As of Monday October 21, it will be possible to apply for Schengen visas in Guyana if the main destination is France.
This is according to a release yesterday from the Delegation of the European Union in Guyana.
The applications will be received two days a month. The first session will take place on Monday October 21 and Tuesday October 22, 2024.
For this purpose, visa applicants:
– must complete their applications online at https://france-visas.gouv.fr on the Suriname page,
– make an appointment online at https://consulat.gouv.fr/ambassade-de-france-a-paramaribo/rendez-vous?name=Visas%20Georgetown
– go to the following address: Honorary Consulate of France, 46 First Avenue Subryanville, Georgetown, Guyana, in order to submit their applications.
Applications must include: completed and signed France visa application form, receipt of application, passport, photo, supporting documents (the list is provided on France Visas), the application fee indicated on France visas and a pre-stamped FeDex envelope for the passports return from Suriname to the applicant’s address.
Previously Guyanese interested in applying for a Schengen visa to travel to European countries were required to visit the Dutch Embassy in Suriname.
The Ali administration had pressed the EU Delegation here for progress on enabling the processing of visas here.
A major breakthrough came earlier this year when France announced it was setting up an embassy here.
On August 17, 2022, President Irfaan Ali had urged the European Union to put arrangements in place for Guyanese to be able to access Schengen visas here for travel to Europe, rather than having to go to Paramaribo. He had then given a three-month timeframe in which he said he would like to see some resolution.
Following the visit here of France’s Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Séjourné, in March this year, a joint communique was issued with the announcement of the establishment of the embassy.
“Given the desire to forge closer links as neighbouring countries and friends, Guyana and France have decided to write a new chapter in their history by opening a French Embassy in Georgetown in 2025. France will be the first EU (European Union) country with this level of diplomatic representation in Guyana,” the joint communiqué added.
