China
France
France visa for Chinese citizens
Entry requirement
France requires Chinese citizens to hold a visa issued in advance.
- Where to apply
- 6 missions
- Visa guide
- France visa guide
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at cn.ambafrance.org
Which France visa?
Uniform Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment.
France’s tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities; the official site for it is france-visas.gouv.fr. Processing time, as France states it: Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
French missions in China
- Embassy of France in Beijing
60, Tianze Lu, Beijing
- Consulate General of France in Wuhan
2901-2909, International Intelligence Center (IIC), 1398 Jinghan Avenue, Jiang’an District, 430000 Wuhan
- Consulate General of France in Shanghai
Soho Zhongshan Plaza, Bâtiment A, 18ème étage1055 Zhongshan Xi Lu, 200051 Shanghai
Today · Closed - Consulate General of France in Guangzhou
Central Tower (Kaihua International Center), 19th floor, Room 1901-1907, No.5, Xiancun Road, Tianhe District, 510623 Canton, Guangzhou
- Consulate General of France in Chengdu
International Finance Square, Office Tower 1 - 26e étage, No. 1, Section 3 Hong Xing Road, 610021 Chengdu
- Consulate General of France in Shenyang
34 Nan Shi Shan Wei Lu, 110003 Shenyang
All missions of France in China
France has 6 missions in China, with its embassy in Beijing. Consulates: Wuhan, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenyang.
France: visa decisions in China
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 271,111 | 251,964 | 14,005 | 5.3% | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 458,018 | 429,973 | 24,410 | 5.4% | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 453,348 | 429,646 | 23,363 | 5.2% | 18.4% |
In 2025, France’s embassy and consulates in China (Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Wuhan) received 453,348 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 429,646. The refusal rate was 5.2%. That is barely different from 2024 (5.4%). The number of applications was almost unchanged (458,018 in 2024).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 4.0% of the applications lodged in China that year, from 1.3% at the consulates of Luxembourg to 19.3% at those of Malta. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%. France was the most applied-for Schengen state in China.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in China, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
French citizens travelling to China
FranceChina Visa-free, 30 days China visa for citizens of France
Travel advice for France
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
Before travelling from China to France, it helps to know the official travel advice: the US State Department rates France at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 20 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to France (updated 22 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for France (updated 28 October 2026).
Good to know
How long Chinese citizens can stay in France
How long Chinese citizens may stay in France is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How Chinese citizens apply
In China, applications go to the French embassy in Beijing and the consulates in Wuhan, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenyang, or to a visa centre acting for France; fees, documents and processing times are published by France.
France and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by France lets Chinese citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to France when it is the main destination of the trip.
France’s neighbours for Chinese citizens
Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain require Chinese citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
French citizens travelling to China
French citizens do not need a visa for China: stays of up to 30 days are visa-free.
Frequently asked questions
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for France?
France requires Chinese citizens to hold a visa issued in advance.
Where is the French embassy in China?
The French embassy in China is in Beijing; there are also consulates in Wuhan, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.
How much does the France tourist visa cost?
France’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment.
Do French citizens need a visa for China?
French citizens do not need a visa for China: stays of up to 30 days are visa-free.
Can Chinese citizens enter France visa-free?
No; Chinese citizens need a visa for France obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.