Visa for France from Senegal: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. Senegal is not visa-exempt, so a Schengen Type C visa is mandatory for a tourist stay in France. France must be your main destination or your point of entry into the Schengen area for it to process your application.

• Government fee90 EUR
• Application centre feeCapped at €45
• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
• ExtrasVariable

Gather a passport valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure, compliant photos, a return flight and accommodation booking, proof of funds, and travel medical insurance of at least €30,000. The visa fee is generally €90 for an adult, plus VFS Global's service charge. Confirm the amount and payment method when you book.

Start by creating your file on the official France-Visas portal, then book an appointment with the VFS Global provider in Dakar, which receives applications for France. You attend in person to submit documents and give biometrics; the French Consulate retains the decision-making authority.

• Your application goes to the state that is your main destination. If France is where you spend the longest, it handles the file, whatever the entry point.
• With no main destination, the competent state is the one you enter first.
• If France has no consulate in Senegal, another Schengen state may act on its behalf under a representation arrangement, or the file goes to the post accredited for your country.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Senegal, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Senegal but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

Processing usually takes 15 to 45 days; as the Dakar-France route is in high demand, plan ahead and apply early (up to six months before). Don't buy non-refundable tickets before the visa is issued, and check that your insurance covers the whole Schengen area and the full length of your stay.

Weak evidence of ties to Senegal (employment, family, property) or incomplete proof of accommodation are classic refusal grounds. Carefully check that the information entered on France-Visas matches your passport. Keep the receipt and copies of the entire file.