Regarding short-stay visa applications for tourism at the French Consulate General in ANTANANARIVO, files are reviewed and approved in sequence by three (3) different people before a final decision and approval is granted.
This is to avoid any form of negligence and/or collusion.
Regarding short-stay visa applications—tourism—at the French Consulate General in ANTANANARIVO, files are successively reviewed and approved by three (3) different people before a final decision and approval is granted.
This is to avoid any form of negligence and/or collusion.
This is purely a local directive, proving that a good atmosphere and trust prevail at the Consulate 😉
Thanks for your respectful, constructive, and well-argued response, complete with very specific examples related to the main topic.
You pointed out that your journey to success wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, unlike someone on this forum who dared to claim otherwise.
"This is purely a local directive, proving that a good atmosphere and trust prevail at the Consulate."
Could you provide evidence that this is solely a local directive and not an international one? Have you already visited each of the hundreds of French consular offices worldwide to draw this conclusion? Unless it’s just another troll post, as you used to do!
"It’s purely a local directive, proving that a good atmosphere and trust prevail at the Consulate"
Could you provide evidence that this is solely a local directive and not an international one? Have you visited each of the hundreds of French consular offices worldwide to reach that conclusion? Unless it’s just another troll post like you used to do !
Regarding short-stay visa applications for tourism at the French Consulate General in ANTANANARIVO, files are successively reviewed and approved by three (3) different people before a final decision and approval is granted.
This is to avoid any form of negligence and/or collusion.
This is purely a local directive, which proves that a good atmosphere and trust prevail at the Consulate 😉
I’d lean more toward a "general" directive—most consular offices, especially in "developing countries," likely face the same issues, I think.
The loss of trust in the administrative system, forgeries, fraud, corruption, and especially poverty—common in Africa and some Eastern European countries—make the Ministry of the Interior wary of easily issuing visas. This is why there are special, yet official, directives for developing countries.
Unlike some wealthy countries such as Canada, the USA, or Switzerland, which have signed special agreements to ease Schengen visa requirements for their citizens, even if a French person marries a Canadian and the latter applies for one.
Regarding short-stay visa applications for tourism at the French Consulate General in ANTANANARIVO, files are successively reviewed and approved by three (3) different people before a final decision and issuance.
To avoid any form of negligence and/or collusion.
This is purely a local directive, proving that a good atmosphere and trust prevail at the Consulate 😉
I’d rather lean toward a "general" directive—most consular offices, especially in "developing countries," face the same issues, I believe.
Let’s be serious—having three people monitor each other for visa issuance can only be an internal consulate procedure!
You have private-sector experience, and I’ve worked enough in the civil service, including at an embassy, to be certain of what I’m saying.
Or maybe it’s simply a matter of hierarchy, which doesn’t even deserve mentioning since it’s a general rule in administration!
Regarding short-stay visa applications – tourism – at the French Consulate General in ANTANANARIVO, files are successively reviewed and approved by three (3) different people before a final decision and issuance.
This is to avoid any form of negligence and/or collusion.
This is purely a local directive, proving that a good atmosphere and trust prevail at the Consulate 😉
I’d rather lean toward a "general" directive—most consular offices, especially in "developing countries," are, I think, facing the same issues.
Let’s be serious—having three people monitor each other for visa issuance can only be part of a consulate’s internal organization!
You have private-sector experience, and I have enough experience in administration, including at an embassy, to be sure of what I’m saying.
Or else it’s simply about applying hierarchy, and that doesn’t deserve mention since it’s a general rule in administration!
I’m just sharing what I heard directly from a consular officer.
She told me that the visa application file goes through three (3) different people who, in turn, check its content and information.
Each one then gives their opinion before the Deputy Consul in charge of the Visa Service makes the final decision.
This succession of "reviews" is reportedly why applicants are often asked to provide additional documents, depending on each reviewer’s perception and "sensitivity" toward the request,
"I have enough experience with the Administration, including an Embassy, to be certain of what I'm saying."
A French consular office has nothing to do with a French embassy, my friend. You should inform yourself before spouting nonsense because it’s obvious you don’t know what you’re talking about!
Consulate officials are police prefects, not diplomats. They report to the public prosecutor, who in turn reports to Manuel Valls, the head of the National Police.
Therefore, your statements prove you have no experience with the "National Police," which is the only authority competent to refuse, issue, renew, control, and revoke visas in France and worldwide through consular offices—essentially French prefectures abroad.
