French Embassy Bangkok

Whether you are a French citizen or a foreign national, you can reach out to the French Embassy Bangkok to gain access to a wide range of valuable services. Located in Bangkok with Mr. Jean-Claude Poimboeuf serving as the current ambassador, the Embassy of France assists with multiple legal and immigration issues, ranging from visa applications to marriage registration.

This page will explain everything you need to know about the services provided by the French Embassy and where to locate them in Thailand. Continue reading to learn more about how the Embassy can help you with your visa application and what legal services they offer to further simplify your experience.

Available Services for French Nationals

If you’re a French citizen or permanent resident, the French Embassy in Bangkok offers many services vital to your stay in Thailand whether you’re here for tourism or residency. These services include, but are not limited to:

• Applying for or renewing a French passport or national ID card
• Applying for or renewing a French driver’s license
• Registering the birth of a child and obtaining the relevant certificate
• Registering your marriage and acquiring a marriage certificate
• Declaring the death of a French citizen and requesting for their family members to be informed of their demise
• Seeking protection in the event of an arrest or detention
• Getting your documents (as well as signatures) certified and legalized
• Requesting replacements for any important documents (such as passports) that have been lost or stolen
• Looking for directions on which attorneys or translators to consult
• Register with the consular electoral roll so you can vote during an election in France

What can the French Embassy do for foreign nationals?

It’s not just French citizens who can receive support from the French Embassy. Regardless if you are a Thai citizen or a foreign national, you can access many helpful services provided by the Embassy, such as:

• Applying for French citizenship
• Applying for a French visa
• Registering and managing your visa application online after submitting it
• Seeking additional information about France’s economy, culture, education, and more
• Securing specific contacts to reach out to in France

It should be noted that visa applications are initially submitted to TLS France in Thailand (also known as the French Visa Application Center). The Embassy works with TLS France to further process your application and decide on your approval. If successful, they will forward the application to TLS and you can collect your passport at the visa application center in person or request for it to be dropped off at your address in Thailand via courier.

The processing time varies depending on the visa you are applying for. In general, it can take up to 15 days on average for the Embassy to process your visa application. If you are required to include additional documentation to your application or you are applying during the high season, you may experience longer than average wait times.

What services are not offered by the French Embassy?

While the French Embassy includes a myriad of different immigration and legal services, there are still some limitations. Some services are not offered by the Embassy, meaning that you will need to consult a different organization if you require it. This includes:

• Issuing a visa to secure legal entry into Thailand
• Demanding the local Thai authorities to release a detained French national or request that the detainee receive preferable treatment
• Enforce any court decisions in Thailand
• Covering any return costs (save for very dire circumstances)
• Covering you for any fines, bills, or other expenses
• Receipt of any submitted applications (these are sent to TLS France beforehand)

What documents does the French Embassy accept?

The documents you need to provide to the Embassy depend on the type of visa or service you are applying for. For instance, if you want to travel to France for tourism purposes, you typically would need a Schengen Visa, enabling you to not only visit France but also other European countries that are a part of the Schengen Area.

For the majority of French visas, you are expected to provide the following:

• Completed and signed application form (for the application you’re undertaking)
• Valid passport
• Valid national ID card (if applicable)
• Valid Thai visa (if you are a non-Thai national)
• Passport-sized photograph of yourself (taken in the past 6 months, in color, and taken against a white background)
• Proof of sufficient funds (such as a bank statement from your financial institution)
• Proof of accommodation in France (such as a hotel reservation document)
• Flight itinerary showing that you have booked a return ticket to Thailand
• Any additional documentation as required by the Embassy

Note that the French Embassy does not accept documents in the Thai language. You will need to have your documents translated (see below) into French, though in some cases English is acceptable.

How to Contact the French Embassy in Thailand

If you are seeking any assistance from the French Embassy, you can reach out to them through many different communication channels (shown below). If you are applying for a visa, it is advised to do so outside of peak application periods (February through July, November to December) as processing times are longer.

Address:
35 Soi Charoen Krung 36 (Brest Road),
Charoen Krung Road, Bang Rak,
Bangkok 10500
Opening hours:

• 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Monday to Thursday)
• 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm (Friday)

Phone number: +66-2-657-5100 or +66 2 627 2100
Fax: +66-2-657-5155
Website: https://th.ambafrance.org/

Public Holidays

The French Embassy in Thailand is closed on Thai public holidays. The information below details the holidays that the Embassy will be closed on, minus weekends. The dates (as well as the catch-up dates) listed are for 2024 only and may be subject to change in the following year:

• January 1: New Year’s Day
• February 26: Substitution for Makha Bucha Day on Saturday, February 24
• April 8: Substitution for Chakri Day on Saturday, April 6
• April 15: Songkran Festival
• April 16: Substitution for the Songkran Festival from Saturday, April 13 to Sunday, April 14
• May 1: Labor Day
• May 6: Substitution for the Coronation Anniversary of H.M. King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua on Saturday, May 4
• May 22: Visakha Bucha Day
• June 3: H.M. Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana’s birthday
• July 22: Substitution Asalha Bucha Day on Saturday, July 20
• July 29: Substitution for H.M. King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s birthday on Sunday, July 28
• August 12: H.M. Queen Sirikit’s birthday (also known as Mother’s Day)
• October 14: Substitution for the Great Memorial Day for H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Sunday, October 13
• October 23: Chulalongkorn Day
• December 5: H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s Birthday (also known as National Day and Father’s Day)
• December 10: Constitution Day
• December 25: Christmas Day
• December 31: New Year’s Eve

Booking an Appointment with the French Embassy in Thailand

For most services, walk-ins are not permitted by the French Embassy and assistance is only available via an appointment. You will need to schedule an appointment for the following services:

• Applying for a passport
• Applying for a residence certificate
• Legalizing and certifying copies of documents
• Obtaining a birth certificate
• Acquiring a marriage certificate
• Changing your place of residence
• Registering a French citizen’s demise and obtaining a death certificate

To schedule an appointment, click on the “make an appointment online” link located on the French Embassy website and choose your desired date and timeslot. You will receive a confirmation email upon completing your booking as well as a reminder via SMS at least 24 hours before your appointment.

There will also be a link in the email that you can click on to cancel your appointment. Make sure you bring the correct documents and attend your appointment on time.

Are there French Embassies or Consular Services available in other locations besides Bangkok?

There are French consulates in Phuket, Khon Kaen, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Chiang Mai. Keep in mind, however, that these are mostly honorary consulates, meaning they do not provide the full range of consular services. If you are planning on dealing with one of these consulates, contact them ahead of time to determine if they are equipped to assist you.

French Honorary Consul in Phuket

• Head: Alain Faudot
• Opening hours: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays
• Address: 88 Moo 5, Chao Fah Tawan Tok Rd, Chalong, Muang, Phuket, 83130, Thailand
• Phone: +66 (0) 76 390 536
• Email: agenceconsulairephuket@yahoo.com
• Website: https://agenceconsulairephuket.com/

French Honorary Consulate in Chiang Mai

• Head: Thomas Baude
• Opening hours: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays
• Address: 138 Charoen Prathet Road, Muang District, Chiang Mai, 50100
• Phone: +66 (0) 5328 1466, +66 (0) 5327 5277
• Mobile: +66 (0)8 9554 6163
• Fax: +66 (0) 5382 1039
• Email: tbaude@laposte.net

French Honorary Consul in Khon Kaen

• Head: Marc Nussaume
• Opening hours: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays
• Address: 11 Kaen Nakorn Office Park Building (KO Park), Room 304, Sithat Prachasanti Rd, Nai Mueang, Khon Kaen, 40000
• Mobile: +66 (0) 81-811-1065
• Email: agenceconsulairekhonkaen@gmail.com

French Honorary Consul in Prachuap Khiri Khan

• Head: Stephane Rousseau
• Opening hours: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm; 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays
• Address: 10/205, Soi Hua Hin 112 (Hua Na), Nong Kae, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, 77110
• Phone: +66 (0) 80-598-4420
• Email: agenceconsulairehuahin@gmail.com
• Website: https://agenceconsulairehuahin.fr/

How Siam Legal Can Help You With Visa Applications

Applying for a visa is time-consuming and complicated, and while the French Embassy has a wealth of visa-related services, there’s only so much they can do to help you. For assistance in further streamlining your application, while also making the process as stress-free as possible, reach out to Siam Legal.

As a full-service law firm and visa consultancy running for over 20 years in Thailand, our foreign visa specialists have the skills and experience needed to guide you smoothly through your application.

What visa services do we offer?

We will work alongside you every step of the way to ensure that you can complete your application, quickly and seamlessly. We will carefully review your documents to make sure everything is in order before submitting your application, helping you avoid delays and unnecessary stress by ensuring it’s submitted accurately and on time. If any additional documents are needed, we will guide you step-by-step on how to properly obtain them.

We provide services for a variety of French Schengen Visas, including, but not limited to the following options:

• French Tourist Visa
• French Business Visa
• French Spouse Visa
• French Fiancée Visa

How Siam Legal Can Assist You with Translation and Legalization

When applying for a visa or legal service, all documents you provide must be in English or French. If any document is in a different language, you will need to consult a government-approved translator and submit a translated copy.

To simplify this procedure, our foreign visa team will assist you with the translation of any important documents into the right language. To alleviate delays, our experts will help ensure each translated document complies with the French immigration requirements and contains no mistakes after it's translated.

If you have any overseas documents, they may need to be legalized before you can submit them. This is typically handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), but our professional attorneys can also assist you with notarizing your documents beforehand to save time and effort. Notarization is required before a document can be legalized, and doing this can simplify the process with the MFA, so you can enjoy the rest of your days without having to worry about your application.

Contact Siam Legal today and our foreign visa consultants will help ease you through your visa application, making it swifter, easier, and less stressful for you to obtain the French visa you need.