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Contact:
Rose Marie Harris
Monday, 22 September 2008
– The Ministry of External Affairs
wishes to inform of the following changes made to the issuing of Schengen Visas
by the French Embassy to the OECS Member States in Saint Lucia.
Following the decision of the European Council dated 8th June 2004,
the French Embassy will issue biometric visas as of October 6th
2008. From this date, personal appearance will become the rule.
Digital photograph and fingerprints will require the physical presence of
each applicant.
Children under the age of six (6) are exempted from this measure, as well as the
following individuals when they are invited by the Government of the Schengen
States or by inter-governmental organizations, and also those persons going to
an inter-governmental organization’s meeting:
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Heads of states and
Members of Government along with their wives;
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Members of official
government delegations as well as political VIP (Members of Parliament,
Leaders of political parties); and
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Sovereigns and members
of Royal families.
This measure concerns short and long stay visas to the Schengen area and the
French Overseas Departments, in particular Martinique, Guadeloupe (including its
dependencies of St Martin and St. Barthelemy) and French Guyana.
To apply for the said visas and to carry out the digital photographing and
fingerprinting, applicants must make an appointment by calling (758)
455-6060 between 8:30 and 12:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Additionally, applicants
should be reminded that there is a visa processing period of fifteen (15)
days as of the date of application.
More details and information are available on the website of the French Embassy:
http://www.ambafrance-lc.org.
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