In short, you know nothing about the National Police.
"
Consulate officials are police prefects, not diplomats. They report to the public prosecutor, who in turn reports to Manuel Valls, the head of the National Police.
🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 That’ll give more than a few people a good laugh!
" Consulate officials are police prefects, not diplomats. They report to the public prosecutor, who in turn reports to Manuel Valls, the head of the National Police.
Unless I'm mistaken, consulates and consuls fall under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so under Fabius, not Valls...
It’s a long, drawn-out battle—extremely discouraging...
In the end, there’s no refusal that the administration can’t justify. You can only blame them for excessive zeal and a lack of consideration or empathy, especially when you feel you’re "in the right"... but hey, they’re just following orders... 😉 to discourage as many people as possible.
I think everything’s perfectly summed up in those few lines.
I know two couples who really struggled with this, but thankfully it worked out for them in the end.
"I have enough experience with the Administration, including an Embassy, to be certain of what I'm saying."
A French consular office has nothing to do with a French embassy, my friend. You should inform yourself before spouting nonsense because it’s ridiculous!
The officials at a consulate are police prefects, not diplomats. They report to the public prosecutor, who in turn reports to Manuel Valls, the head of the National Police.
Therefore, your statements prove you have no experience with the "National Police," which is the only authority competent to refuse, issue, renew, control, and revoke visas in France and worldwide through consular offices that function like French prefectures abroad.
In short, you know nothing about the National Police.
I could roll on the floor of my little house laughing!
Waaaaaaa... But is he even talking about France here?
Where did he get this info?
I’m laughing my head off... (As Canteloup would say)
My 15-year-old niece peed herself hearing the nonsense this guy spouted with such confidence and eagerness to lecture... She learned this stuff in 7th grade!
Personally... I keep reading and rereading it for laughs.
Nooo, but this guy’s a "real comedian"...
Ce n'est pas un pays qui fait de toi ce que tu es, mais c'est toi qui fait du pays ce qu'il est.
" Consular officials are police prefects, not diplomats. They fall under the hierarchy of the public prosecutor, who in turn reports to Manuel Valls, the head of the National Police.
Unless I'm mistaken, consulates and consuls are under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so under Fabius, not Valls...
Hello,
You're absolutely right—the supervising ministry is indeed the MFA, even though the Consul coordinates with the Ministry of the Interior for visa issuance. And consular officials have never been police prefects.
It’s enough to make you roll on the floor of my little house
Waaaaaaa. . . .But is he really talking about France here?
Where did he get this info?
But I’m laughing my head off. . .(Like Canteloup says)
My 15-year-old niece peed herself hearing the nonsense this guy spouted with so much confidence and eagerness to lecture. . . . Because she learned that in 7th grade. . ..
Personally. . .. I keep reading and rereading it to laugh
Nooo, but he’s a ""real comedian"" this guy. . .
" Civil servants at a consulate are police prefects, not diplomats. They fall under the hierarchy of the public prosecutor, who in turn reports to Manuel Valls, the head of the National Police.
Unless I’m mistaken, consulates and consuls are under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so Fabius, not Valls...
Hello,
You’re absolutely right—the supervising ministry is indeed the MFA, even though the Consul coordinates with the Ministry of the Interior for visa issuance. And consular civil servants have never been police prefects
Civil servants at a consulate are prefects of police, not diplomats.
That said, he’s partly right.
Consuls are not diplomats.
In a pile of nonsense, you might manage to find a grain of truth—but you’d have to dig for it with a magnifying glass and still rule out that consulate officials aren’t prefects of police.
Saying consuls aren’t diplomats isn’t even accurate.
Some Consul General positions are held by high-ranking diplomats.
Since when does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issue visas?? That’s really funny! I’m going to tell my Malagasy friend to renew his visa at the Quai d’Orsay instead of the préfecture! Let’s see if that works!
"And consular officials have never been police prefects"
Have you ever read the texts that govern the duties of consuls? Of course not, since you’ve probably never had access to their employment contracts.
Stop making a fool of yourself and learn that the rules governing the work of civil servants are set by their status, not by an employment contract.
Don’t insist on a subject you don’t understand at all.
"The rules governing the work of state civil servants are set by their status and not by an employment contract."
