There are always certain formalities and legalities that have to be completed before any person can visit a foreign country. Similarly, if you wish to go to Paris, you need to fulfill all paper work required.

How to get Paris visa?
US Citizens and Canadians who are willing to go to Paris or France for a short tour (about 90 days) need not apply for a Visa. They can travel using their passport. However, there are exceptions for some like Journalists, Crew Members, and citizens holding official passports need to have a Visa even for a short stay. They contact the French Embassy in the United States or can go to official website and get the details and forms required to fill-up. Also, if you are a citizen from the European country, you need not have a Visa to go to France including Paris. All other citizens from the remaining countries will have to apply for a French Visa to visit France or Paris. You will have to contact the French Embassy or consulate near your city and in your country. You can also get the form from the official websites of the French Embassy.

How long does it take to get Paris Visa?
Normally once you have filled in the forms and completed all the formalities and interview you can expect to get a Paris Visa in about 2 weeks it might also take up to a month for a short stay Visa. The short stay visa is only valid for 3 months and can not be processed long before you travel.

Paris Visa Process
In order to get a Paris Visa, you have to fill in the Visa application form which is available at the French Embassy or consulate and also can be downloaded and taken a print out from official French Embassy site. You can download the form from www.consultfrance.com or http://www.vfs-france.co.in/website/appl_form.htm.
Once you fill up the form you will have to submit the following set of documents to the French Embassy or consulate along with the filled form.
1. Once you fill in the application form, make sure you take an appointment at the French Visa Application Centre. You can take appointments online or via phone.
2. On the day of your submission of Forms you will be given an interview date to meet the Consulate General of France the following working day. You have to meet the Consulate General in-person. There will be a service charge of Rs.607/- (approximately) per application.
You need to present a valid and current passport, proof of departure, and medical requirements, basically you health insurance and doctors’ certificate.

Paris Tourist Visa
A tourist visa is applicable for not more than 90 days stay. The procedure for a tourist visa and a short-stay visa is the same.

Paris Visa status for Different Nationalities
As stated in the first paragraph of this article, Visa is applicable for different countries, however there are exceptions. Citizens from USA and Canada need not have a Visa to enter Paris for up to 90 days. There are other list of countries which do not need a Visa Citizen of EU/EEA countries (i.e. all 25 European Union member countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway) do not need a visa for France. Non EU/EEA citizens need a Visa to enter France; however there are exceptions if there exists a special agreement between their country and France. The citizens of the following countries can stay in France for up to 90 days without a Visa - Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Vatican and Venezuela. Citizens of these countries can stay for up to 3 months without a visa.

Also Schengen States like Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden
and since 21 December 2007 Czeck Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia are also included in the above category.

Paris Work Permit
Paris work permit visa is said to be one of the toughest visa to obtain. This is a long stay
Paris Transit Visa has several procedures involved. The person willing to apply for his visa has to get a contract draft from French Company. The employer of that company files an application with all administration approval. Only then he is applicable to get a Work permit. Initially it is always a short stay Visa, applicable for 90 days thereafter again the employer has to apply for a long stay Visa.

Paris Transit Visa
Nationals or citizens from different countries traveling from one country to another but transit at Paris need a Paris Transit Visa. In order to get your visa on time one should apply well in advance. At times to processing might take very long. Transit Visa is never issued in France or Paris; hence the individual wanting to attain this visa has to apply for it in his or her own country or another country. Applying 8 to 10 weeks before your travel is always advisable.