long stay tourist visa france

How to get a France long-term visa?

You are planning to spend an extended period in France ? You may need to apply for a France long-term visa . Depending on the purpose of your travel, the France long-term visa, also called the France long-stay visitor visa , might be your best option. Let’s see why, for whom, and how! 

Table of Contents

What is a France long-term visa?

The first thing to consider is the duration of your stay in France since the 90-day rule applies in all the Schengen Area. 

If you are from a non-EU country and want to come to France (or any other Schengen country ) for more than 90 days during 180 days (6 months), you will need to apply for a France long-term visa (visa D). You’ll be able to figure out the exact number of days in the Schengen zone by using the official EU Commission online calculator .

If you want to come for a shorter duration, then the short-stay visitor visa (also called Schengen visa) will apply, if your nationality doesn’t have a visa exemption for stays under 90 days. 

Note that the short-stay visa cannot be extended and you will have to leave France when it expires. If you plan to come back to France under a tourist short-stay visa you will need to wait until the end of the 180-day duration (that started when you first entered France) to be able to come back.

There are several long-stay visa categories and the purpose of your travel to France will determine which visa to apply for. 

The following specific motives will match the specific visas to apply for; it could be for work, to start a business, for studies, for spouses of French national or EU national, for au pair but also a family reunion ( regroupement familial for spouses of non-EU citizens) or visit. 

Here, we are focusing on the France long-term visitor visa (also called the long-stay visitor visa or long-stay tourist visa).

Who does the France long-term visa apply to?

Every non-EU citizen (including British nationals who didn’t move to France before December 31, 2020) must have a France long-term visa for stays over 90 days .

If your situation does not match one of the specific motives detailed above, you may still be wondering if the long-stay visitor visa is for you. Let me explain further and give you some examples.

If you do not intend to work in France (in the sense of having an employment contract in France or creating a company in France) and do not match the other motives detailed before, there is no doubt to have: a long-term visitor visa is what you need. You could be, for instance, an annuitant, a long-term tourist or coming to France to visit family or for other personal reasons.

Retirees that have contributed in France in the past will apply for a specific Retiree visa.

If you come regularly for an extended period in France (longer than 3 months) and are a second home-owner in France, you will also need to apply for this visa.

Also, the France long-term visa could be the first step before transitioning to another status. However you need to make sure your initial long-stay visitor visa is genuine since the Prefecture will investigate the reason why you initially opted for this visa. And may decline a change of status if there is a discrepancy. 

The main situation that is often approved by the Prefecture (but not recommended) is if you are planning to marry your French partner in France and do not wish to return to your country after the marriage to request a French spouse visa (Visa Vie Privée et Familiale). You could request a France long-term visa. (Also check the requirements explained below before deciding it is your best option).

Your first step should be to fill in the visa wizard to confirm the visa matching for your situation.

What are the long-stay visitor visa requirements?

The two requirements to apply for a France long-term visa are:

• Not to work in France (either as salaried of a France-based company or having a French company),
• Have sufficient income to stay in France (the French minimum wage ).

This can be your own resources (pensions, property income, etc.) or those of a family member . You can present bank statements or guarantees or proof of income from creditworthy people.

Housing conditions are also taken into account in the evaluation of resources (owner, tenant, free accommodation) and possibly guarantees provided by creditworthy people (your family in particular).

You can obtain this guarantee as :

• a dependent parent of your children who are legally resident in France, 
• or as a partner in a PACS (having lived together for less than 1 year), 
• or as a religious person (priest, imam, etc.) if you come to France to perform your duties.

Family allowances are not taken into account (since they are paid for the maintenance of children).

How to apply for a France long-term visa

Your first step should be to connect to the French administration’s visa wizard . It will confirm the visa type matches your situation. You will need to create an account, then complete the form and print out the result with the list of supporting documentation to submit with your visa application.

The list of documents will vary from one situation to another depending on your nationality , your country of residence when applying for the visa and the motive and duration of your stay in France.

The common list will be (provide the original + 2 copies of each):

• The filled-in application form
• Passport photos respecting the Prefecture rules
• Copy of the passport and all pages with stamps
• Proofs of income
• A certificate of honour attesting not to work in France
• Proof of address in France matching the duration of the visa request (it can be for example a rental lease agreement or a letter attesting you will be hosted with the dates, together with your host ID copy and their latest energy bill, and also Airbnb reservation (or equivalent).
• Medical insurance attestation
• If you are not a national of your country of residence: proof that you are legally residing in that country (residence permit).

Note that the amount of the visa fee varies depending on the country where you apply from, but 99 euros is a common fee for this visa type.

If you need more guidance to nail your long-stay Visitor visa request, you can receive more information on the Dream to Reality programme by providing your contact details just below.

Where to apply for a France long-term visa?

Which french consulate.

Whatever the type of visa you are applying for, you should always request it at the French Consulate of your country of residence . So, for example, if you are British residing in the USA, you should request your French visa at the French consulate for your US state of residence.

The residency is determined by a valid residence permit  (if you do not live in your country of origin).

Also, some French consulates have outsourced their visa application process to e xternal service providers such as VFS Global or TLS. You will find the appropriate application process on the French Consulate website of your State of residence.

However, if you are a tourist, you should return to your country of legal residence or origin to request a France long-term visa from the appropriate French Consulate .

What to expect at the visa application appointment?

Depending on the Consulate, you may need to make an appointment to submit your visa application. Also, a different procedure may be in place during the covid pandemic depending on the country.

First, make sure you arrive on time , they usually let you in about 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.

It is always a good idea to come overly prepared with all the documents requested when submitting the visa application request with 2 copies of each document.

I also recommend having other important documents with you (original + 2 copies) in case they ask you for extra information. It could be for example translated birth certificate, a marriage certificate, a letter explaining your project in France, or any invitation letter or justification of your stay in France.

The main purpose of the interview is to collect your visa application documents and ask you questions about these documents if needed.

What happens after the visa application submission?