That’s the typical reaction of someone who’s never read the employment contract of a French consul and yet claims to know everything about what a consul is supposed to do. Otherwise, summarize the first five articles of a French consul’s employment contract for me. Just to test how poor your knowledge is.
"The rules governing the work of state civil servants are set by their status and not by an employment contract."
That’s the typical reaction of someone who’s never read the employment contract of a French consul and yet claims to know everything about what a consul is supposed to do. Otherwise, summarize the first five articles of a French consul’s employment contract for me. Just to test how poor your knowledge is.
A consul is a category A state civil servant (usually off-scale).
State civil servants don’t have employment contracts—is that clear?
Once again, you’re confusing a mission letter with an employment contract.
You don’t understand anything.
Test your own knowledge before criticizing mine, and don’t try to lecture me—you’re far from qualified.
Are you French? Did you study at ENA? Do you have professional experience in the French administration, specifically within the French Ministry of the Interior? No, I suppose not!
Did you know there are things you learn at ENA and also in the administration that are never indexed by Google (luckily Google is there to save you in the nick of time from your total ignorance by providing just enough correct info to save face)?
Come on! Enroll at ENA and apply to the Ministry of the Interior just to see how things work there.
Wikipedia to settle the debate? A Consul is a category A civil servant, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, among other things, acts as the town hall for civil status and as the prefect (in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior) for the safety of their fellow citizens and the issuance of visas.
Mission and organization
The international status of consulates and consuls is defined by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963[2]. The establishment of consular relations between two states is done by mutual consent but is not necessarily linked to diplomatic relations. The opening of a consular post, whether principal (consulate or consular section of an embassy) or secondary (vice-consulate or consular agency), is always subject to the consent of the host state (or receiving state).
The consul is appointed by the head of the sending state and can only exercise their mission after receiving the exequatur from the host country, a procedure comparable to the presentation of an ambassador's letters of credence.
Unlike an embassy, which is almost always located in the capital of the host state, there can be several consulates (or consular agencies) established in the largest cities of the country. Consular duties can be carried out in capitals within a consular section by the diplomatic authority (embassy). As a result, consulates are often located outside the capital, rather in the main provincial cities.
However, there are some special cases: for example, the Embassy of France in Israel is located in Tel Aviv, and the Consulate General in Jerusalem, the latter also serving as an official interlocutor with the Palestinian Authority.
Even though consulates are independent of the ambassador in carrying out their mission, they must nevertheless keep them informed.
The consulate is organized around a:
Consul General or consulDeputy ConsulFor France, consuls are civil servants of category A from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meaning they are secretaries or advisors for foreign affairs. It is also common for vice-consuls, category B agents, to be presented as consuls, particularly in the consular sections of embassies.
The consulate is responsible for registering and assisting all nationals of the country represented by the embassy, in compliance with local laws and public order. It also performs the functions of a town hall and notary for expatriates. It maintains civil status records, issues identity documents and passports to these nationals, and visas to nationals or residents of the host country, draws up notarial acts, and organizes elections. It also provides assistance and support to its nationals in case of difficulties with local authorities, including within the framework of judicial proceedings. It may be required to organize the evacuation of its citizens. It has the right to intervene with ships and aircraft registered in the sending country, within the framework of control or assistance. More generally, it serves as the link between the country of origin and the host country.
Since the creation of the position, the consul has been authorized to gather commercial information and to promote the development of commercial, economic, cultural, and scientific relations between the two states.
The area of influence of a consulate (and consequently of a consul) in the country is called a consular district. It represents either the entire country or a territorial division of the sending country.
Are you French? Did you study at ENA? Do you have professional experience in the French administration, specifically within the French Ministry of the Interior? No, I suppose!
Did you know there are things you learn at ENA and in the administration that are never indexed by Google (lucky Google is there to save your complete ignorance at the last minute by providing the little bit of correct info needed to save face)!
Come on! Enroll at ENA and apply to the Ministry of the Interior just to see how things work there.
In a conversation with a fool, the smartest one leaves—that’s what I’m going to do.
Unfortunately, that Wikipedia article I read ages ago doesn’t mention the confidential stuff like work contracts! What a shame!
Oh my goodness! If education were reduced to just Google or Wikipedia, I’d wonder where this world is headed!
Since when does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issue visas? Really funny, huh! I’ll tell my Malagasy friend to renew his visa at the Quai d’Orsay instead of the préfecture! Let’s see if that works!
