From the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“Decisions are made by the consular officer at the Embassy of France in Hanoi or the Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City — TLS Contact only collects, it does not decide. Schengen Visa Code legal maximum is 15 calendar days (Article 23); in practice TLS Contact / France-Visas typical processing time for Vietnamese applicants is around 3 weeks. Can extend to 45 days in specific cases. The visa fee (€90 short-stay) is not refunded if the visa is refused.”
What you need
- You must show: purpose of travel (hotel + itinerary), sufficient funds for the trip plus return, EUR 30,000 medical travel insurance valid in all Schengen states, and Vietnam-side ties (employment, family, property) sufficient to evidence return. Application is filed online at france-visas.gouv.fr; documents are lodged in person at TLS Contact Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City by appointment.
Checklist
22- 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) *
- Accommodation evidence — paid hotel reservation covering the full stay, OR a private-stay attestation (attestation d'accueil) *
03
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)
04
If applicant is employed
- Employer letter — confirming employment, position, salary, leave authorisation for the travel dates, expected return *
- Payslips — last 3 months *
05
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 *
06
If applicant is retired
- Pension or retirement income evidence — pension book or recent statements *
07
If applicant is a student
- School / university enrollment certificate and study-leave authorisation *
08
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
09
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 *
Sign in and unlock to see the full tips for each item.