Short answer: A TLScontact appointment is a booked time at a TLScontact visa application centre, where you hand in your visa documents and give your fingerprints. TLScontact collects applications for several governments, including France and Belgium in many countries. To book a TLScontact appointment, create an account on the TLScontact website for your country and destination, fill in your application, choose a centre and time slot, and print your confirmation. The embassy or consulate makes the visa decision, not TLScontact.
| Quick facts | Details |
|---|---|
| What TLScontact is | A private company that runs visa application centres for embassies |
| Common destinations | France, Belgium and others, depending on the country you live in |
| Who decides your visa | The embassy or consulate |
| Booking | Online on the official TLScontact site for your country |
| What to bring | Appointment confirmation, passport, form, photo and supporting documents |
Table of Contents
What is a TLScontact appointment?
A TLScontact appointment is your time slot at a TLScontact visa application centre (VAC). At the appointment, staff check your documents, scan them, take your fingerprints and photo, collect the fees and send your file to the embassy. They also return your passport when the decision is made.
TLScontact is an outsourcing company. It does not decide visas and cannot influence the result. Its job is to make the collection of applications faster and more organised for the embassy.
Which countries use TLScontact?
TLScontact works for several governments, but which ones it serves depends on the country where you live. Common examples include:
- France: in many countries, French visa applications go through TLScontact.
- Belgium: in the UK, Belgian short-stay visa applications go through TLScontact centres in London, Edinburgh and Manchester.
- Other countries: some embassies use TLScontact in certain countries and VFS Global or BLS International in others.
Always check the official website of the embassy you are applying to. It will tell you whether you need a TLScontact appointment, a VFS Global appointment, a BLS appointment or an embassy appointment.
How do you book a TLScontact appointment, step by step?
Booking a TLScontact appointment takes around 20 to 30 minutes if your documents are ready.
- Confirm TLScontact handles your application. Check the destination embassy’s website for the country where you live.
- Open the official TLScontact website for your destination country and your country of residence.
- Create an account with your email address and a strong password, and confirm it from your inbox.
- Fill in your application. For France, you usually complete the France-Visas form first and then link it to TLScontact.
- Choose your centre based on where you live. Centres cover specific regions.
- Pick a date and time for your TLScontact appointment from the available slots.
- Print your confirmation and checklist, and keep them with your documents.
What should you bring to your TLScontact appointment?
Bring originals and a set of copies of everything on your checklist. For a short-stay Schengen visa, a typical file includes:
- Appointment confirmation and the application form, signed
- Passport valid for at least three months after your trip, with two blank pages, issued in the last ten years
- Residence permit if you are not a citizen of the country where you apply
- A recent passport photo that meets Schengen rules (see our visa photo guide)
- Travel insurance with at least €30,000 medical cover for the whole Schengen area
- Flight and hotel reservations, or an invitation from your host
- Bank statements for the last three to six months and an employment or study letter
- A short cover letter explaining your trip
- Payment for the visa fee and the TLScontact service fee
How much does a TLScontact appointment cost?
Booking a standard TLScontact appointment is usually free. At the centre you pay:
- the visa fee, which for Schengen visas is set by the EU (currently €90 for adults, less for children)
- the TLScontact service fee, which varies by country
- optional extras, such as SMS updates, courier return, photocopying, form-filling help or premium appointment slots
Premium slots, where offered, cost extra but give more flexible times. They do not make the embassy decide faster.
What happens at the TLScontact appointment?
On the day of your appointment:
- Arrive on time. Late arrivals may be turned away. Allow time for security checks.
- Check in with your confirmation and passport.
- Document check. Staff check your file against the checklist. They do not judge whether you will get the visa.
- Scanning. Your documents are scanned or sent to the embassy.
- Biometrics. Your fingerprints and photo are taken, unless you gave Schengen fingerprints in the last 59 months.
- Payment. You pay the fees and choose any optional services.
- Receipt. You receive a receipt with your reference number for tracking.
How do you reschedule or cancel a TLScontact appointment?
Log in to your TLScontact account and choose the option to change or cancel your appointment. Do this as early as possible, because slots fill up quickly. Rules on how often you can change and whether premium fees are refunded differ by country, so check the terms before you book a premium TLScontact appointment.
What if there are no TLScontact appointment slots?
- Check early in the morning and at the start of the week, when new slots are often released.
- Consider a premium slot if one is available and your trip is urgent.
- Apply early: you can request a Schengen visa up to six months before travel.
- Avoid websites or people selling appointments; they may be fake and can put your data at risk.
How do you track your application?
After your appointment, use the tracking tool in your TLScontact account or on the website with your reference number. Common stages are “application received”, “sent to the consulate”, “decision made” and “ready for collection” or “sent by courier”. When your passport is ready, collect it or receive it by courier.