I said it and I stand by it: consulates—and consuls—are under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. End of story. No need to overcomplicate things to muddy the waters. There are only two possible answers to my point: yes or no. So if you want to see a joker, just look in the mirror!
The day I bring up the issue of renewing a passport, you’ll have every right to contradict me.
Consulate officials are prefects of police, not diplomats.
That said, he’s partly right.
Consuls are not diplomats.
In a pile of nonsense, you might manage to find a grain of truth, but you’d have to search hard and rule out the fact that consulate officials are not prefects of police.
Saying that consuls aren’t diplomats isn’t even accurate.
Some Consul General positions are held by high-ranking diplomats.
I’ll insist on this point.
A consul does not hold a diplomatic role, unlike an ambassador, who is indeed a diplomat.
However, some consul positions may be filled by former diplomats, but generally speaking, the two careers are quite distinct.
Consulate officials are police prefects, not diplomats.
That said, he’s partly right.
Consuls are not diplomats.
In a pile of nonsense, you might manage to find a grain of truth, but you’d still have to dig for it with a magnifying glass and rule out the fact that consulate officials aren’t police prefects.
Saying that consuls aren’t diplomats isn’t even accurate.
Some Consul General positions are held by high-ranking diplomats.
I’ll insist on this point.
A Consul doesn’t hold a diplomatic position, unlike an Ambassador, who *is* a diplomat.
However, some Consul positions may be filled by former diplomats, but generally speaking, the two careers are quite distinct.
Consulate General
The most important consulates are called consulates general. A consulate general performs the same functions but is led by a high-ranking diplomat and is usually located outside the capital. For France, the Consul General typically holds the rank of "Foreign Affairs Advisor."
Now it’s my turn to insist—I’m not mixing anything up, especially not when it comes to the French administration.
I didn’t write anything beyond what’s stated above.
And the first thing the consulate checks is your personal and professional situations (yours and your partner’s). Because the last thing they check is actually the marriage certificate.
The solution I could suggest is to put together a really solid application, highlighting your stable personal and professional situations first.
A young French student offering to host her foreign boyfriend—also young, from MADAGASCAR, and likely with limited resources—doesn’t exactly provide much to "highlight."
This comment, of course, isn’t a reflection on the moral character or admirable intentions of the two (2) lovebirds.
Are there any mods on the plane? We're totally going off-topic here.
The thread was started by a young woman asking for advice on getting a visa for France. Do you remember that, by the way?
The topic was ruined by a pedantic argument that didn’t help anyone at all.
And with the blood relationship when you have a little one (child), what does that give you... in conclusion!!!! But it's still "not much" when you consider the appeal of family reunification later (for the future husband).
This comment, of course, in no way prejudges the moral qualities and commendable intentions of the two (2) lovers.
l'important n'est pas de convaincre, mais de donner à réfléchir
A Consulate is basically a radicalized prefecture juggling its nationals... outside its borders.
You’re all looking for *midi moins cinq* ("five to noon" is a term specific to the pirates of Sainte-Marie).
l'important n'est pas de convaincre, mais de donner à réfléchir
Are there any mods on the plane? We're going off-topic fast.
The thread was started by a young woman asking for advice on getting a visa for France. Do you remember that at all?
The topic was ruined by a pedantic argument that didn’t help anyone.
I think that’s the right way to "refocus" the topic.
Consular officials are police prefects, not diplomats.
That said, he’s partly right.
Consuls are not diplomats.
In a pile of nonsense, you might manage to find a grain of truth, but you’d have to search hard with a magnifying glass and rule out that consular officials aren’t police prefects.
Saying that consuls aren’t diplomats isn’t even accurate.
Some Consul General positions are held by high-ranking diplomats.
I’ll insist on this point.
A Consul does not hold a diplomatic position, unlike an Ambassador, who is indeed a diplomat.
However, some Consul positions may be filled by former diplomats, but generally, the two careers are quite distinct.
General Consulate
The most important consulates are called consulates general. A consulate general performs the same functions but is headed by a high-ranking diplomat and is most often located outside the capital. For France, the Consul General typically holds the rank of "Foreign Affairs Advisor."
Now it’s my turn to insist—I’m not mixing anything up, especially not when it comes to the French administration.
I didn’t write anything beyond what’s stated above.
Our difference of opinion stems from the fact that you’re focusing on the individual, whereas I’m focusing on the position—its function.
