France Mandates Online Visa Appointments Worldwide, Eliminates Walk-In Bookings

As of February 20, 2026, travelers requiring a French visa are now obligated to secure their appointments exclusively through an online system, with walk-ins and informal booking channels officially discontinued. The reform applies globally and covers both short-stay Schengen visas and long-stay national visas.

The shift is aimed squarely at long-standing frustrations within the visa application process, including overcrowded service counters, extended queues, and the proliferation of unofficial “slot brokers” in markets where demand consistently outpaces supply. Under the new framework, prospective applicants can no longer arrange appointments through email correspondence, telephone calls, or in-person visits to visa centers.

Beyond addressing logistical bottlenecks, the policy also aligns with a broader European transition toward digitized border management and identity verification systems. This includes enhanced biometric integration and improvements in visa data management across the European Union, notably initiatives connected to large-scale biometric data collection infrastructure.

The updated procedure begins on the France-Visas platform, where applicants must first conduct an eligibility assessment using the Visa Wizard tool. This step determines whether a visa is required and identifies the appropriate visa category before the system permits an appointment request to proceed.

Following the initial verification, appointment requests are routed through the French government’s Démarches Simplifiées portal. Applicants are required to complete a detailed questionnaire outlining the purpose of their travel, the anticipated duration of stay, and their intended departure date. Accuracy at this stage is critical, as incomplete or inconsistent responses may result in the request being rejected early in the process.

If the submission is approved, the applicant receives an email proposing a specific date and time for the appointment. However, the allocation is not automatically secured. Travelers must confirm their acceptance within a designated timeframe; failure to respond promptly may result in the slot being canceled and reassigned. This confirmation requirement is designed to minimize unused bookings during high-demand periods, though it also leaves little room for those who do not monitor their inboxes closely.

Securing an online appointment does not eliminate the requirement for an in-person appearance. All applicants must still attend a scheduled visit at either a French consulate or a visa application center. During this appointment, they are required to submit supporting documentation, pay the applicable fees, and undergo biometric data collection.

Biometric procedures generally involve the capture of fingerprints and a photograph. Reports indicate that some applicants may be exempt from resubmitting fingerprints if fewer than 59 months have passed since they provided biometric data for a previous Schengen visa. However, such exemptions remain subject to the discretion of the officer handling the application and conducting verification checks at the counter.

For travelers, the central takeaway is that the online stage does not replace the need for personal attendance. Rather, it functions as the initial gateway in a multi-step process that culminates in an in-person review.

French authorities have framed the reform as part of a broader effort to standardize and enhance traceability within the visa application system. By removing informal booking avenues, France aims to curb third-party manipulation of appointment availability and eliminate opaque practices that have complicated access in certain regions.

Comparable reforms are underway across other Schengen states, many of them driven by upgrades to the Visa Information System (VIS) and related databases used for processing visa applications and conducting identity verification checks.

Applicants are being urged to rely solely on official channels and to exercise caution regarding unsolicited messages promising expedited access. In particular, authorities have warned against emails advertising “Guaranteed appointment” services, a recurring issue in several high-demand countries. Travelers are advised to schedule appointments as early as possible, verify country-specific requirements carefully, and monitor their email accounts diligently after submitting their online requests.

By fLEXI tEAM