Your france visa has been approved.

Depending on the consulate the visa processing time could be somewhere between a few days to usually 2 weeks to either receive your visa by postal mail or to come in person to the consulate to retrieve your passport with your French visa.

You will also be provided with an OFII form with your visa. You should keep this document as you will need it to validate your visa once you arrive in France. The validation process is also explained in this document.

What to do if your French visa has been denied?

If unfortunately your visa has been denied, the cost of a long-stay visa will not be refunded. 

If you plan to appeal the French visa rejection , it is essential to ask for the motive of visa rejection in writing as this document will be needed to make an official appeal. Not every consulate provides it as default and it will be hard to get if not impossible later on.

There are two ways to receive a French visa refusal:

• an express refusal notified in writing
• or an implicit visa refusal after two months without information after the submission date

You may contest this refusal within two months by filing an appeal with the French Visa Application Appeals Commission – a mandatory prior administrative appeal against a visa refusal.

This appeal which must be motivated and written in French can be filled with or without the help of a lawyer with this Commission to be able to refer the matter to the competent administrative judge, which is the Administrative Court of Nantes . This appeal is called “contentious”.

In parallel to the referral to the Commission, you can also choose to file a hierarchical appeal with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an ex gratia appeal with the Consulate to obtain the issuance of the visa.

However, neither the hierarchical appeal nor the informal appeal against a visa refusal will exempt the foreigner from referring the matter to the Commission at the same time, within two months of the notification of the decision to refuse the visa by the Consulate.

How to validate your France long-term visa?

Within 3 months of arriving.

When you finally make it to France, within 3 months of your arrival you MUST validate your France long-term visa (VLS-TS: visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour –  Initial France entry visa valid as a residence permit for the first year). The validation can be done online on this official website . 

This visa validation is done with OFII (Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration).

You will need to provide the following information:

• your visa information
• your date of entry in France
• your address of residence in France
• your credit/debit card to pay the residence permit delivery tax (€250 for long-stay visa holders)

The OFII will then send you :

• a ” certificate of receipt of the OFII certificate application form “.
• convocation for the validation of the visa.

Your OFII appointment

On the day of the appointment, you must present the following documents:

• Your passport with the appropriate visa;
• The printout of the stamps purchased online on timbresofii.fr or the stamped letter with tax stamps, worth 250 euros;
• Your proof of address;
• Passport photo.

CAUTION : If you do not validate your visa within the 3-month time frame, you will no longer be staying legally in France and, as a result, you will not be able to cross the border into the Schengen area again!

How to renew your long-stay French visa?

The renewal process.

It has now been almost one year since you live in France and your France long-term visa (VLS-TS – Initial France entry visa valid as a residence permit) will expire in the next 2 months.

To remain in France, you need to request a residence permit “Visiteur” at the local Prefecture. 

There is no need to return to your home country to request a new entry visa.

Once you submit your residence permit request at the Prefecture, and only if your file is complete, you will be provided with a receipt (called récépissé ). The récépissé authorises you to remain in France until you receive your permit, but only for the dates indicated on the document, usually 4 months, sometimes 6 for the initial request. 

CAUTION : The recépissé for a first residence permit request (opposed to a residence permit renewal récepissé), doesn’t authorise to travel outside France . If you leave the country, this document will not allow you to get back in and depending on your nationality you will need to request a visa.

Once your residence permit is ready , you will be notified by the Prefecture by text message to come to pick it up in person.

List of documents to request your Residence Permit “Visiteur”:

• passport (pages with the personal data and the entry stamp);
• birth certificate with filiation  (original documents + French translations by a sworn translator by a French court of Appeal).
• if you are married: a marriage certificate (original documents + French translations by a sworn translator by a French court of Appeal) and your spouse’s valid residence permit or visa (VLS-TS) or national ID card for European citizens.
• if you have children: birth certificate with filiation of your children (original documents + French translations by a sworn translator by a French court of Appeal)
• Your VLS-TS (copy of your initial France Visitor entry visa)
• If you are a tenant: – an energy bill such as electricity, gas, water, landline phone, and Internet in your name. CAREFUL: the mobile phone bill is usually not accepted. – Lease or rental contract (less than 3 months old), successive rental payment receipts,
• If you are staying at a hotel or a residence: proof of residence + a receipt for the previous month’s rent.
• If you are being hosted (in the case that your name is not on the rental contract or bills): a hand-written letter attesting to your residence signed by your host + your host’s last energy bill + a copy of your host’s proof of identity.
• 3 ID photos respecting the Prefecture requirements , format 35 mm x 45 mm
• Proof of the residence permit tax payment of 225 euros (200 euros for the tax + 25 euros for the physical card) is to be given when collecting the permit. See more information below.

Other documents may be required depending on your situation, so it is important to go over-prepared as explained previously.

It may not seem like it but the France long-term visitor visa is the easiest long-term visa to get to come to France for more than 3 months.

The main reason is that this visa does not authorise to work . However, it is essential to prove sufficient funds to make a decent living in France and you will have open doors to live the life of your dreams in France.

I hope this France long-term visa guide will help you to navigate this visa request.

You May Also Like

How to get the France family reunion visa

The 3 sponsor-free visas to start a business in France

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32 comments.

Daniel Nixon

Hello. I am currently looking at two options of visa to spend more time with my girlfriend in France. One is the long term visa and the other is entrepreneurial visa. I currently run a small company in the UK in which I work around the world on a contract basis. Can I easily switch that business to France, pay taxes etc of course? Or would it be more straightforward to try to take the long term visa? Also, because of the nature of my business, would I be allowed to come and go to France as needed? Any help greatly appreciated!

