This week, we inaugurated our new visa application centre for France in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, our first for France in Central Asia. Today, we operate over 70 centres on behalf of the French authorities, on four continents.
The inauguration ceremony took place in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Walid Fouque, Ambassador of France to Uzbekistan. The centre opening follows the award of a new contract to TLScontact in 2025 by the French Embassy in Tashkent. For the first time, the Embassy has chosen to outsource all the administrative aspects of the visa application process to an external service provider, while retaining full responsibility for reviewing and deciding on all visa applications.
New procedure and additional services to support applicants
Under this agreement, TLScontact will manage key stages of the application process, including appointment booking through a dedicated website, document collection, and biometric enrolment for both short-stay and long-stay visas for France. The new centre will be open Monday to Friday, and a dedicated call centre will also be available five days a week to assist applicants with their queries.
A range of optional services will be available to applicants, designed to enhance convenience and support throughout the process. Services include Prime Time appointments available outside standard opening hours and access to a Premium Lounge offering a more personalised and exclusive experience. Applicants will also be able to benefit from our Full Application Assistance service, which provides support with completing the France-Visas online application form and preparing the required supporting documentation. In addition, an Express Courier Return service will allow them to receive their passports securely by courier once their application has been processed, without having to make a second visit to the centre.
Expanding our global footprint
The new centre is conveniently located close to the French Embassy in Tashkent and has been designed in line with the Group’s global standards for quality, security and accessibility. A new local team has been recruited and trained to operate the centre. They have been supported by experienced colleagues from across our global network to ensure a smooth launch and the delivery of high-quality services from day one.
Commenting on the inauguration, His Excellency Mr. Walid Fouque, Ambassador of France, said:
“The opening of this visa application centre will contribute directly to exchanges between our two countries. I would like to thank the teams, whose daily work will reflect the values dear to France, starting with hospitality, and I wish them every success.”
Irina Vassilyeva, Zone Manager for Central Asia, added:
“We are delighted to open this new centre, after weeks of intense efforts to prepare for launch. We look forward to working closely with the French Embassy to offer a smooth experience for visa applicants in Uzbekistan and support France’s reputation and attractiveness as a destination country.”
This new centre represents an important step in the expansion of our operations on behalf of France. It is the first visa application centre that we are operating for the French authorities in Central Asia. Today, we manage over 70 visa application centres for France across four continents, supporting embassies and applicants with efficient, secure and customer-focused services.