Apply for a French visa in Bangladesh

If you are applying for a French visa in Bangladesh, note that the French Embassy's visa section in Dhaka is responsible for reviewing your file. You should anticipate that appointment and processing times are subject to seasonal changes and the volume of applications. It is crucial to plan ahead, as the waiting time for an appointment can extend to three weeks when the Embassy experiences high demand.

The information you provided clearly details the two different procedures for booking a French visa appointment in Bangladesh, separated by a specific date: September 17, 2025.1

French Visa Appointments in Bangladesh: Whom to Contact

The entity responsible for collecting your visa application depends on the date you book your appointment.

1. Appointment Submission Up to September 14, 2025

2. Appointment Submission From September 17, 2025

This date marks the transition of services to the external service provider, VFS Global.

 General Application Timing Requirements

All applicants must complete the initial application on France Visas and gather their supporting documents before booking an appointment.2

You are requested to submit your applications as soon as possible, respecting the following timeframes:

French Visa Applications: Special Cases and Fees

1. Official and Diplomatic Passports

Holders of official or diplomatic passports follow a simplified, direct process:

• Submission Location: Directly to the Embassy's visa section.
• Appointment: No appointment is required.
• Submission Time: Applicants are received from Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Fees: Visas issued to holders of official or diplomatic passports are free of charge.
• Crucial Note: Visa applications sent by email will not be accepted.

2. Representation of Other Schengen States

The Embassy of France in Dhaka processes Schengen visas for three other countries:

• Represented Countries (Short-Stay only): Austria, Portugal, and the Czech Republic.
• Procedure: The appointment and submission procedure for these represented countries is identical to the procedure for France.
• Document Translation: Supporting documents originally in German, Portuguese, or Czech must be accompanied by translations into French or English.

3. Student Visas (Long-Stay)

The Long-Stay Student Visa application procedure is unique and involves multiple stages:

• First Step: You must first contact the Campus France desk (the cultural attaché) to begin the academic background check.
• Interviews: The overall process requires two interviews:
  1. The first interview is with the cultural attaché (Campus France).
  2. The second interview is with the visa section of the Embassy.
• Appointment: The cultural section and subsequently the visa section will contact you directly by email to give you an appointment.
• Preparation: You must connect to the France-Visas website to prepare your application and required documents.

4. Visa Application Fees (Official Rates)

The fees are collected by the French administration to process your application and are generally not refundable after the collection of biometrics. Fees are indicated in Euros (€) and must be converted to local currency (BDT) using the applicable chancery rate.

5. Help and Assistance

If you encounter any problems with your visa application, you should contact the French Embassy directly for assistance by email.