Mademoiselle Guiga

Hi Daniel, From the 2 visas you are mentioning, only the Entrepreneur/profession liberate visa will allow you to be compliant in France from a tax point of view once you become tax resident in France. For more information on taxes, you should contact a tax lawyer. More information on this visa here: https://expat-in-france.com/how-to-secure-profession-liberale-visa/ Yes, you can come and go with this visa as long as you are in France at the time of the renewal. Then, if you spend too much time outside France it may jeopardise your possibility to request the 10-year card or the French passport is this is your plan. Best to you,

I am ‘renewing’ my VLS -T to allow me to stay up to 6 months in France. Because of the rules preventing me from renewing within 6 months of the expiry of my previous VLS -T, I cannot have my next VlS -T start before 11/02/23. I will be applying for this visa in the UK at the begining of December.

I expect to be in France before the start date on the Visa (using the 90 in 180 days rule). Do I need to exit France and then re enter to get my passport stamped on/after the start of the Visa, or I can i remain in France confident that from 11/02 the Visa is covering my stay?

Thank you for any advice you can give.

Hi Sue, There are 2 types of Long-stay visa depending on what you enter in your France-visas form: – The long-stay visa valid as a residence permit. Visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS- TS) Some long-stay visas are valid as residence permit during their period of validity. This means that if the Consulate issues a VLS-TS you will not need to request a residence permit for the first year in France. Only a validation process will be needed and I will explain it in the next Module. However, you will need to “renew your VLS-TS” by the end of the first year to be able to remain in France with a residence permit. – The Temporary Long-Stay visa. Visa de séjour temporaire (VLS-T) This is also a one-year (or less) visa that cannot be renewed, under any circumstances. If you request this visa by mistake, you will need to go back to your home country by the end of the first year in France to request a new entry visa.

So I don’t know if you just forgot to mention the ‘S’ and you actually have a VLS-TS and not a VLS-T.

Now to answer your question, since you are a short-stay visa-exempt (as a UK national- but this would apply to other nationality not needing a short-stay visa), you can enter France as a visitor as long as it is no more than 90 days before your long-stay visa start date and your status will be changed automatically. BEWARE – that you will not be able to work or register to the French healthcare or do most paperwork under the vfirst 90 days under the visitor status. Best,

My wife and I are planning to apply for a long stay France visa. We will be staying at a french friends apartment when we first arrive, but will subsequnetly find an appartment to rent. When we fill out the contacts part of the applicatioon, should we be checking the “a person will be accomodating me” box or the “my hotel or accomodation” box and filling out the details accordingly? Thank you for your help.

Hi Eric, If you’ll be staying at a friend’s place you should tick the corresponding box: “a person will be accommodating me” Best,

gary barker

hello there,

me and my partner are relocating to france with our 23 year old son. do we need to fill out 3 visa applications or can i do this all on 1 ? I have started to apply and on my application it asked if i was traveling with spouse. but did not mention anyone else ie: son or daughter please advise as we need this filled in asap

many thanks

Hi Gary, Your over-aged son will need to make his independent visa request. He will not be considered as your depend, being over 18 y.o., from an immigration point of view. So, this means that you should fill out two France-visa file, the first one for you and your spouse and your son should do a separate one. Make sure you take 3 appointment with the consulate too. Best,

Cheri Baird

Hello. I wish to retire permanently in France. I went there in February 2022 for 3 weeks to look at houses for purchase. I didn’t find one on that trip. I returned to the US, have just sold my home here and want to return to France and keep searching for a place to live. I have settled on the area of Aveyron as my preferred location. I have already purchased a return ticket to France ( one way) and leave on 3May 2022. I believe I need a long term visa, but I’m confused as to which type is best for me. After reading many different websites about this process, I’m now concerned that I don’t have enough time for a visa application to be processed, especially if I need to travel to San Francisco, CA ( I reside in far northern, coastal Washington state) for an in-person interview. Can you help me clarify what I need to do and when to get the correct long stay visa for France? Thank you!

This is an addendum to my previous message. I’m a US citizen, will have no problem meeting the French proof of adequate income requirements, in the process of getting private international health insurance coverage; I have reservations (proof of address) at a hotel & then an AirBNB for the month of May,so far. I plan to rent an apartment until I find a place to buy. I’ve been invited to helping out with planning & designing ornamental gardens ( on a volunteer basis) for the medicinal plant farm, Mas de Jammes (www.jardindejammes.fr) for character reference/ local contact. I’m an artist& retired residential garden designer. Hope this helps

Hello, I believe the long-stay visitor visa (aka long term visa) matches your situation since you will not be working in France and have the resources to live in France via your US pension. This visa is usually granted in under one month, so you are still in time. All the best,

First of all i would like to thank you for all this information ! Thank you for your time and effort. We bought a house in france , and we would like to apply for the visa ” visteur” . ( me , my husband and i also have a daughter) . – beside all the documents that we need to provide, should we provide a motivation letter ? If yes what we need to mention? 2- if we are applying ( me and my husband) and we have passive around 1,300€ . Can we mention for both ? Or each one should have his passive income ? 3- we registered our daughter in a french school, should we mention that in our motivation letter ? Or its better not to ? I would really appreciate your reply thank you🙏

Hello Krsitina, The income level should be 2* the French minimum wage since you are 2 adults requesting a visa. Yes, it is always good to include a cover letter. You can include in your cover letter that your daughter will go to French school. This will not have an impact as going to school is compulsory and since you will also be requesting a visa for a minor for her, it is obvious to the consulate that your daughter will go to school. I hope this makes sense. Best to you,

I’m glad that i’ve come across this informative and beneficial website.

I’m a Sudanese citizen, my usual country of residency is Australia, where I work and spend most of the year, my partner is French; I hold VLS-TS “visitor” at the moment, and as the infromatin given, I can apply for the “Carte de sejour” 2 months before my current visa ends. and I want to hold into the residence permit so that I can come to France and Europe to visit my partner’s family and friends at anytime of the year without needing to go throught visa center and consulate hustles.

Therefore, given the situation of being in France for 3 months, I’d like to inquire if I can leave France and the return back at the time of online for the “carte de sejour”, would it be possible to do so? or Am I required to stay ?

how long does it take for the carte de sejour to be processed and the actual card be ready for collection? Do I have to remain in France while under processing, or I still can leave France – knowing that I can’t retun with récepissé, but return when the card is issued and be mailed to me in Australia?

