VISAHJELP

Family visit / private visit (≤ 90 days)

Short-stay Schengen visa for visiting family members or friends in France, up to 90 days within any 180-day rolling period. The visa is the same Schengen short-stay framework as tourism; what differs is the central evidence — the host in France provides an attestation d'accueil (host certificate) issued by their local mairie, in place of paid hotel bookings.

LAST VERIFIED · 2026-05-12 SOURCE: France-Visas · Independent · not affiliated

From the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“Decisions are made by the Embassy of France in Hanoi or the Consulate-General in HCMC — TLS Contact only collects. Schengen Visa Code legal maximum is 15 calendar days (Article 23); typical processing time for Vietnamese applicants is around 3 weeks. The visa fee (€90 short-stay) is not refunded if refused. The €30 attestation-d'accueil fee paid by the host is also non-refundable per F2191, even if the visa is refused.”
— French Ministry of Foreign Affairs · French consulates

What you need

  • You must show: a valid attestation d'accueil from your French host (signed at their mairie before you apply), evidence of the family relationship if applicable, EUR 30,000 medical travel insurance valid in all Schengen states, sufficient funds, employer authorisation for the trip (if employed), and Vietnam-side ties (employment, family, property) sufficient to evidence return. The visa application itself is filed online at france-visas.gouv.fr and submitted at TLS Contact Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

Checklist

23
  • Schengen visa application form (Cerfa 14076-05) — completed online and signed *
  • Two recent identical biometric photos (35mm × 45mm, ICAO standard) *
  • Original passport (valid 3+ months after planned Schengen exit; 2+ blank visa pages; issued ≤ 10 years ago) *
  • Passport copies — bio-data page + all pages with previous Schengen visas or visa-relevant stamps *
  • Vietnamese documents — notarised translation into English or French *
  • Travel medical insurance — minimum EUR 30,000 coverage, valid in all Schengen states, covering the entire intended stay *
02

Flight and accommodation

  • Travel itinerary — day-by-day plan of cities, dates, and main activities *
  • Flight evidence — search-engine printout showing availability for the planned dates (NOT a paid reservation) *
03

Host attestation

  • Attestation d'accueil — host certificate issued by the host's French mairie (€30 timbre fiscal) *
  • Family-relationship proof (marriage certificate, birth certificate)
04

Vietnam-side financial ties

  • Recent bank statements — 3 months, showing balance and transaction history *
  • Property or tax evidence — house/apartment title, property tax, or recent personal income tax return (where applicable)
05

If applicant is employed

  • Employer letter — confirming employment, position, salary, leave authorisation for the travel dates, expected return *
  • Payslips — last 3 months *
06

If applicant is self-employed or business owner

  • Business registration certificate (Giấy chứng nhận đăng ký kinh doanh) *
  • Recent business tax return / corporate tax filing *
07

If applicant is retired

  • Pension or retirement income evidence — pension book or recent statements *
08

If applicant is a student

  • School / university enrollment certificate and study-leave authorisation *
09

Vietnam-side family ties

  • Vietnamese household / residence registration (Xác nhận cư trú / VNeID Level 2 / Căn cước chip) *
  • Marriage certificate — if travelling without spouse or visiting spouse
10

Fees

  • Visa fee — EUR 90 (standard short-stay; reductions/exemptions per Article 16) *
  • TLS Contact service fee — EUR 25 per application (paid to the vendor at appointment) *
  • TLS Contact appointment confirmation *

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