Are you a French citizen? Can you bring your parents living in Bangladesh to France?
Translated from Bengali.
Yes, you can—but which visa they should apply for will depend on the purpose of their visit and their financial situation. A visa for parents is not guaranteed simply because their child is a French citizen.
First, you need to decide: will they come for a short visit, or do they want to live in France?
🔵 1. Short-term family visit: Visa court séjour
If the parents are coming to visit their child and will return to Bangladesh at the end of the authorized period, they can apply for a short-term family visit visa.
As a general rule, they may stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. However, if the visa authorizes a shorter number of days, that limit must be respected.
The main points in this application are:
• proof of the relationship between the parents and the French child;
• the clear purpose and duration of the trip;
• the ability to cover expenses;
• accommodation arrangements in France;
• travel medical insurance;
• the credibility of the plan to return to Bangladesh after the visit.
🟢 2. For living in France: Ascendant à charge de Français
If the parents are financially dependent on their French child to meet their essential living expenses, a long-stay visa application in this category may be considered.
The most important question here is:
“While they are living in Bangladesh, is the child actually covering their necessary expenses?”
Simply writing “I will cover all expenses once they come to France” is not enough. Proof is needed of their existing financial dependence in Bangladesh, accommodation arrangements in France, and medical insurance for the first three months. If a visa is granted through this route, they must apply for a titre de séjour in France according to the applicable rules.
🟠 3. What should you do if the parents are financially self-sufficient?
If the parents have sufficient pension, income, or other financial resources of their own and wish to stay for more than 90 days, a long-stay “visiteur” visa may be considered.
This is different from “ascendant à charge.” The visa category must be chosen according to the actual situation.
📂 What documents should you prepare?
The list below is a preparation guide. Not all documents are mandatory for everyone. After completing the application on France-Visas, you must follow the checklist provided according to your situation.
A. Parents’ identity and application-related documents
✓ valid passport and copies of the required pages;
✓ completed, dated, and signed application form;
✓ recent photos meeting the required standards;
✓ France-Visas application registration document and checklist;
✓ appointment confirmation;
✓ copies of previous passports and visas, where applicable.
B. Proof of the relationship between the parents and the child
✓ the French child’s birth certificate showing the parents’ names;
✓ Bangladesh birth registration and other family documents, as needed;
✓ the French child’s valid carte nationale d’identité or French passport;
✓ a reliable explanation and relevant proof if there are differences in name, date of birth, or spelling.
Translations and formalities related to verification of the authenticity of documents must be completed as needed. Check the relevant checklist and consular instructions to confirm what formalities are required for each document.
C. Proof of the child’s finances and housing in France
✓ employment contract and recent payslips;
✓ latest avis d’imposition;
✓ bank statements;
✓ if self-employed, proof of activity and actual personal income;
✓ home rental contract or proof of ownership;
✓ recent proof of address;
✓ an explanation of who lives in the home and what accommodation arrangements will be made for the parents;
✓ a signed prise en charge financière, if necessary.
D. Especially important for an “Ascendant à charge” application
✓ bank or remittance receipts showing regular money transfers;
✓ proof that the money was credited to the parents’ account;
✓ information on their income, pension, bank accounts, and other financial resources;
✓ details of food, rent, medical, and other essential expenses;
✓ proof if the child pays any expenses directly;
✓ where relevant, an explanation of the actual situation of other children or supporters in Bangladesh.
For verifying financial dependence, regular money transfers, the parents’ own resources, and the French child’s ability to cover expenses are important evidence.
E. Additional preparation for a short-term visit
✓ possible travel dates and itinerary;
✓ round-trip flight reservations, if required;
✓ proof of employment, business, pension, family responsibilities, or other real ties in Bangladesh;
✓ proof of accommodation and coverage of expenses;
✓ appropriate travel medical insurance.
Caution regarding Attestation d’accueil: this is generally required when staying in a private home. However, exemptions exist in some cases, including visas marked “famille de Français.” Therefore, do not assume it is mandatory for everyone; check your own checklist.
💪 How can you strengthen the application?
1. Match the visa category to the purpose.
If it is a temporary visit, clearly explain the duration of the trip and the plan to return. If the purpose is residence, apply for the appropriate long-stay visa.
2. Organize the history of money transfers.
Prepare a list: date, amount sent, recipient’s name, and the relevant receipt. If possible, place the transfer receipt and the bank entry showing receipt of the money side by side.
3. Explain dependence with real calculations.
What are the parents’ necessary monthly expenses? How much is their own income? How much of the shortfall does the child cover? Providing these calculations makes the situation easier to understand.
4. Also consider the child’s own household expenses.
A high salary alone is not enough. The financial plan must be credible when rent, the child’s own family expenses, and the parents’ potential expenses are taken together.
5. Provide a short explanatory letter.
Mention the relationship, the purpose of the visa, the financial situation, accommodation arrangements, and the attached evidence. Each important claim in the letter should match the documents.
6. Resolve inconsistencies in names and dates in advance.
If there are differences between the passport, birth certificate, and French documents, do not ignore them. Provide the necessary corrections or an explanation with proof.
7. Present the father’s and mother’s situations separately.
One person’s pension and the other person’s financial dependence may not be the same. Clearly explain each person’s individual situation.
These are recommendations for organizing and presenting the application; providing additional documents does not guarantee a visa.
⚠️ Mistakes to avoid
❌ depositing a large sum of money suddenly before the application without explaining its source;
❌ hiding the parents’ actual income or pension;
❌ submitting only an invitation letter while omitting proof of relationship and finances;
❌ claiming “complete dependence” without evidence;
❌ providing fake documents or contradictory information;
❌ assuming that “the child is French, so the visa will definitely be granted.”
📝 How to apply from Bangladesh
1️⃣ Select the correct situation on the official France-Visas website.
2️⃣ Complete the application for each parent and obtain the individual checklist.
3️⃣ Arrange the documents according to the order in the checklist.
4️⃣ Follow the appointment procedure of the authorized VFS Global from the Bangladesh page of France-Visas.
5️⃣ Attend on the scheduled day with the required original documents, copies, and application form; provide biometrics where applicable.
6️⃣ After submitting the application, follow its progress through the designated system.
VFS accepts applications; the French Embassy in Dhaka makes the decision to grant the visa. Even if a complete file is submitted, approval is not guaranteed.
🏠 After receiving a long-stay visa
A parent who comes as an “Ascendant à charge” may be eligible for a 10-year carte de résident if the conditions are met. For this, the applicable rules must be followed, including having the appropriate long-stay visa, maintaining regular status, and meeting the conditions related to taking financial responsibility. Obtaining the visa is not the final step—the séjour procedure after arriving in France must also be completed.
📌 Remember: the foundation of a successful application is the correct visa category, truthful information, and evidence that matches the claims.
ℹ️ This article reflects the rules on its publication date; they can change. For your own case, come to the office with your papers: 7 rue Solférino, 93300 Aubervilliers (Saturday – Thursday, 10am – 8pm).