I appologize for the lengthy, and I believe you have actionable advices and information.

Best regards

Hello Saif, You do not need to get out of the country to renew your permit, you can request a long-stay visitor permit from the Prefecture in France if you continue to meet the requirement of this status. CAUTION: The recépissé for a first residence permit request (opposed to a residence permit renewal récepissé), doesn’t authorise to travel outside France. If you leave the country, this document will not allow you to get back in and you will need to request a visa, eventually a “visa de retour”. If you are currently on a VLT-TS, therefore you are requesting your first permit and the recepisse will not authorise you to enter back into France. I cannot advise on the processing time of the Prefecture. It can go from one month to much longer depending on the Prefecture. If your permit is not ready on time and you end up travelling with your recepisse, you will have no problem getting out of France. But to come back in, you will need to request what we call a ‘visa de retour’ from the French consulate. Good luck!

Hello, Hope you’re well. Just found this post: thank you for the information. As British citizens, we are wanting to relocate to France permanently later this year. We own a house in France and were married there five years ago. From our research, VLS-TS looks to be our best visa option as we don’t intend to initially work in France, whilst we renovate the house. Before the end of the first year, we would like to be established as micro-entrepreneurs running our own business. Would moving from VLS-TS to micro-entrepreneurs status be possible, do you know please? Following Brexit, would this be our best chance to eventually secure residency or is there a better visa journey to take? In gratitude, Martyn

Hello Martyn, Thanks for your message. Just a small correction, VLS-TS refers to more than 20 different visas. It means a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit, then you have the “Visitor” VLS-TS (the one you are referring to) and among many others the VLS-TS Entrepreneur Profession liberale (the one you want to change status to). A VLS-TS (type of visa) can only be requested outside of France so in your case, you will request a “Visitor” VLS-TS and request a change of status to an Entrepreneur Profession liberale “permit”. I hope this is not confusing you, but I think it is important to understand the process to be understood by the administration.

This change is possible but not easy since you’ll need to prove that you will make the annual French minimum wage by year one under a Profession liberale visa, not always easy when starting a business. And as a couple, this will mean 2 minimum wages, since there is no spouse visa for this status as I explain in the post.

Be careful, this is not a status only for micro-entrepreneurs (as I assume this is not the company structure you’ll have), but for any kind of company structure. In your case, you may also want to look into the Entrepreneur Talent Passport if you meet the criteria. And the amount invested in the B&B will go towards the 30k investment. You will find more information here: https://expat-in-france.com/france-entrepreneur-visas/

All the best to you,

Dhivya Srinivasan

Hello Guiga,

This article has been so helpful and helped me categorize my visa accurately. I successfully got a France Visiteur Visa Type D stamped on my passport. I am wondering if my port of entry has to only be through France or can be through any Schengen States. My confusion mainly stems from the fact that the visa mentions “Valid in France sauf CTOM”. It would be great if you can help me with this.

Hello Dhivya, Congratulations! If the words “FRANCE + 1 TRANSIT SCHENGEN” or “FRANCE except CTOM ” appears on the visa, this visa authorises you to settle in France and to travel within the Schengen area for a period of 90 days per period of 180 period of 180 days. So you can transit via another Schengen state when first entering France. Have a great trip to France! Best,

Roy & Judith

We are owners of a holiday home in France for many years and have regularly spent 8-9 months per year there which has now been curtailed. We’ve heard about The Long Stay visa and now your Long Term visa. Are these the same ? If not which is the easiest one to navigate ? I understand that there is a 99 euros charge for such a visa, but cannot get my head around the reference to an additional 250 euros ? will this be a requirement to get the 12 month visa. Manythanjs for all your info Rgds Roy & Judith

Hello Roy and Judith, I guess you mean the “visitor” long-stay visa. A long-stay visa means a 12-month visa and there are more than 20 types of them. Yes, the visitor long term visa is the same as the visitor long term visa. The exact terminology would be visa long séjour visiteur, then, there are many translations. 99 euros is the cost of the visa (to enter France), and 250 euros is the cost of the permit -or the validation of the visa (to stay and reside in France). This is a compulsory process that should be done on arrival, otherwise, you won’t be legally staying in France. I hope this clarifies. Best to both of you

Hello ! First of all congrats on your visa !!! We bought a house in france , and we would like to apply to the visitor visa . Could you plz based on your experience, share some tips ? Should we write a cover letter ? What we need to mention in it ? And how much days it took you to get the visa ( all the process i mean how much time it tooks ) . Sorry for questions 🙈 but i want to apply and i am super stressed. Thank youuu

Hello, Yes, a short cover letter is recommended for every visa request even though it is not listed on the France-visas list. You need to mention the reason you are requesting the visa and specify clearly the name of the visa you are requesting (in your case, I beleive a long-stay visitor visa). The letter can be in English if you are requesting the visa from a French consulate where the official language is English. The delays depend on the Consulates, but for this visa, it can go from one week to one month. Legally the consulate has up to 2 months to respond on a visa request. I hope this answers your questions. Best,

Dominic Shaw

Very informative article! Just had a couple of follow up questions regarding my situation: I am a US citizen looking to move permanently to France and eventually obtain citizenship. I have enough cash savings to last for 5 years without working, so trying to get a work visa is not a concern. After obtaining the visa for the first year, do you think I would be able to renew again for four more yearly periods and then apply for a permanent residency visa or citizenship?

Thanks in advance!

Hello Dominic, The long-stay tourist visa is not a clear path to long-term residency. It really depends on the Prefecture and the situation. You may receive a 10-year card after being on a long-stay tourist visa after 5 years but it is not always approved. You may also request for naturalization by decree after 5 years but if you haven’t been paying taxes in France it is very unlikely to be approved. I realize these are not the best of news, but this is the situation for this status I’m afraid. All the best to you PS. Also, you need to be aware that you cannot change your tourist long-stay visa to any other visa. So, if at some point, you want to have a work visa you’ll have to go back to the US to request it.