On this point, the nomenclature clearly distinguishes diplomatic positions—Ambassador—from consular positions—Consul General, Consul, Vice-Consul—.
Are there any mods on board? We're getting off track here.
The thread was started by a young woman asking for advice on getting a visa for France. You remember that, right?
The topic was ruined by a pedantic argument that didn’t help anyone at all.
AdelineMada got perfectly reasonable answers, even if they weren’t what she was hoping for.
Arlaud was also given advice but chose to take the conversation to private messages pretty quickly.
Now, if the moderator had to step in every time someone went off-topic, there’d be no Madagascar forum left—and that would’ve happened a long time ago. He lets people express themselves freely, and I think that’s a good thing.
Are there any mods on the plane? We're going off-topic fast.
The thread was started by a young woman asking for advice on getting a visa for France. You remember it, right?
The topic was ruined by a pedantic showdown that didn’t help anyone at all.
AdelineMada got perfectly reasonable answers, even if they weren’t what she hoped for.
Arlaud also got the info she needed—she just chose to take the conversation to private messages pretty quickly.
Now, if the moderator had to step in every time the topic went off-track, there’d be no forum left about Madagascar, and that’s been true for a long time. He lets people express themselves freely, and I think that’s a good thing.
I think AdelineMada’s and Arlaud’s plans—though they seem like sincere personal efforts that really matter to them—still have a good dose of naivety and don’t quite account for some realities.
The "citizenship of the world," a credo of the alter-globalization movement, isn’t happening anytime soon. The idea that we’ll one day be able to move, settle, and work wherever we please is still a pipe dream—and honestly, maybe that’s for the best.
MADAGASCAR still makes people dream, though ?????
Both Malagasy people looking to leave in search of a better future and foreigners still hoping to strike it rich or live out a "prosperous retirement" there.
In both cases, though, it seems like there are a lot more disappointed people than satisfied ones.
I won’t go any further into the case of AdelineMada and Arlaud, for a simple reason. On a forum, there’s what’s said and what isn’t. Without questioning their sincerity, nothing proves their true motivations are clearly stated.
Those who want to make money in Madagascar are free to believe it. It’s always hard to dissuade someone who believes in it!
As for retirees, I don’t know what "retirement à la prosper youp la boom" means—excuse my ignorance.
The thing about being retired is not knowing how much time you have left, so I live my retirement day by day, which doesn’t stop me from having plans—it’s not contradictory.
Today I’m in Madagascar, tomorrow I might be somewhere else.
I’m not a "sand-trapped" resident of the Big Island.
I won’t go further into the case of AdelineMada and Arlaud, for a simple reason. On a forum, there’s what’s said and what isn’t. Without questioning their sincerity, nothing guarantees their true motivations are clearly stated.
I completely agree with your analysis.
In my opinion, this fully justifies the caution of French authorities when issuing visas.
Those who want to make money in Madagascar are free to believe it. It’s always hard to dissuade someone who’s convinced!
And yet, if they only knew what they could gain—or at least avoid losing—by sometimes bothering to listen to others!!!!!
As for retirees, I don’t know what "retraite à la prosper youp la boom" means. Pardon my ignorance.
They’re the ones who think the plane taking them to MADAGASCAR is a time machine.
In my opinion, this fully justifies the caution of the French authorities when issuing visas.
I think we need to differentiate between two categories of visa applicants:
Foreigners applying for various reasons—business trips, tourism, family visits, etc.
Spouses of French citizens.
I got married in Madagascar and actually didn’t encounter any difficulties. The meet-up at the Consulate was courteous and brief. It didn’t feel like a police investigation at all, maybe because I was a resident in Madagascar and there were no children involved.
I only completed the transcription over two years later, after returning to France. A complete file and three months later, it was done.
For the visa, the main difficulty came from the unpredictable postal service in 2009.
It took 15 days to get a meet-up, and three weeks later, my wife had her visa.
In addition to the civil status documents, I provided proof of accommodation and proof of income, even though they weren’t even requested.
I think the trend now leans more toward easing requirements for this category of applicants rather than tightening them.
These are the people who imagine the plane that brings them to MADAGASCAR is a time machine.
I don’t know many, but it’s true that some retirees move here after just a one-month tourist stay in Madagascar.
I’m a bit annoyed with some hotel owners who let them believe in a retirement here that’s far from reality.
