French Visa - the TLS websitE

TLS website Summary - January 2024

• The actions required to register a new account are quite complicated.

• The main data entry is much better than when the system was last reviewed in January 2023.

• The system has multiple security features which can be extraordinary frustrating and can lead to long delays when waiting to contact TLS.  Many of these issues did not exist a year ago.  

• The screens appear to be designed for a Schengen Visa. Some questions seem odd when applying for a French national visa - see the puzzle below.

• After you have entered all the personal information there is a “confirmation ” phase. This requires TLS to send a One-Time-Passcode (OTP).  The OTP often does not arrive; sometimes there are widespread failures which then have a knock-on effect on the Helpdesk.

Limited telephone support

• TLS telephone support is only available between business hours on business days; currently 09:00 to 17:00.

• If applying in the evenings or Friday, Saturday or Sunday you may have to wait until the next business day to get support. You may wish to take this into account when planning your application. 

• At busy times the you call to TLS may be dropped after a short time.

• For security reasons TLS may required you to use the same mobile number as was entred into the application form

Logon Issues

Unable to complete the registration of a new account

The author had repeated problems when trying to activate a new account.  

• ln one incident after clicking the link in the email they were presented with a screen to select your country rather than the activation screen that was expected: This is under investigation as this might actually be the correct screen sequence.

• in repeated incidents the author was informed that they were already logged in.  This happened on different devices each operating in incognito mode so there were no TLS cookies.  This was during a period when TLS were reporting global issues

Failing to recognise your email address used to log in

Applicants have regularly reported that the TLS system rejects the email address that they have previously used when logging in.

• If this occurs then you will need to provide an alternative email address so be prepared and have one ready.

• You will need to contact TLS, preferably by phone.

• Once you have been in contact with TLS you may need to wait for overnight processing before you can continue. 

Logging in too many times

If logging into the TLS system many times in the same day (possibly due to repeated glitches!) the TLS system may show the error message shown below. There appears to be no reliable work-around for this. 

Use of a VPN 

The TLS may prevent you logging in if you use a VPN. If you are getting logging in failure when using a VPN then try with the VPN temporarily switched off.

Failure to receive an OTP 

TLS regularly fail to send a One-Time-Passcode (OTP) at the point of confirming the applicant prior to booking the appointment.

• You only have two chances to request an OPT before contacting TLS. You might choose to wait until another day and retry

• If they both fail then you will need to contact TLS, preferably by phone.

• TLS is able to override the need for a OTP but you will need to wait until early evening or overnight processing before you can continue.

Data used in another Application 

TLS validation can throw up errors when some data items have been used in previous applications. 

• You will need to contact TLS, preferably by phone, to seek guidance.  

• The author discovered the issue with phone numbers. 

• TLS directed me to delete the group from within an ealier application, after I have done this I exited the browser and waited until 5pm and then it worke

other information 

Guidance on the use of a VLS-T visa for travel in France by UK Citizens is available at: https://bit.ly/180daysinfrance. The focus is on the VLS-T visa but the actual online process is the same for the VLS-TS visa

For other information about the VLS-TS visa see the well researched Facebook Group:  Applying for a French CdS (Carte de Séjour) and/or visa