The facts
Mr and Mrs X, residents of Madagascar, are the parents of three French daughters living in France. Aged 68 and 45, they own their home in Madagascar and have strong ties there. They had regularly obtained short-stay visas in the past and had always respected their validity periods.
In 2023, for their daughter’s wedding, they applied for short-stay visas at the French consulate in Antananarivo. In June 2023, the consulate refused, stating that the information provided to justify the purpose and conditions of the stay was not reliable. The appeal to the sub-director of visas was rejected in September 2023.
Our defence
Before the Administrative Court of Nantes, our firm demonstrated that:
- the couple had strong ties in Madagascar: home ownership and stable resources;
- they had always respected their previous visas;
- the purpose of the trip was legitimate and family-related: attending their daughter’s wedding;
- the administration had produced no concrete evidence to challenge the reliability of the information provided.
The decision
On 17 December 2024, the court ruled in favour of Mr and Mrs X: the refusals lacked legal justification and the administration had produced no evidence challenging the applicants’ good faith. The court annulled the refusals and ordered the Minister of the Interior to issue the visas.
What to remember
A short-stay visa refusal can be challenged: first before the sub-director of visas within 30 days, then before the Administrative Court of Nantes. A history of respected visas and strong ties in the country of residence are decisive arguments.
Read also: Visa refusals in France: grounds, appeals and solutions.
Need help with your case?
FATOU BABOU AVOCAT assists individuals, families and companies with visas, family reunification, residence permits and appeals against refusals, before consulates, prefectures and courts.
- Bordeaux office: 11 rue Galin, 33100 Bordeaux, France – +33 9 85 40 18 64 – contact@legalfb-avocat.fr
- Dakar office: 14 rue Woro Fila, Fann Hock, Dakar, Senegal – +221 77 173 69 05 / +221 33 844 29 16 – contact@fbavocat-sn.com
- Book an appointment online
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules, amounts and deadlines change regularly: always have your own situation checked by a lawyer.