Cédric & Verónica

Good and Happy Day!!!

We are extremely grateful to have come across your site and have the chance to read all this information… Thank you for your effort and time.

I am an American citizen currently residing in The United States of America.

Our situation is the following:

I am engaged to a French Citizen that is currently residing in France but, due to the Worldwide Health issues, we have not been able to carry on with our plans. We would like to start a family in France.

My questions are the following:

If I understood correctly; would I be able to ask for a VLT-TS (Vie Privée et Familiale) for a year from The United States? in that way, we could live together while planning for our wedding.

Could I request it by myself or my fiancee will have to also present documents?

Will this Visa allow me to work while in France?. This is very important for me.

Will I be able to travel with him throughout Europe with this Visa?

Where should we file for it in the United Estates? as they are many sites with false information.

How much will the cost be? Will the cost be in US dollars or Euros? And what are the times frames to wait for the approval?

I was able to visit him in June of 2021, do we have to wait for 3 months in order to apply for the visa or to even visit again?

I understood that if I am approved for it; upon my arrival in France I will have 3 months to validate this Visa with the OFII (Office Français de l’immigration et de L ´Intégration) How do I find this office?

I will also love to take the course for French. Is that something that you can ask for or will be at the discretion of the Office? Where do you take these courses and how much will be the cost?

And lastly; 2 months prior to the expiration of this Visa we could ask for a change of status which will either extend the time on the same Visa or give me a French Residency? I am confused about this… Will this depend on if we are legally married or living under the same roof?

When asking for a change of status before the Visa expires… What is the difference between proving that you live under the same roof for over 6 months and being legally married? This question came to us… afraid of a new shutdown because of Covid.

Also, he contracted Covid 19, and even after almost a year, he is living with the sequelae of the disease. While I am about to have surgery for reconstruccion after being cancer free for over 3 years… We have been together through high and low..

Which makes it even more important for us to reunite as soon is possible and make our dreams come true.

I apologize for having many questions…

Thank you kindly

Hello Cédric and Veronica, Most of your questions are answered in this blog post: https://expat-in-france.com/french-spouse-visa/ You need to be married to request a Vie Privee et Familiale visa (or a change of status if you are already in France). If you need further assistance to answer all of your questions, this can be done during a consultation. You will find more information here: https://expat-in-france.com/one-to-one-consult/

I hope this helps.

Hi, Just found your web site which is really helpful. We have a second home in France and normally spend 6months in France mainly during the summer months but come and go due to elderly parents back in the UK Does the visitors visa allow for travel exiting and re entering France? Or do we need a multi entry visa? Any comments or suggestions on the best way forward would be really helpful Thanks Best wishes Kay Turner

Hello Kay, This visa is perfect for second homeowners that can justify incomes without working in France, it was done long long-term tourists or retirees.

You will have the liberty to come and go outside of the Schengen area once you got the OFII validation.

FYI – all the long-stay visas (to reside more than 6 months in France) allows getting back into the Schengen area after the OFII validation.

I hope this helps, All the best in your projects! Guiga

Hi! Thank you- this is extremely helpful

I have my registry which I am hoping to book very soon in Lyon, France (JULY) and I wanted to know a bit more about the process of living abroad as a British citizen (partner is French citizen). Would I be able to travel to Lyon without a long stay visa as I already have 90-day EU access and begin my paperwork for the carte de sejour?

It’s very hard to travel back and fourth from the UK to France due to the pandemic, so I was hoping to just finish all my paperwork there without having to return back to the UK.

Hello Ria, As a British citizen, you are now considered as non-EU from an immigration perspective. This means that you need a visa to come to France for longer than 3 months. Visas are always requested from your country of residence and CANNOT be requested in France. A transfer of your 90-days tourist visa is not possible in France, and for all nationalities. There can be some tolerance (depending on the Prefecture) in case you are married (not PACS) to a French citizen and request the Residence permit Vie Privee et Familiale (French spouse visa) when you didn’t enter France with the appropriate visa – and with an extra tax to pay. The type of visa will depend on the motive of your stay (work, long-term vacation, spouse of a French or studies). These are the main ones. You will find a lot of information in these blog posts: https://expat-in-france.com/category/immigration/ I hope this helps. All the best!

Just to make sure, you were not resident in France prior to 31 December 2020 which will allow you to request the withdrawal agreement visa before the end of June 2021, correct?

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How to get a long-stay visa to stay in France for more than three months at a time

Frustrated that you can no longer stay at your French holiday home as long as you’d like following Brexit? Here’s our guide to French long-stay tourist visas

Before Brexit, many British owners of French holiday homes, especially retirees, were used to nipping across the Channel and spending as much as half the year at a time at their properties. Now that we have left the EU, however, UK tourists are restricted to spending no more than 90 days in any 180-day period visiting the Schengen area visa-free .

Struggling to work out whether or not you will exceed your allowance? Input the dates of recent and forthcoming trips to countries in the Schengen Zone into a calculator such as this one . 

If you want to stay longer, you’ll need a long-stay visa. There are two main types.

VLS-T (Visiteur)  – The visa de long séjour temporaire ‘visiteur’ (VLS-T Visiteur) entitles you to stay for between three and six months, so this is the visa type that will be most useful to second home owners hoping to spend the warmer months of the year in France. You must leave France when it runs out but can reapply on an annual basis from the UK.

VLS-TS  – The visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour ‘ (VLS-TS) entitles you to stay for between six months and a year and is equivalent to a residence permit. This is the type of visa needed if you are moving to France. There are different types depending on whether you are retired/not working, employed, running your own business, studying, doing research or seasonal work or married to a French national.  If you don’t need to work, you should apply for the VLS-TS (Visiteur). On arrival in France, you must validate a VLS-TS visa through the French immigration office (OFII) . You will have to pay a fee understood to be around €200 and the OFII reserves the right to call you for a meeting to carry out other formalities such as a medical examination and/or welcome visit. If you decide you’d like to continue living in France, before the VLS-TS expires you can submit a residence permit application to your local préfecture.