These are the people who imagine the plane taking them to MADAGASCAR is a time machine.
I don’t know many, but it’s true that some retirees move here after just one month-long tourist stay in Madagascar.
I’m a bit annoyed at some hotel owners who let them believe retirement here is very different from reality.
That’s true.
Some even set themselves up as "middlemen."
Like, "Come to MADAGASCAR, you’ll see how great it is. I’ll introduce you to someone who’ll take care of your "real/fake papers," plus my girlfriend’s little sister who just turned eighteen (18) :::::"
Un sujet mille fois abordés, j'ai bien beau parcourir tous les sujets mais je n'ai vu le sujet sur les voies de recours possible après un refus de visa du…
Nous allons bientôt déménagé durablement à Madagascar. De nationalité française je dois obtenir un visa court séjour transformable, pour cela je dois envoyer…
1/Es-ceque touts les documents comme photocopie de CNI, photocopie du passeport du conjoint et les justificatifs d hebergement sont légalisés? 2/ ma fille…
Ma compagne de nationalité malgache souhaiterais venir visité la France (à la mi-août dans l’idéal) et donc faire une demande de visa court séjour (90 jours)…
Hi there,
I’m heading to Senegal in January for a month and was wondering if I just need my French driver’s license or if I should get an international permit?
Thanks!
JL
Hi,
I’m bringing Seresta, an anxiolytic (tranquilizer) from the benzodiazepine family,
to help me sleep.
I’ll have the prescription with me.
Will this be a problem at customs, and do I need to declare it?
Same question for antibiotics?
Thanks a bunch!
I’m heading to Laos next spring, but I have a question about the Thai arrival/departure form. I’ll be flying PAR-BKK, then taking the train to Laos (so exiting Thailand), and later re-entering Thailand by train to catch my return flight. Do I need to fill out two forms in this case?
Hi there,
I have a 9-seater passenger vehicle that I use for my business in Paris, transporting people.
I’m planning to go to Algeria with my family.
The vehicle registration lists my company as the owner.
Can I get a TPD (Temporary Admission Document)?
Will I need a KBis extract or a power of attorney?!?
Thanks for your help.
Worst case, I can add my personal name as a co-owner on the registration, but that would be a real shame!
Hi,
I’m writing to ask for some info—I’ve heard that you **must** have travel insurance to land in Zanzibar.
What’s the process, and which insurance should I get?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Seb
Hi there,
I’m a French citizen living in Switzerland, and I set up an RV LLC in Montana, USA. Through that, I was able to register 3 vehicles (an RV, a Jeep, and a Harley) with Montana plates.
I’d like to spend 3 months in Mexico, but it seems complicated—maybe even impossible—to cross the border from the US with all 3 vehicles.
Can anyone give me some advice?
Hi, are there any travelers who’ve recently crossed the border between Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan) and Beineu in Kazakhstan?
It was closed for a while.
Thanks for any info!
I bought a one-way flight (Ryanair) and a return flight (EasyJet) to spend a week in Morocco in April.
My passport expires 3 weeks after the return date.
Some websites say the passport must be valid for 3 months at the time of entry.
However, it will still be valid both on entry and return, but its validity will only be 1 month at the time of entry (and 3 weeks on the return date, everything prepaid).
It's an individual family trip.
The consulate can't give me an answer—they're still looking into it (really!)
Last year, we stayed for 3 months in Thailand, north of Khao Lak, and were able to benefit from the 2-month visa exemption, renewable for one month by going to Takua Pa to validate a 1-month extension (1,900 baht).
This year, it’s a disaster for us—not only were we planning a 4-month stay, adding a visa run in between (which some say is quite risky), but the law is apparently changing in the coming months with the return of the 1-month exemption (plus the usual 1-month option). So, we looked into applying for a 6-month multiple-entry visa, allowing a maximum of 60 consecutive days in Thailand. However, I can’t find anywhere the minimum time required outside Thailand between two stays—do any of you have an idea?
Thanks for the info! If you’d like tips on Khao Lak and the surrounding areas, we’ve got some experience, though things change fast!
Cheers,
Bruno.
My partner, our 8-year-old daughter, and I are going on vacation to Gex.
We’ve decided to spend one day in Switzerland and another in Italy. Will we need ID (national ID card or passport)? Do we also need ID for our daughter?
Hello,
We’ll soon be moving to Madagascar long-term.