TLScontact appointment vs VFS Global vs BLS International
| Company | What it does | Who decides the visa |
|---|---|---|
| TLScontact | Runs visa application centres for embassies such as France and Belgium in many countries | The embassy or consulate |
| VFS Global | Runs visa centres for many governments worldwide | The embassy or consulate |
| BLS International | Runs visa centres, best known for Spain | The embassy or consulate |
You cannot choose between them. The embassy decides which company handles applications where you live. Read our BLS appointment guide if your destination uses BLS.
Which TLScontact appointment mistakes should you avoid?
- Booking at a centre outside your area
- Choosing the wrong visa type in the online form
- Missing original documents or signatures
- Bringing insurance that does not cover the whole Schengen area
- Arriving late or without your confirmation
- Paying unofficial agents for appointments
A real example: a TLScontact appointment for France
Leila, an Iranian citizen working as a software engineer in London, wants to visit Paris for a week. She completes the France-Visas form, which gives her a reference number, then opens the TLScontact website for France in the UK and books a appointment at the London centre. She brings her passport, UK residence permit, employer letter, payslips, bank statements, hotel booking, return train tickets and Schengen insurance. The appointment takes 30 minutes. She tracks her application online and collects her passport with a visa nine days later.
Tips for a smooth TLScontact appointment
- Print the checklist for your exact visa type and use it to order your documents.
- Bring copies of every page you hand in, in case staff ask for them.
- Keep a pen and your reference numbers handy.
- Wear clothing that does not cover your face or ears for the photo.
- Bring the payment method the centre accepts.
- For families, book a appointment for each traveller, or a group booking if the site allows it.
How do you book a TLScontact appointment for France?
France uses its own online system, France-Visas, together with TLScontact in many countries. The usual order is:
- Find the right visa type with the France-Visas “visa wizard”.
- Create a France-Visas account and complete the online application.
- Print the application form and the receipt with your France-Visas reference.
- Follow the link to TLScontact, create your TLScontact account and book your appointment.
- Bring both the France-Visas printout and the TLScontact confirmation on the day.
If you skip France-Visas and only book with TLScontact, your file will be incomplete.
How do you book a TLScontact appointment for Belgium in the UK?
UK residents who need a Belgian short-stay visa apply through TLScontact centres in London, Edinburgh and Manchester. You create a TLScontact account, fill in the application, choose the centre for your area and book a appointment. Bring proof of UK residence and the documents on the TLScontact checklist. Our Belgium visa for UK residents guide explains the full process.
Can you get help at the centre?
Many centres offer paid help, such as form filling, photocopying, photos and document checks. These can be useful if you are short of time, but they are optional. They do not change the embassy’s decision. Bringing a complete, well-organised file is the best way to make your appointment quick.
Is your data safe with TLScontact?
TLScontact handles applications under contract with the embassy and follows data protection rules. Protect yourself by booking only on the official website, using a strong password, and never sharing your account details with people offering to “help” with your appointment.
How early should you book your TLScontact appointment?
For Schengen visas you can apply up to six months before you travel and at least 15 days before. In busy seasons, such as summer and the weeks before Christmas, book your appointment as soon as your plans are fixed. Leave at least three to four weeks between the appointment and your trip for the decision and passport return.
Key takeaways
- a appointment is where you hand in documents and give biometrics, not where your visa is decided.
- Check the embassy website to confirm TLScontact handles your application.
- Book online, choose the centre for your area, and print your confirmation.
- Bring originals, copies, Schengen insurance and proof of residence.
- Never buy appointments from unofficial sellers.
How can Alif Visa help with your TLScontact appointment?
Alif Visa is a UK-registered visa assistance company helping applicants worldwide. We check your documents, help you choose the right visa type, and prepare your file before your appointment. We also arrange travel insurance, flight reservations and hotel bookings. Read our Belgium visa guide, see our visa appointment service, or check your route.
Frequently asked questions
Is TLScontact the embassy?
No. TLScontact is a private company that collects visa applications for embassies. The embassy or consulate makes the decision.
Is booking a TLScontact appointment free?
A standard appointment is usually free to book. You pay the visa fee and TLScontact service fee at the centre.
Can I reschedule my TLScontact appointment?
Yes, usually through your TLScontact account, depending on slots and local rules.
Do premium TLScontact appointments speed up my visa?
No. Premium slots offer more convenient times, but the embassy’s decision time stays the same.
Which countries use TLScontact?
It depends on where you live. France and Belgium use TLScontact in many countries. Check the embassy’s website.
Do I need to give fingerprints at every TLScontact appointment?
Not always. If you gave Schengen fingerprints in the last 59 months, you may not need to give them again.
Can someone else attend my TLScontact appointment?
Usually no. You must attend in person to give biometrics, unless you are exempt.