What are the requirements?

To obtain either the VLS-T or the VLS-TS, you must apply online no earlier than 90 days  before you are due to travel. The length of time the process takes varies, but you are advised to allow a bare minimum of 20 days for processing.

After lodging your visa application online, you will then be asked to make an appointment for an interview at a centre in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. These are run by a company called TLS Contact , which is contracted by the French government to handle visa applications from the UK. Both types of long-stay visa cost €99 (about £86) and there may also be a smaller service fee. You’ll be required to provide several documents and assurances, including that you won’t engage in any professional activity during your stay (unless you are applying for a working visa).

If your spouse or long-term partner is an EU citizen, you will still need to apply for a visa but it likely that it will be more straightforward than if you are not in such a relationship.

Interview process Interviews are usually done standing at a counter and can take a couple of hours or more. You will need to:

*Show your passport was issued less than 10 years ago and that it will still be valid at least three months after the expiry date of the visa you’re requesting

*Provide a passport photo (there are also photobooths at the centres).

*Prove your socio-economic situation (eg working/retired/studying) and promise not to undertake any professional activity in France unless you are applying for a working visa.

*Show you have travel health insurance for the duration of the visa’s validity

*Provide proof of your property title or rental agreement. If you are staying with hosts, you must prove that they are resident in France.

*Provide the last three months’ worth of bank statements for your UK current account, showing your full name and address, and proving you have enough funds for the whole duration of the trip (see below), or traveller’s cheques presenting the same guarantees. If you are financially sponsored by your spouse/partner, you must provide a marriage certificate and your partner’s bank statements.

What are the income requirements?

Whichever long-stay visa you are applying for, you must prove you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself for the period of its validity.

This means an income equivalent to at least the net French minimum wage, known as the salaire minimum de croissance or SMIC. As at October 2021, the net figure (meaning after deduction of social security contributions) is €1,258 per month. The good news is that it’s not necessary to have this amount per person. The French Consulate told us that this figure of SMIC net (currently €1,258 a month) would suffice for a couple with three children. For larger families, you will be expected to have slightly higher resources but our understanding is that this will not be very much.

Money from pensions, rental income and/ or savings are taken into account. What the authorities want to see is that your resources are secure, stable and easy to access during your stay. They may accept a monthly income slightly below SMIC if you are able to prove you own your property outright and are therefore not paying a mortgage or rent.

How do I apply?

The application is done through two separate websites. First, register with france-visas.gouv.fr and start your application, recording for each applicant the application reference number that starts with FRA1.

Next, you should be directed to the TLS website and asked to register. Complete the next part of the application for each person, confirm this part is complete and get a firm appointment with TLS at one of its visa applications centres (London, Edinburgh or Manchester). Once this is done, submit your application and prepare the documents required for your interview.

You may also like:

What are the rules for travelling to France after Brexit?

3 key things you need to know about visas for France

A Brit shares his experience of applying for a VLS-TS long-stay visa

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Home > Moving to France > How to get a France long-stay visa

How to get a France long-stay visa

Do you want to relocate to France? Your very first step is figuring out the immigration process. Read this guide to get a basic understanding of which France long-stay visa you can get and learn how to proceed to apply for your visa.

Disclosure: This site is sponsored by ads and affiliate programs. I may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post.

Is your U.S. passport valid?

No matter which France long-stay visa you apply for, you need a valid U.S. passport that is no older than ten years.

When you apply for a VLS visa Carte de Séjour à Solliciter à l’Arrivée en France (residence permit to be applied for upon arrival in France), your U.S. passport must be valid at least three months after the end of your visa. It should also contain at least two empty pages.

When you apply for a VLS-TS visa , your U.S. passport must be valid at least one year after the end of your visa.

Go to USA.gov for information on how to renew/apply for a U.S passport. Processing times change throughout the year but at this time, the turnaround time for U.S. passport renewals by mail is around five weeks. Plan ahead!

France long-stay visa Basics

Let’s start with the most basic questions and answers.

What is a France visa?

A France visa is a legal authorization to enter France for a certain duration. A visa takes the form of a stamp in your passport delivered by French administration.

Do Americans need a visa to go to France?

Americans who want to live in France for longer than 90 days need a type D visa, also called a France long-stay visa.

Can you apply for a France long-stay visa from France?

No, you cannot apply from France. You always apply for a France long-stay visa from your home country. Entering France without a visa and trying to get a long-stay visa in France is not an option.

When should you apply for a France long-stay visa?

You can apply for a France long-stay visa no earlier than three months before your scheduled move to France.

How to apply for a France long-stay visa?

Whether you are studying, moving for retirement, for work or you are following a loved one, your journey starts at France-Visas , the official website to apply for a France visa.

All the information you need, such as the required documents or checking your application status is on France-Visas .

Is there a digital nomad visa for France?

No, there is no digital nomad visa for France. Remote workers have to go through the process of getting a France long-stay visa that gives them the right to work.

What is the maximum duration of a long-stay visa?

A long-stay visa or type D visa goes up to one year. After one year, you need to apply for a TS or titre de séjour (residence permit) to extend your stay in France.

How long does it take to get a France long-stay visa?

Processing times to get a France Long-Stay visa vary but the process can be as fast as taking only two weeks.

Can I travel within Europe with a France visa?

During its period of validity, a France long-stay visa allows you to travel within the Schengen Area outside France for periods not exceeding 90 days.

How much does a long-stay visa cost?

Droit de dossier (application fees) for a France long-stay visa are €99. Processing fees are €31.50. Some visas exempt you from paying application fees (spouse of a French national for instance).

France visa and residence permit

A France long-stay visa gives you the right to enter France. In order to live in France for longer than ninety days, you also need a residence permit.

