French Consulate Reviews Summary

Appointment Booking

Pros:

• "The service was super efficient and I had my new passport delivered to my door in 8 days."
• "Far much more organised than a few ago years ago, online booking for renewing a CNI or passport is quite straightforward."
• "And in both cases my documents arrived back in 10 days, which is impressive."
• "The system for booking appointment is neat and simple."
• "I managed to get an appointment the same day, didn't need to create an account or login."
• "Overall service was great and the process has been simplified and quick."
• "Online booking for renewing a CNI or passport is quite straightforward."

Cons:

• "Over 6 months trying to book an appointment to renew passport and still no slot available."
• "Impossible to book an appointment to renew my passport."
• "It has been months and months I am trying to get a appointment to renew my passport, they always say try in the morning on our website, a website that doesn’t work…"
• "To book an appointment it's mission impossible!!!!"
• "Impossible to get an appointment. That website is terrible to navigate, no one answers the phone or email."
• "I have now tried to book an appointment for the last month and a half to renew my and my daughter's passport with no success."
• "I have been trying to book a slot to renew my passport but there is no available despite the fact that I check daily online!"

Staff and Service Quality

Pros:

• "Staff was very polite, friendly and helpful."
• "The gentleman was professional and helpful (I had a couple of questions)."
• "Very efficient service. I was supported through the process of getting a passport and the customer service was very good, knowledgeable and friendly."
• "Once at the consulate, the security staff was absolutely lovely."
• "Shout out to the staff of the consulat who have been very helpful with us on several occasions."
• "The staff in the consulate is great."
• "When I have been there the receptionist was very kind and helpful."

Cons:

• "I e-mailed them to see if they could just check my application as my travel date is approaching and my booking is non-refundable but they have no mercy, they did not listen."
• "No phones working, no one answers emails."
• "They do not respond email at all."
• "Staff really cold."
• "Unprofessional security guy keep receiving our letters and sign for it then just throw it away."
• "This blond lady (Adjointe de Chancellerie) has been incredibly rude and disrespectful to me."
• "Staff is rude and not helpful, at least the one I spoke to over the phone regarding a birth registration."

Facilities and Accessibility

Pros:

• "There is a photo booth available in the waiting room."
• "Also good to note that there's an ID photo booth there in the waiting area which can be useful."
• "Everyone at the consulate was kind and efficient, the whole process didn’t last more than 20 minutes!"
• "Knowing I use a Wheelchair ♿️ they called me before travelling to London as the lift was out of order."
• "Very fast, helpful and smiling stuff at the entrance, always polite at the security check."
• "Got to the consulate but for some reason my appointment hadn't come through. The security staff spoke to the reception and managed to get me an appointment on the spot."
• "Turned up with all my paperwork and was attended to promptly and efficiently."

Cons:

• "Feels like traveling to the Middle Ages when no digital technology was available."
• "Living in the North of Scotland and working past the hours of the consulate, there is no option available for people who work."
• "The consulate is very shabby, messy and their website is completely outdated."
• "This place is ridiculously small for the amount of work involved."
• "Only problem is the corridors are a bit narrow which make it difficult to navigate in covid times."
• "The appointment system needs to be reviewed, and/or at least offer the same services in the Edinburgh consulate to make it fair and accessible."
• "Security personnel at the consular gate work with robotic instructions."