France Short-stay Schengen Visa (Type C) — Applying from Japan

At the Visa Section of the Embassy of France in Tokyo. France-Visas states it is the only authority responsible for France visa services in Japan: there is no VFS, TLScontact or BLS centre in Japan, no jurisdiction split, and no Schengen visa intake at consulates outside Tokyo. Complete the France-Visas form, book an appointment, and attend in person.

The France-Visas Japan page asks for one ISO/IEC-compliant photograph attached to the printed application form (a ISO/IEC compliant photograph). The general process elsewhere mentions two photos, but that wording is for other countries and is not the Japan page; do not infer two from it. Confirm the count on the checklist generated for your application and keep a spare compliant print.

A paper print is required. You complete the form online, then print, date, and sign it and attach an ISO/IEC-compliant photograph as instructed. From age 12, a photo is also captured or scanned at the appointment as part of biometrics, but that does not replace the photograph attached to the printed form.

Yes. You attach one compliant print to the printed form, and from age 12 your ten fingerprints plus a photo are captured or scanned at the appointment. Under 12, fingerprints are not taken, but the child must attend and the submitted photo is scanned.

Applications can be filed from up to 6 months before your travel date. The Tokyo Visa Section aims to process within five working days, but the general France-Visas process allows a usual 15 days and up to 45 in special cases. Book early for summer, December, and the March/April school holidays, when appointments fill up.

The fee is 90 EUR for adults, 45 EUR for ages 6–12, and free for children under 6. In Japan it is payable in yen cash only at the chancellery exchange rate on the day, with no change given and no refund if refused. The yen amount moves with the rate, so confirm it on the France-Visas Japan page on the day you apply.

Children must attend the appointment. Under 12, fingerprints are not taken, but the child still appears and the submitted ICAO/OACI photograph is scanned. The visa fee is 45 EUR for ages 6–12 and free for children under 6.

No, not in Japan. The general France-Visas process says that fingerprints captured for a biometric Schengen visa within the last 59 months may allow personal appearance to be waived, but the Japan page states that even when such data can be recalled, your presence is still required. Plan to attend in person.

Japanese citizens holding a valid ordinary passport do not need a visa for any stay of up to 90 days over a period of 6 months. Stays longer than 90 days require a long-stay visa (Type D, National Visa) arranged in advance, which is outside this Type C guide. Non-Japanese nationals legally resident in Japan should run the France-Visas visa wizard to check whether they need one.

Bring a Letter Pack Plus envelope on the day of application. The passport is returned by post and you can track delivery with the tracking number via Japan Post. Counter pickup is generally not available, except in emergencies approved by the Visa Section.

No. France uses its own France-Visas form (CERFA) reached through the visa wizard, not the VIDEX form used by Germany. The visa wizard also tells you the required documents and the fee for your case, and you track the file in the "My requests" section of your France-Visas account.