How to obtain a French visa and tour Paris on a budget

Nigerian travelers are increasingly shaping global tourism markets, not only through numbers, but through their demand for experiential and bespoke tourism, where demand is increasingly driven by customisation, authenticity, and elevated service delivery.

Nigerian outbound travelers are increasingly making their presence felt in one of Europe’s most visited cities, Paris.

“A tour can cost as low as €130 and up to €1299”, according to Yannick Leroyer, head of communications at Parisi Tour, while addressing travel and lifestyle enthusiasts during an immersive virtual tour held at the Landmark Clubhouse recently, organised by Mahogany international and hosted by Blanche Aigle.

Leroyer noted that Paris caters to travelers seeking sightseeing tours, immersive cultural interfaces such as Montmartre walking tours, limited-edition wine tastings paired with cheese, champagne getaways, and even exclusive access to top-tier events such as the French Open and Formula.

“Others are beyond the surface private art sessions with local painters, exclusive gastronomic experiences, and real-time concierge services”.

In the same vein, Quentin Guellec, CEO, Parisi Tour outlined a strong alignment between Nigerian travel preferences and Paris’s high-end offerings, admitting that Nigerian travelers want meaning, not just monuments. He mentioned Nigerians love travel experiences ranging from from UNESCO-listed cathedrals to designer fashion districts and fine dining.

Others are vintage car city tours, private access to heritage sites and wine tastings at Montmartre’s exclusive urban vineyard.

Leroyer highlighted the broader vision underpinning the Nigeria engagement. “Our mission to Nigeria is part of a long-term strategy. Nigeria is a cultural and economic hub in Africa, and a gateway for tourism,”he remarked.

According to data from Statista, approximately 4 percent of outbound departures from Nigeria in 2022 were bound for France, signaling France’s continued relevance as an European destination of choice among Nigerian nationals.

The statistics of outbound departures to France reinforces the French capital’s growing appeal, particularly within Nigeria’s upwardly mobile population.

Leroyer noted that Nigerians’ love for wines, high-end fashion, and tourism attracts many to Paris yearly. He admitted that Nigerians are well-travelled and love authentic and curated experiences.

While tourism to Paris remains predominantly driven by travelers from the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), China, and Germany, Nigeria’s contribution is becoming more visible, albeit still modest in numerical terms.

The first step starts with obtaining a French visa. Here are the details:

Visa application details

Nigerian residents planning to travel to France are strongly advised to follow the updated visa application procedures outlined by the French diplomatic authorities website

Visa applications from Nigeria are evaluated by either the French embassy in Abuja or the French consulate in Lagos, which are the only entities authorised to issue visas.

Short-stay visa applications should be submitted at least one month before the intended travel date, while long-stay applications require a two-month lead time. Applications can be submitted up to six months prior to travel.

Since October 3, 2023, all visa applications must be submitted through the TLS Contact visa application centre and appointments can be scheduled only via their website. Pre-payment of the service fee is required to book an appointment. The service fee collected by TLSContact is 28 Euros and payable online according to the exchange rate, and is non-refundable. Walk-in applicants will not be accepted.

Before starting the application, travellers should consult the visa portal Nigeria to verify their eligibility to enter France and review specific entry conditions.

The latest health entry requirements, including the list of vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), are available on the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs website .

For assistance, applicants can contact the centre by phone at 018883041 or send an email for inquiries or urgent travel needs.

Passports cannot be collected at the consulate, but must be picked up exclusively at the TLS Contact office. Visa processing takes approximately 20 working days, so applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid delays.