The French Embassy will from next month reinstate their consular services.

French Ambassador to Fiji Jean-Francois Fitou says after a lapse of more than two years, Fijians will be able to apply for a French visa right here in Suva.

Ambassador Fitou clarifies though this time around visas will be administered by a contractor and will initially be only a visa to enter France.

“We’re not doing this for Schengen, we are doing this for France only. Schengen is a different thing, we are not responsible for the whole Schengen area, we are responsible for our country, for what regards France, things will be as they were before. Schengen would have to be worked out in the future.”

The visa service is expected to be open from mid-November.

Since 2017, Fijians wishing to travel to France have had to apply for their visa in either Vanuatu, Australia or New Zealand.