As a French national, I need to obtain a short-stay visa that can be converted to a long-stay one. To do this, I have to send the required documents to the Madagascar embassy in Paris.
No issues with that procedure so far.
If I get this visa, once I arrive in Madagascar, I’ll need to provide the same documents to the Ministry of the Interior in Anosy. I’m trying to find an email address or website for the Ministry to check which documents I need to submit (I think they ask for additional ones).
If you have any info on this, I’d appreciate your replies.
Best regards,
M. Buisson Eric
I’d like to know if anyone has already applied for a private visa to Russia with an invitation from a Russian resident.
I traveled earlier this year with an e-visa, but since I want to stay longer, I’ll be visiting my friend who lives in eastern Russia.
For the visa application, does the invitation need to be on an official paper form issued by the Russian ministry? And most importantly, do I need to present the original for the application, or is there an electronic version that can be sent directly to the consulate in France?
Thanks for any info if you’ve gone through this process before!
I filled out the B2 form to apply for a visa, created an account on Atvis to pay the visa fees and schedule a meet-up, but every time I try to pay with my Boursobank Visa 1st card, they refuse the payment with a message telling me to check my details (address), even though everything is correct. Does anyone know why this is happening, or maybe they don’t accept Visa cards? Are you aware of this?
Thanks for your feedback!
Elisabeth
There are rumors going around about the ETA: it must absolutely be on your smartphone in the "ETA" app.
Paper documents might not be accepted.
Is this real or just a hoax?
Thanks, I’m leaving in 3 weeks. My passport is good to go and my ETA is still valid for a year, but I only printed the email I received.
Thanks everyone.
Hi there,
We need to apply for a B2 visa because we visited Iran in 2018. It currently costs $185, but they’re planning an additional $250 fee per person for the same visa—it’s been approved but not yet implemented. Does anyone know when this fee will take effect?
Thanks in advance!
Elisabeth
Hi there,
In November, we're heading off on a 4-month trip. We'll be landing in China and plan to leave the country via a land border into Vietnam.
I’ve read that China may ask for proof of exit within 30 days (flight ticket or other reservation). Since we’d be leaving by land, I’m wondering how this works in practice.
Has anyone here been in this situation recently?
Did the airline ask for an exit ticket before boarding?
Did Chinese authorities require proof upon arrival?
Is a train/bus ticket to Vietnam sufficient?
Is a cancelable or flexible reservation accepted?
Hi there,
Just a question that’s probably been asked before (though usually the other way around for my situation :))
My wife and I are heading to the US.
On her ticket, it only has her maiden name (e.g., Martine DUPOND).
On her passport, it’s written as Martine DUPOND épouse AVRY.
No issues for travel, I hope I did the right thing with the ticket?
Then for the ESTA, is just Martine DUPOND enough, or do I need to include the "épouse AVRY" part like on the passport?
Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
I’m spending a few days in San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) and would like to cross the Argentine border to make a loop toward Salta and then return to Chile to drop off the rental car.
I’ve heard that crossing the border can be tricky!
Is it possible with a rental company’s authorization? Which company, and at what cost?
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Best regards,
Arnale
I saw on the French Embassy in Peru’s website and the Peruvian Consulate in Paris’s site that the rule is to have a passport valid for 6 months *after the arrival date* (not the return date).
I arrive in Peru on August 13, 2019 (for about twelve days), and my passport is valid until February 16, 2020.
That’s 6 months and 3 days after my arrival date in Peru. In my opinion, I’m good to go.
But could I still be denied entry if they say I don’t cover the return date or that I’m too close to the 6-month mark?
I read on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that it’s possible to apply for a temporary driving permit in China, valid for 1 month.
I’m planning to rent a car (without a driver) to explore part of the country next August, so I was wondering:
Has anyone here already gone through this process upon arrival?
How long do the formalities take on the spot?
Is it possible to handle these steps in advance, before arriving in China?
Hi there,
My departure is slowly approaching, and now that I’ve got my Russian visa sorted, I’m fine-tuning the rest of my trip to Tajikistan. Since the Tajik visa is no longer required for stays under 30 days (for French nationals), I’ll need to visit the Ministry of Interior (OVIR) to register within 10 days of entering the country. No big deal, though, since I had to go there anyway to apply for my GBAO permit. 😉 However, I’ve *seen* several reports from travelers (mostly motorized) mentioning that you need an entry permit for Kyrgyzstan, which has to be arranged in advance at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) in Dushanbe. Otherwise, you’re *stuck* at the Kyzyl-Art border (with no Wi-Fi, of course, to try and sort it out). The most recent report was from a year ago, so I’d love to know if this is still the case and if it’s indeed at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) where you need to go for this pre-authorization.
