France long-stay (Type D) visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a France long-stay (Type D) Schengen visa when you apply from Canada.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇫🇷 France·····✈·····🇨🇦 from Canada
To
France
Type
D · LONG STAY
Apply at
CANADA
Centre
VAC
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Action neededLong stay — national (Type D) · applying from Canada.
Documents ready00 / 11
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
Cover letterA letter of introduction stating who you are and why you are travelling.
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 figures below are the short-stay (Type C) means of subsistence. A long-stay (Type D) visa sets its funds requirement nationally by purpose (study, work, family reunification, income) — check the consulate for the amount that applies to your case.
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.
- WorkSigned work contract + French work authorisation, employer letter, payslips.
- StudyAdmission letter, Campus France clearance where applicable, proof of financial means, accommodation proof.
- Family reunificationKinship certificates, proof of inviting person's residence, housing and resources, OFII approval where applicable.
- Working Holiday (Canadian citizens 18-35)Canada-France bilateral Working Holiday (PVT) long-stay visa available with its own quota and document set.
- All D visa holders (VLS-TS)Validate the long-stay visa online with OFII within 3 months of arrival in France.