France visa for Zimbabwean citizens

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.

France has 1 mission in Zimbabwe, with its embassy in Harare.

In 2025, France’s embassy and consulates in Zimbabwe (Harare) received 2,438 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 2,168. The refusal rate was 9.3%. The refusal rate fell by 7.8 points from 17.1% in 2024, a clear improvement for applicants. Applications rose by 11% compared with 2024 (2,199).

For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 15.4% of the applications lodged in Zimbabwe that year, from 1.9% at the consulates of Italy to 42.7% at those of the Netherlands. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%. France was the most applied-for Schengen state in Zimbabwe.

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 Zimbabwe, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.

Zimbabwean citizens planning a trip to France can compare how foreign ministries rate it: 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).

How long Zimbabwean citizens can stay in France

How long Zimbabwean citizens may stay in France is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.

How Zimbabwean citizens apply

In Zimbabwe, applications go to the French embassy in Harare, 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 Zimbabwean citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to France when it is the main destination of the trip.

France’s neighbours for Zimbabwean citizens

Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain require Zimbabwean citizens to obtain a visa in advance.

French citizens travelling to Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe issues French citizens a visa on arrival for stays of up to 90 days, so nothing has to be arranged in advance.