Applying for a visa - Trinidad and Tobago

The French Embassy in Port-of-Spain accepts visa applications from citizens of Trinidad and Tobago who are currently resident in Trinidad and Tobago and from persons of other nationalities who are currently legally resident in Trinidad and Tobago.

STEPS TO APPLY FOR A VISA:

1. VISA APPOINTMENTS
2. VISA REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION FORMS
3. BIOMETRIC PROCEDURE (DIGITAL FINGERPRINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY)
4. VISA APPLICATION FEES

CONTACT US:

Please address all visa-related questions to a Visa Officer via e-mail at admin-etrangers.port-d-espagne-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr. The Visa Section can no longer be reached by telephone. We apologise for any inconvenience.

1 – VISA APPOINTMENTS

Visa interviews are strictly by appointment. However, prior to coming in for your scheduled visa appointment, please ensure that you have consulted the visa requirements related to your destination and purpose of travel, printed and filled in your visa application form, made photocopies of all supporting documents and prepared the visa application fee (if applicable) in TT cash (exact change).

Visa applications can be made up to 3 months ahead of your proposed trip. We strongly advise that you book your visa appointment with sufficient advance, especially during peak seasons of travel (e.g. Easter and summer holidays) or if you are a foreigner resident in Trinidad and Tobago.

Visa applicants (with few exceptions) must appear in person to be interviewed after having booked a visa appointment via the online appointment system located below. Interviews are conducted at the Visa Section of the French Embassy, which is located at Tatil Building, 6th Floor, 11 Maraval Road, Port-of-Spain on Monday to Friday mornings. Thursday appointments are reserved for special categories of applicants (diplomats, students applying to study in France for longer than 3 months, large groups and genuine emergency cases). If you belong to one of these special categories, please contact us by e-mail at admin-etrangers.port-d-espagne-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr.

Please remember that each individual passport holder must book a separate visa appointment.

*Passports are to be collected on or after the date assigned at your visa interview (Monday to Thursday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. and on Friday from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.)

2 – VISA REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION FORMS

a. SCHENGEN VISA for travel to mainland France, Austria, Greece, Latvia and Lithuania

If the main destination of your short stay – 90 days or less per six-month period – in the Schengen zone, or alternatively, your point of entry into the Schengen zone (in cases where stays are equal or there is no main destination) – is mainland France, and in some cases (tourist and business trips) Austria, Greece, Latvia or Lithuania, we invite you to click on the icons below to download the Schengen Visa Application Form and the Schengen Visa Information Sheet, which provide contact information for the other Schengen diplomatic representations.

Schengen Visa Application

Schengen Visa Information Sheet

ALL SCHENGEN VISA APPLICANTS - please present the following together with the supporting documents listed in the appropriate category below:

• Schengen visa application form
• A valid passport with at least 2 full blank pages and six months validity remaining at the time of application; please also provide 1 photocopy of the biodata page
• 1 recent passport-size photograph on clear background

GENERAL PUBLIC - please provide 1 original + 1 photocopy of the following supporting documents:

• proof of purpose of stay: letter of invitation (for private or business trips); or letter of acceptance and estimate of cost of study (for study up to 90 days); or official document from medical institution confirming necessity for medical care at that institution and estimate of cost of treatment (for medical reasons)
• proof of return travel: roundtrip ticket reservation (flight, train or ferry) with detailed itinerary, originating from and returning to the country where you live
• proof of accommodation: official certificate of accommodation called an “attestation d’accueil” (France) or a “verflichtungserklärung” (Austria) to be acquired by your host from the local town hall when staying with family or friends, a hotel reservation or a rental contract
• package tour reservation with details of travel and accommodation (if applicable)
• proof of visa or other entry permit, if required, for country of final destination (in case of transit)
• proof of travel medical insurance: insurance policy certificate, letter or card with details of overseas medical insurance coverage of no less than 30,000€ covering emergency medical expenses, hospitalisation and repatriation
• proof of socio-professional status: job letter stating position, starting date and salary (if employed); or company registration or letter from your banker (if self-employed); or pension slip or statement (if retired); or school letter (if student)
• proof of sufficient financial means: bank or credit union statement no older than 3 months
• proof of legal residence in Trinidad and Tobago: foreigners should present their work permit or permanent residency certificate or stamp
• proof of parental consent: visa applications from minors (persons under 18 years of age) not travelling with one or both parents or a legal guardian must include a letter of consent from the parent(s) or guardian accompanied by valid ID and the child’s birth certificate

FRENCH SPOUSES - please provide 1 original + 1 photocopy of the following supporting documents:

• proof of nationality of French spouse: ID card or passport
• proof of marriage: recent “copie intégrale de l’acte de marriage français” or the “livret de famille” (if marriage was celebrated in France) or the transcription of the marriage on the French overseas register at the consulate (if the marriage was celebrated outside of France)
• proof of return travel: roundtrip ticket reservation (flight, train or ferry) with detailed itinerary showing that applicant will either be accompanying or joining their French spouse

EUROPEAN UNION FAMILY MEMBERS - please provide 1 original + 1 photocopy of the following supporting documents:

