India Visa for French Citizens

Yes. All French passport holders need a visa to enter India. There is no visa-free or visa-on-arrival arrangement between France and India. However, French citizens are fully eligible for India's eVisa programme, which means you can apply entirely online without visiting the Indian Embassy in Paris or the Consulates in Marseille, Lyon, or Strasbourg. The eVisa is electronically linked to your passport number. Print the approval email and present it at immigration on arrival.

French citizens can stay up to 90 days per visit on the e-Tourist Visa (1-year and 5-year options). The 30-day e-Tourist Visa allows a maximum stay of 30 days with double entry. Note that the 180-day extended stay provision only applies to nationals of the USA, UK, Canada, and Japan. French nationals are subject to the standard 90-day limit. If you need to stay longer, you would need to apply for a regular visa through the Indian Embassy.

We offer three processing speeds: Express (48 hours), Priority (72 hours), and Standard (96 hours). All times are from receipt of a complete application. For fastest results, apply during Indian business hours, which is roughly 2:30pm to 12:30am CET (1:30pm to 11:30pm CEST during summer). Processing times are based on when your complete application is reviewed by our visa specialist team.

No. This is one of the most common mistakes French applicants make. French passport photos follow the Schengen standard of 35mm x 45mm (rectangular), but India requires 51mm x 51mm (square, equivalent to 2x2 inches). If you submit a French passport photo without resizing, it will be flagged or rejected. With VisaIn.in, you can upload any photo and our team will resize and format it to meet India's exact specifications before submission.

Mostly yes. India uses Type C, D, and M sockets. The standard European two-pin plug (Type C, also called Europlug) fits into most Indian sockets without an adaptor. However, some older Indian sockets use the larger Type D (three round pins) or Type M format, which requires an adaptor. In modern hotels, Type C usually works fine. If you use a Type E/F plug (with the grounding pin), you will need an adaptor. A universal travel adaptor is recommended for flexibility.

Refusal Protection is an optional paid add-on available at checkout. If your visa application is refused by the Indian government, this add-on refunds your service fee. It protects you against the rare event of an unexpected visa denial. The add-on costs a small percentage of your service fee and provides peace of mind, especially for first-time applicants.

Yes, and the connectivity is excellent. Air France operates daily nonstop flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Delhi (8 hours), Mumbai (9 hours), Bengaluru (10 hours), and Chennai (10 hours). Air India also flies nonstop Paris to Delhi and Mumbai. IndiGo launched Paris-Mumbai nonstop service in 2025. For connecting flights, Emirates via Dubai, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, and Qatar Airways via Doha offer competitive fares to dozens of Indian cities. The short time zone difference (only 3.5 hours CET) makes jet lag far more manageable than transatlantic routes.

If you hold a standard French Republic passport (passeport ordinaire), you are eligible for India's eVisa regardless of whether you reside in metropolitan France or an overseas territory such as Reunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, or French Guiana. However, diplomatic, service, and official passports are NOT eligible for eVisa. Holders of these passport types must apply for a regular visa through the Indian Embassy.

No. The Carte Europeenne d'Assurance Maladie (CEAM/EHIC) only covers you within the European Economic Area and Switzerland. It provides absolutely no coverage in India. You need separate travel insurance for any trip to India. Ensure your policy covers medical evacuation, as healthcare standards vary significantly between Indian cities and rural areas. Check France Diplomatie (diplomatie.gouv.fr) for the latest India travel advisory before departure.

Yes. VisaIn.in supports group applications for up to 10 travellers in a single booking. Each traveller needs their own passport and photo, but you can manage the entire family's applications from one account. This is especially convenient for families planning trips to India together. Each person receives their own individual eVisa linked to their passport number.