France overhauls Schengen visa process in Belarus via TLScontact
France overhauls Schengen visa process in Belarus via TLScontact
France overhauls Schengen visa process in Belarus via TLScontact
The French Embassy in Minsk has updated its Schengen visa application process. Applicants must now book appointments online through TLScontact, a third-party service provider. Despite rising costs, the visa fee itself remains unchanged at €35.
To begin the process, applicants register on the TLScontact website and fill out an online form. The system will then automatically assign an appointment when slots open up. This method mirrors the one currently used by the Italian Embassy, where no fixed wait times are given.
All visa interviews and document submissions will still take place at the French Embassy in Minsk. However, applicants can now handle their submissions independently, without needing a travel agency. A dedicated call centre has also been set up to assist with questions about the process and required paperwork.
The embassy aims to speed up processing by redistributing workloads among consular staff. Streamlined procedures are available for certain groups, including family members of EU citizens and organised tourist groups. TLScontact charges an additional €8 processing fee per applicant, on top of the standard visa fee collected by the embassy.
The new system is designed to manage a higher volume of applications more efficiently. While the visa fee stays at €35, applicants will pay an extra €8 for TLScontact's services. The embassy expects these changes to simplify the process for travellers seeking short-stay Schengen visas.