A residence permit can either be part of your long-stay visa or you need to apply for a residence permit once you arrive in France.

Which type of visa you get depends on:

• your reasons for going to France (family, personal, work…)
• the duration of your stay
• your intention to relocate permanently to France

Make sure you know the specifics for the visa you apply for.

VLS long-stay visa with the obligation to apply for a residence permit

A VLS visa with Carte de Séjour à Solliciter à l’Arrivée en France (residence permit to be applied for upon arrival in France) gives you a right to enter France.

You have to apply for a residence permit within two months of your arrival in France. Apply on line on the Foreign nationals in France website .

VLS visas with Carte de Séjour à Solliciter à l’Arrivée en France apply to family visas other than spouse visas as well as multi-year work visas.

VLS-TS visa equivalent to a residence permit

A VLS-TS or visa long séjour valant titre de séjour (long-stay visa equivalent to a resident permit) means that you do not have to apply for a residence permit when you arrive in France. You still need to register with OFII (Office français de l’immigration et de l’intégration) to validate your VLS-TS within 3 months of your arrival. The validation process is now exclusively accessible on-line on the Foreign nationals in France website .

VLS-TS visas apply to many different categories from employees on a single year contract to students, interns, researchers, visitors, spouse of a French national and more.

To extend your stay in France at the end of your visa, you need to apply for a titre de séjour (residence permit). Contact your local préfecture no less than 2 months before your visa expires or apply on-line .

You can only extend your stay in France past your visa expiration if your visa is renewable (non temporary visa).

Get a long-stay visa suited to your situation

Which visa you apply for depends on your specific situation. I will discuss the most common situations but make sure you read all the details on France-Visas.

France long-stay visa for students

To study in France, you need to be enrolled in a higher education institution before applying for your VLS-TS visa mention étudiant. You can access all the information you need on Campus France , the official French website for students.

A VLS-TS student visa or student residence permit gives you the right to work in France for no more than 964 hours a year (twenty hours a week). You cannot work in France if you are on a VLS-T (temporary) mention étudiant visa.

France long-stay visa for visitors

A long-stay visitor visa is a specific type of VLS-TS visa called VLS-TS mention visiteur. You cannot work in France and you have to prove that you can support yourself.

The minimum amount of resource for a single person is €1,269 a month over a 12-month period.

Another requirement is to get a private insurance for the whole length of your visa. Read Health insurance for France visiteur visa to learn about the type of insurance you need.

France long-stay visa for employees

You can qualify for a VLS-TS visa when you have a Contrat à Durée Déterminée or CDI (unlimited long term employment contract) with a French company.

Passeport talent visa

In a nutshell, Passeport Talent is a work visa for skilled workers and professionals who can prove valuable to France’s economics. This visa can open the path to a multi-year residence permit (up to 4 years). Employees as well as self-employed people can apply for Passeport Talent visas. Performing artists are also eligible.

There are multiple conditions under which you qualify for a Passeport Talent visa.

Passeport Talent can either be a VLS-TS visa mention passeport talent or a VLS visa with Carte de Séjour à Solliciter à l’Arrivée en France if the workload extends over multiple years. The spouse and children of a Passeport Talent visa holder are eligible for a Passeport Talent (famille) visa.

France long-stay visa for family reunification

If you have family ties in France other than a French spouse, apply for a VLS visa with Carte de Séjour à Solliciter à l’Arrivée en France.

If you are a spouse of a French national, you qualify for a VLT-TS visa . At the time of your visa renewal, you can get a Carte de Séjour Vie Privée et Familiale (private life and family residence card).

Carte de Séjour Vie Privée et Familiale gives you the right to work in France. You are eligible if you are married or PACSed (and living in France with your PACSed partner for over a year) to a French national.

If you have been PACSed to a French national for less than a year, apply for a VLS-TS visa mention visiteur instead.

France long-stay visa for retirees

If you wish to retire in France, you should apply for a VLS-TS visa mention visiteur (VLS-TS visitor visa).

Join a cover letter to your visa application and make it clear that you want to relocate to France and stay longer than a year. This is a good idea to avoid obtaining a temporary visa that you cannot renew from France.

VLS-T temporary long-stay visa

A VLS-T (temporary visa) or visa de long séjour temporaire does not require a residence permit. It is non-renewable, meaning that you need to go back home when it expires. There is no possibility to extend your stay in France unless you leave and apply for another visa from your home country.

A temporary visa does not allow you to work.

How do you apply for a France long-stay visa?

Use France-Visas wizard to determine which visa fits your situation the best.

Follow the instructions on France-Visas to start your visa application . You will receive the list of documents required for your visa along with the visa fees.

One of the mandatory requirements is to get a Travel Insurance for France .

Once your visa application is done, schedule an appointment with  the VFS Global center closest to you. Book an appointment at a date no later than one month before departure.

Print your visa application and bring it to your VFS Global appointment along with the required documents.

France-Visas guidelines detail the entire process.

During the application process, you will be redirected to VFS Global, a company that facilitates visa applications. The French embassy in the United States has an official partnership with VFS Global .

Learn some French today!

Check out my French Glossary of Visa Terms

Once your visa has been accepted

Once you get your passport back, read carefully the data written on your visa sticker. It shows:

• visa validity period. This is the period during which you can enter France.
• duration of stay in number of days. This duration starts on the date of your entry in France.
• type of your visa. Long-stay visas are type D.
• number of entries. This is the number of times you can enter France.
• remarks. This section indicates the specifics of your visa and it can be visiteur (visitor), vie privée et familiale (family), étudiant (student)…

You are now ready to start your relocation journey. Read Moving to France checklist and start checking things off your list today!

About Nathalie Nahmani

Nathalie is the creator of ma French Life. She moved back to France after living in Los Angeles for 20 years. She writes practical articles to help expats in France. Nathalie lives with her family in the French Alps near Grenoble.

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9 thoughts on “how to get a france long-stay visa”.

