What documents do I need for a France visa from the UK?

The standard short-stay set: a valid passport, the completed France-Visas application form, two photos, travel insurance with €30,000+ cover, proof of UK residence such as a BRP or visa, proof of accommodation, return travel booking, bank statements (typically the last 3 months), and a letter confirming your employment or student status. The France-Visas wizard generates your exact personal checklist.

How many months of bank statements do I need for a France visa?

Typically the last 3 months of statements, showing your name, a UK address consistent with your application, regular income and enough balance to cover the trip. Sudden large deposits with no explanation attract scrutiny, so if one exists, document where it came from.

Do I need travel insurance for a France visa?

Yes. Travel insurance with at least €30,000 of medical cover, valid across the whole Schengen area for your entire trip, is mandatory. Bring the insurance certificate showing your name, the cover amount and the dates; compliant single-trip policies start from about £12.

Does TLScontact tell me which documents to bring for France?

The official checklist comes from France-Visas: its online wizard generates a personal document list based on your nationality, UK status and trip purpose. TLScontact staff check that your file matches that list at your appointment, but they do not decide the application; the French consulate does.

France Visa Documents from the UK (2026): Full Checklist

Q: What are the passport requirements for a France Schengen visa?

Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years, be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned return from the Schengen area, and have at least 2 blank pages for the visa sticker and stamps. If it fails any of these tests, renew before applying.

The France visa document checklist

For a France short-stay (Schengen) visa from the UK, this is the standard document set from the France-Visas checklist. It is the typical list for a tourist or visit application; the France-Visas wizard generates your personal checklist based on your nationality, UK status and purpose, so always run it before your appointment.

Document	The requirement
Passport	Issued within 10 years, valid 3+ months beyond return, 2 blank pages
Application form	Completed online at France-Visas, printed and signed
Photos	2 recent photos to Schengen spec
Travel insurance	€30,000+ medical cover, whole Schengen area, full trip dates
Proof of UK residence	BRP or UK visa, valid (ideally 3+ months beyond return)
Accommodation	Hotel bookings, rental confirmation or host's attestation
Return travel	Return or onward booking out of the Schengen area
Proof of funds	Bank statements, typically the last 3 months
Status letter	Employer letter, or enrolment letter if you are a student

Passport: the three tests

Three passport rules catch people out. The passport must be no more than 10 years old on the day you enter, valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned return from the Schengen area, and have at least 2 blank pages. If your passport fails any test, renew it before starting the France-Visas form.

Proving funds and your reason to return

The consulate wants two things from your financial evidence: that you can afford the trip, and that your life is anchored in the UK. Bank statements (typically the last 3 months) should show your name, regular income and a balance that comfortably covers the trip; see the bank statement guide and proof of funds. The employment or student letter does the anchoring: it confirms your role or course, and ideally approved leave with your return date. Weak UK-ties evidence is the leading reason France applications are refused.

UK residence, accommodation and travel

You must be a legal UK resident to apply from the UK, so include your BRP or UK visa. Accommodation can be hotel bookings, a rental confirmation or a host's attestation d'accueil for private stays (see accommodation proof), and your return travel booking should match the dates everywhere else in the file. A flight itinerary rather than a paid ticket is acceptable at application stage.

Insurance: the €30,000 rule

Mandatory for every applicant: at least €30,000 of medical cover, valid across the whole Schengen area for the full trip. Compliant policies start from about £12; bring the certificate, not just a booking email. Details in the travel insurance guide.

Assemble it cleanly

Consistency decides files: every date, name and address should match across documents. Use the checklist generator for your tailored list, then the Bundler and Compressor to assemble one clean file. Prefer a human to build and review it? Our done-for-you service does the whole application for £188 all-in.