-stay and long-stay French visas are the same. All the visas are processed through the embassy portal of the French consulate of Bangladesh. Here is a detailed step-by-step guideline on the application process.
Step 1: Checking Visa Eligibility
The first thing to do as per the directives of the French authority is to check for the eligibility for the French visa.
It is necessary to understand whether you will need a visa or not as many applicants apply from EU/non-EU territories, the Schengen area, and even overseas French territories. The visa rules apply differently for each of these groups.
The visa eligibility can be checked by the visa wizard. This comprehensive interactive portal will guide you on whether you need a visa or not as well as the documents required for your application.
Assuming that you are a Bangladeshi wishing to visit France, you will most certainly need to apply for the visa to get to France.
Step 2: Online Application
The online application is the second stage of securing a French visa. There are some prerequisites to start the online application. These are:
- Holding a valid passport that was issued no more than 10 years ago at the time of application.
- It should have at least 3 months of validity at the time of leaving the Schengen area after your designated stay in France
- Or it should have at least 3 months validity at the time of your visa expiration (provided one is issued to you). This point may waver in case of extraordinary circumstances.
- 2 ID pictures. The format of the pictures should be ISO/IEC Format.
- The supporting documents (both original and copy). The supporting documents will be outlined in the visa wizard depending on your situation, visa intent, and your country of origin.
But before all of this, you will need to open an account in the visa application portal. There’s a comprehensive guide on how to create your account as well as a detailed step-by-step video guide on how to complete each of the steps of the online application.
Step 3: Booking an Appointment
The next step after completing the online application is to book an appointment at the local consular office. The period of application differs from country to country.
For Bangladesh, it is recommended that you book an appointment at least 15 days before you depart for a short stay or at least 1 month before your departure for a long stay.
There is also a stipulation regarding how early you can submit an appointment request. It cannot be submitted more than 6 months before departure for a short stay or more than 3 months for a long stay. Head over to the official portal for visa appointments to book an appointment.
Step 4: Submit the Application
The appointment should be attended with all the supporting documents (CERFA and receipt of appointment). The appointment should take around 20 minutes.
You will need to submit the physical copies of the supporting document including your passport for the consulate to review and process the visa application.
All French visas are biometric visas so your photo and fingerprint will be taken at the time of appointment.
You will be exempt from the biometrics if you had a Schengen visa issued against your passport in the past 59 months.
Step 5: Track Your Application
The progress of the application can be checked from the account that you have opened for the online application.
Usually, French visas are processed within 15 days. For Bangladesh, the average duration is 3 weeks. In extreme cases, the duration may extend up to 45 days.
Fees for French Visa from Bangladesh
The fees collected by the French consulate are used for processing the application. In case of visa rejection, the visa fees will not be returned. Here is a detailed fee matrix for the French visa application.
| Fee/Category | Full Rate | Reduced Rate (only applicable for students considered by a Center of Studies in France) |
| Schengen visa and Airport transit visa | 80 euros | 40 euros |
| Short-stay visa for Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Saint Martin and Saint-Barthélemy | 60 euros | 35 euros |
| Long stay visa | 99 euros | 50 euros |
| Adopted Child | 15 euros | N/A |
| Short-stay visa for New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte and French Southern and Antarctic Lands | 9 euros | N/A |
What do they ask in the French Embassy during a Visa Interview?
The exact questions that are asked in the French embassy or consulate will vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for.
However, some common questions are regularly repeated during the visa appointment. These include:
- What is the purpose of your visit?
- Whether you have sufficient funds to bear the expense of your travel
- Employment status
- Where will you live in France?
- Your history of Schengen visa
- Your travel itinerary
- Travel Insurance
- Health and medical insurance
- Duration of your stay
- And whether you have any criminal record or not
Common reasons for getting French visa rejected
The common reasons for getting your French visa rejected are the same as why most visas get rejected. There are no direct outlines of what may actually lead to visa rejection.
It can be a single factor or a combination of multiple factors altogether. Some of the common reasons include
- Lack of financial means
- Lack of correct documentation
- Lack of travel insurance
- Weak ties to the home country
- History of criminal activity
- The purpose and duration of the stay
- History of overstay and visa violation (in Schengen area or other countries)
- False or dubious information
- Incomplete itinerary
Appeal Process After Getting an France Visa Rejection
There is an appeal process in place in case of visa refusal by the French consulate. However, it is a long and tedious process.
An applicant is eligible to contest the decision of visa refusal within 30 days by appealing. The appeal needs to be made before the Commission for Appeals against visa refusal decisions for long-stay visas (CRRV – BP 83609 – 44036 NANTES CEDEX 1).
In the case of a short-stay visa, the application needs to be made before the Deputy Director of Visas in the case of a short-stay refusal (BP 83609 44036 NANTES CEDEX 01).
This also applies to implicit visa refusal where no decision has been communicated to the applicant regarding visa refusal.
VISA Process Timeline
The total time needed to get a French visa can vary depending on the type of visa, individual circumstances, and processing times.
Total time from making payment to BDV: 30.5 – 38.5 months
*Timing fluctuates and changes, since this is a government processing. Each individual will have a unique process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Well that covers everything there is about the French visa. However, we understand you might have some other queries as well. Here’s some of the common queries that we have seen people ask.
Well there you have it folks, everything you need to know about French visa application from Bangladesh. The recent visit by French President Emmanuel Macron has renewed Bangladesh France to new heights.
Whether it’s for tourism, study, or even employment purposes, we hope that this comprehensive guide will tell you everything that you need to know about securing a French visa.
