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 United Kingdom.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇫🇷 France·····✈·····🇬🇧 from United Kingdom
To
France
Type
D · LONG STAY
Apply at
UK
Centre
VAC
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Action neededLong stay — national (Type D) · applying from United Kingdom.
Documents ready00 / 11
Competent authority
French visa section for the United Kingdom
Application centre
TLScontact (London, Manchester, Edinburgh)
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
£35
Est. total (adult)
£116
Long stay (Type D)
€99
The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in GBP · centre: TLScontact.
Fee notes
TLScontact London, Manchester, Edinburgh. Service fee ~£35 base (sources cite £34.70–£48). Type D €99 most categories.
Timeline
high confidenceProcessing
15–45 days
End-to-end
3–10 weeks
Centre
VAC
Appointment wait
Officially aims for an appointment within ~48 working hours, but this stretches significantly in high season — realistically days to several weeks in summer 2026.
Application centre
TLScontact — sole authorised provider for France in the UK. Centres including London (Wandsworth), Manchester and Edinburgh.
Timeline notes
France-Visas/TLScontact advises allowing ~20 working days overall; once transferred to the London Consulate, applications generally processed within 2-15 working days. The 48-hour appointment target is routinely not met in peak summer — the dominant source of variability.
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
- WorkSigned work contract + French work authorisation, employer letter, payslips.
- StudyAdmission/enrolment letter, Campus France 'Etudes en France' where applicable, proof of ~EUR 615/month means, accommodation proof.
- Family reunificationKinship certificates (marriage/birth), proof of inviting person's residence, housing and resources, OFII approval where applicable.
- All D visa holders (VLS-TS)Validate the long-stay visa online with OFII within 3 months of arrival in France.