Does anyone have any recent info on this?
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone.
I’m leaving for almost 3 months in the Philippines (11 weeks total) starting in early May.
I already have my round-trip ticket.
The problem is, I don’t have time to get a 2-month visa because the process takes nearly a month.
From what I’ve read here and there, I need a return ticket valid for less than a month when I arrive in the Philippines to prove my good faith.
After that, I can apply for a 30-day extension at the immigration office.
I’m planning to either buy a fully refundable ticket to the nearest country or a fake ticket.
For 3 months, I’ll need to extend my visa two more times before my return date to France.
My question is this:
Will immigration ask me each time I extend my visa by one month to show proof of an exit ticket matching the new visa extension date?
Is it possible to extend directly by 2 months before the initial 30 days expire?
Thanks in advance for your experiences and tips! 😊
I’ve been to Thailand several times, but it was about 20 years ago…
There’s a new system in place now, it seems.
TDAC – Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
Before arriving, I apply for a TDAC, okay.
If during my stay I cross the border to spend a few days in Malaysia and then re-enter Thailand,
do I need to submit a new TDAC application?
Do I use the same TDAC as when I first entered the country?
Or do I initially have to pay for a Thai multi-entry visa?
Thanks in advance for your insights—I can’t find the answer online.
My partner (Mexican) entered France on January 21st as a tourist. She was therefore entitled to stay for 90 days in the Schengen Area. She’ll be leaving for Mexico on April 16th, so she’ll have “used up” 86 days.
She plans to return to France on July 18th. According to the European Commission’s Schengen calculator, this new stay “may be authorized for a maximum of 90 days.” That’s not very clear ("may be," "for a maximum of").
The text of Article 6 of the European regulation (2016/399) states that for a stay planned in the territory of the Member States, not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period, one must examine "the 180-day period preceding each day of the stay." That’s not very clear either.
My partner wants to return to France for a 90-day period starting on July 18th. Is this possible?
There are two ways to look at it:
1) The first day she spent in the Schengen Area was January 21st. That day will drop out of the calculation 180 days later, on July 20th.
From July 20th, she’ll get back 1 day of possible stay; on July 22nd, 2 days; and so on. All the days from her previous stay (January 21st–April 16th) need to be outside the 180-day rolling window.
The last day of her stay was April 16th. Looking 180 days ahead, that brings us to October 13th. From that date, she’ll be able to return for a full 90 days.
2) The number of allowed days is calculated for each day of the new stay. In other words: the 180-day window is recalculated every day, not fixed at the entry date.
If she re-enters France on July 18th, she’ll only have a “credit” of 4 days. But with each day of her new stay, one day from the previous stay (January–April) will drop out of the calculation. The rolling window allows her to “replace” days from the previous stay with those of the new stay, without ever exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.
In this case, my partner could stay in France for 90 days starting on July 18th.
The Prefecture doesn’t provide any information, nor does Air France, and in the forums I’ve checked, opinions are divided. Thanks for any insights you can share!
Hello,
We’re planning to travel to Indonesia (Sulawesi with family) next July and August for a stay longer than a month (about 6 weeks).
I’ve seen that it’s possible to get a 60-day visa before departure, but I’ve also read about people having a lot of trouble getting it (some even didn’t manage and had to leave without it).
We absolutely need to have these 4 visas BEFORE leaving because once we’re in Sulawesi, I’m not sure we’ll be able to go to an embassy to request a visa extension after 30 days.
In short, how can we **100% guarantee** that we’ll get our 4 60-day visas before our trip this summer?
Hello, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026!
We’re heading back in October for a trip through Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
I have a question: for our route, we’ll need to cross the Zambia and Zimbabwe borders twice each. From experience, I know we won’t have any issues with Botswana.
But for the other two countries, I can’t find a clear answer.
All your tips are welcome!
I’m currently a student on a gap year, and I don’t plan to go back to school right away. That said, traveling really interests me. But I’ve been wondering: does being a student come with any perks when you decide to go abroad? The real question is whether I should re-enroll in a program just to keep that status without actually attending.
