France family visit visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a France family visit Schengen visa when you apply from Canada.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇫🇷 France·····✈·····🇨🇦 from Canada
To
France
Type
C · FAMILY
Apply at
CANADA
Centre
VAC
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Action neededVisiting family / friends — short stay (Type C) · applying from Canada.
Documents ready00 / 13
Competent authority
Consulate General of France in Montreal (examines all applications lodged in Canada)
Application centre
VFS Global (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa)
Recommended — commonly expected even when not on the official list
Travel itineraryA day-by-day plan of your trip to attach to the application.
Fees
Consular (Type C)
€90
Service fee
CA$47
Est. total (adult)
CA$182
Long stay (Type D)
€99
The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in CAD · centre: TLScontact.
Fee notes
France uses TLScontact in Canada (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa); paid in CAD. Service ~EUR 31.5 (~C$47). Type D standard EUR 99 (~C$149), approximate for 2026.
Timeline
high confidenceProcessing
15–45 days
End-to-end
4–10 weeks
Centre
VAC
Appointment wait
High-demand; appointments cannot be booked more than one month out, and a paid waitlist (CA$47) commonly involves a 2-3 week wait for an invitation.
Application centre
VFS Global (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa) under the France-Visas system. All Canadian applications examined by the French Consulate General in Montreal.
Timeline notes
High-demand from Canada. Slots open on a rolling ~1-month window; paid waitlist when full. All files route to the Consulate General in Montreal for decision.
Funds to show
high confidenceThe amount you must be able to prove, per the Schengen Borders Code reference amount. It depends only on the destination — not on your nationality or where you apply.
Per day
€65
Minimum
—
In EUR ≈
as shown
no accommodation booked
€120 / day
with hotel booking (base daily SMIC)
€65 / day
proof of private accommodation / attestation d'accueil (half SMIC)
€32.5 / day
Notes
Base = daily SMIC (EUR 65.00). If NO hotel reservation is presented, EUR 120/day required. If a hotel reservation covers part of the stay: EUR 65/day for the booked period + EUR 120/day for the rest. Holders of an attestation d'accueil (hosted) need only half the SMIC = EUR 32.50/day. Travel medical insurance also required.
Consulates apply discretion and may expect a buffer above this figure — treat it as a floor, not a guarantee.
Funds source ↗⚠ Special cases & caveats
- Non-Canadian nationals resident in CanadaMust hold valid Canadian residence document valid beyond intended return.
- Canadian citizensVisa-exempt for family/friend visits up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Host in FranceProvides attestation d'accueil validated by the mairie plus proof of accommodation/funds.