• proof of nationality of EU family member (spouse and children under 18 years of age): ID card or passport
• proof of family relationship: marriage certificate or birth certificate
• proof of return travel: roundtrip ticket reservation (flight, train or ferry) with detailed itinerary showing that applicant will either be accompanying or joining the E.U. citizen, who has exercised his/her right to free circulation within the European Union Community

DIPLOMATS AND OTHER OFFICIALS (diplomatic passport, official passport or UN laissez-passer) – please provide the following supporting documents:

• diplomatic note from government or international organisation issuing the travel document stating purpose and dates of travel
• ticket reservation with detailed itinerary

OTHER SPECIAL CATEGORIES: Performing artists, scientists invited to conduct research in France, members of the clergy on mission in France and persons applying to marry a French national in France are kindly asked to contact a Visa Officer via e-mail for information on applying.

b. SHORT STAY VISA for travel to the French Overseas Departments and Territories

If the main destination of your short stay – 90 days or less per six-month period - in the French Overseas Departments and Regions is Martinique, Guadeloupe (includes Marie Galante, Désirade and les Saintes), French Guiana and/or Réunion or in the French Overseas Territorial Collectivities is Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, French Polynesia, Mayotte, New Caledonia and/or Wallis and Futuna, we invite you to click on the icon below to download the Short Stay Visa Application Form.

Short Stay Visa Application

NB: Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago do not require a visa for short stays – 90 days or less per six-month period – in the French Overseas Departments and Regions of Martinique and Guadeloupe effective December 18, 2009. However, travellers must still be able to produce documentary evidence of their motive of stay, accommodation, medical insurance, sufficient finances and return travel to an Immigration Officer at the border, if requested

Visa requirements: The short stay visa requirements are the same as the Schengen visa requirements (refer to section above) with the exception of the application form to be used.

c. SHORT STAY VISA for travel to some African countries

France represents these African countries – Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Senegal and Togo – in the issuance of some short stay visas (tourist and business, but not work visas). As visa requirements can vary according to the destination, please contact us via e-mail in advance of your visa appointment for information on visa requirements and processing times. The Short Stay Visa Application Form in the previous section applies.

*Successful visa applicants are advised to be in a position to produce documentary evidence of their motive of stay, accommodation, medical insurance, sufficient finances and return travel to an Immigration Officer at the border, if requested.

d. LONG STAY VISA for travel to France

If your travel involves a long stay – continuous stay of more than 90 days – in France, we invite you to click on the icons below to download the Long Stay Visa Application Form and the OFII form.

Long Stay Visa Application

OFII form

Students: If you are applying for a long stay visa to pursue studies in France for more than three months, please click on the icon below to download the Long Stay Student Visa Application Checklist. In addition to the documents on the checklist, a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae and proof of accommodation should also be submitted. Contact us via e-mail to request a visa appointment.

Student Checklist

Language Assistants: Language assistants should book a visa appointment via the online appointment system as soon as they have received their “arrêté de nomination”. In addition to the aforementioned document, the long stay visa application form and the OFII form, you will also be required to present a ticket reservation, a valid passport (valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay and with two full blank pages) and one passport-size photograph on white background. NO VISA APPLICATION FEE.

3 – BIOMETRIC PROCEDURE (DIGITAL FINGERPRINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY)

The French Embassy implemented the biometric visa procedure, which involves digital fingerprinting and photographing of visa applicants, in October 2008. At present, the biometric procedure applies to all visas, except those for the African countries represented. The persons listed below are exempted from digital fingerprinting and photography. However, a recent passport-size photograph must still be submitted with the visa application.

• Heads of state and their spouses
• Members of government and their spouses
• Members of the official delegations of heads of state on offical mission when invited by the government of a Schengen state or by an international organisation
• Children under 12 years old

*Please contact the Visa Officer prior to submitting the visa applications of diplomatic or official passport holders either to schedule an appropriate time for application submission (persons exempted from the biometric procedure) or to schedule a visa appointment (persons who must be fingerprinted and photographed). Thank you kindly for your co-operation.

4 – VISA APPLICATION FEES

The fees listed below are effective from April 1st, 2013. It is possible for fees to be adjusted at mid-month or end-of-month, according to fluctuations in the Euro-TT exchange rate. Visa application fees must be paid in TT CASH (exact change) and are NOT REFUNDABLE.

a. Short stay visa application fees

• Schengen (persons 12 years and over) - TT$491.80
• Schengen (persons 6 to 11 years old) - TT$286.89
• French Overseas Departments and Regions- TT$491.80
• Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon – TT$491.80
• Other French Overseas Territorial Collectivities - TT$73.77
• African Countries represented – TT$491.80

Fee exemptions: Children under 6 years old, E.U. Family members (spouses and children under 18 years old), French spouses, French teachers, persons invited to conferences by some international organisations with headquarters in France, scientists invited to conduct research, students and accompanying teachers on study trips or professional training in the Schengen zone and representatives (25 years and under) of non-profit organisations attending seminars, conferences or sporting, cultural or educational events organised in the Schengen zone by non-profit organisations.

b. Long stay visa application fees

France – TT$811.48

Fee exemptions: E.U. Family members (spouses, children under 18 years old), French spouses, language assistants and government scholarship recipients.