Hi …I have a LOng Stay Visa dated 31st December for one year. I plan on going to France on the 8th December as I have only used 50 days of my current 90 days …is this OK?

Hi Alan, I think you would have to exit France before the 90-day count is up and officially re-enter France on your long-stay visa.

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Accueil > Long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS)

Long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS)

Date of update

A long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour – VLS-TS) allows the holder not only to enter France but also to live in the country for between 3 and 12 months  without applying for a separate residence permit.

Eligibility

A long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit, or VLS-TS , is a specific type of long-stay visa that exempts its holder from the requirement to apply for a residence permit for the first year of residence. This type of visa, valid for up to one year, allows the holder to enter France and reside in France throughout its validity period, without any need for the holder to apply to the Préfecture for a residence permit. A sticker is affixed to the holder’s passport. After the first year of residence, foreign nationals wishing to extend their stay in France must apply for the residence permit that corresponds to their circumstances.

Apart from Swiss and EEA nationals, citizens of the following are exempt from the VLS-TS requirement:

• The Vatican
• San Marino.

Related Cards

Visa, staying, working.

• Applying for a long-stay visa
• Fact sheet: long stay visa

Fact sheet: residence permit

• Schengen Area
• 10 year certificate of residence
• Fact sheet: short-stay visa
• EU, EEA and Swiss nationals
• Fact sheet: Different visa categories
• Applying for a short-stay visa
• Entering and staying in Mayotte
• Travel visa

Residence-permit

• Recruiting a foreign employee: cost for the employer
• Highly skilled employees: “Talent Passport – European Union Blue Card”
• Graduates – “Talent Passport – Qualified employee”
• French Tech Visa for Founders
• ‘Talent Passport –Employee of a young innovative company’ (JEI)
• Talent Passport : new business
• Talent Passport – innovative business project
• Fact sheet : Employees hired by a French company
• French Tech Visa for Employees
• Fact sheet : run a company in France
• Employees transferred within a group: ‘Talent Passport – Employee on assignment’
• Launch your startup in France
• Resident card
• French Tech Visa for Investor
• Talent Passport ‘Business investor’
• Company directors
• Appointed Directors : Passport talent « Company director»

Startup founders

• Temporary residence permit ‘Entrepreneur/independent professional’
• Residence certificate for “Non-salaried professions”
• Temporary residence permit marked “Temporary worker”
• International service provider
• Intra-corporate transferees (ICT) : seconded employees
• Temporary residence permit marked “Employee”

Work permit

• Obtaining a work permit
• Renewing a work permit
• Fact sheet : work permit
• Service provision and work permit

Accompanying family

• Fact sheet: “Accompanying family” simplified procedure
• Travel document for foreign minors (DCEM)
• Family members of an EU, EEA or Swiss Nationals
• Family of French citizens

Categories of VLS-TS

Available categories of VLS-TS include the following:

• The ‘Employee’ VLS-TS , aimed at foreign nationals recruited by companies located in France, for a period of one year or more.
• The ‘Temporary Worker’ VLS-TS , aimed at employees who are allowed to work in France for between 3 and 12 months. For example, this is the case for employees posted by a foreign company to provide a service at a client company’s site in France.
• The ‘Research Scientist’ VLS-TS , issued to foreigners undertaking research work or teaching at university level.
• The ‘Student’ VLS-TS .
• The ‘ICT’ VLS-TS , for intra-company transferees and their families  for stays of less than 12 months .
• Business investors
• Employees on assignment
• Highly skilled workers (European Union Blue Card)
• Skilled young graduate employees or employees of an innovative new company (jeune entreprise innovante – JEI)
• Researchers
• Founders of a startup business
• Owners of innovative business projects recognized as such by a public agency
• Performing artists
• Foreigners nationally or internationally recognized as experts in their field (in the scientific, literary, artistic, intellectual, educational or sporting fields)

The following are excluded, even if they fall within one of the above categories:

• Algerian citizens
• Citizens of overseas territories (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna)

Obtaining a VLS-TS

Where to apply.

VLS-TS applications must be submitted to the French embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. When processing visa applications, the visa authorities normally invite applicants to attend their premises in person. Some formalities, such as arranging appointments and submitting applications, may be outsourced to external service providers. (VFS Global, TLS, etc.).

The request is initiated online via the official website france-visas.gouv.fr.

The request is initiated online via the official website france-visas.gouv.fr.This first step allows the applicant to verify the need for him to obtain a visa using the Visa Assistant. The user can then apply for a visa via a personal account and then find out how to submit their file, often with the service provider from the Consulate or Embassy. Thanks to the france-visas.gouv.fr website, visa applicants can now follow the progress of their application directly online.

When to begin applying?

Applicants are advised to apply relatively early, but no earlier than  three months before the planned date of arrival  in France.

Processing timescales can vary from one consulate or embassy to another.

If you have any queries, you can also contact us using our  contact form .

Documents required

As part of an application for a long stay visa equivalent to a residence permit, the applicant must gather the following documents:

• Issued in the last 10 years.
• Valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from French territory.
• Long-stay visa application form (Cerfa no. 14571*05) , duly completed, signed and dated.
• The OFII form 
• Two standardized  passport photos.

Formalities upon arriving in France

Upon arriving at the French border, a sticker is affixed to the VLS-TS holder’s passport.

Upon arriving in France, and no more than three months after entering French territory, the visa holder must register with the French Immigration and Citizenship Office (Office français de l’immigration et de l’intégration – OFII). A long-stay visa is only equivalent to a residence permit if approved by the OFII.To obtain such approval, the foreign national must complete the OFII form and send it by post with acknowledgement of receipt to the OFII regional office in their département of residence.

The holder’s date of arrival in France, address in France and visa number must all be completed. A copy of the holder’s passport must also be attached.

From February 18th 2019, the validation procedure is now made online using the following website: administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr .

The foreign national may then be invited to a medical examination and/or welcome visit.

Medical examination

France, and bring the following:

• A currently valid passport.
• A recent passport photo.
• An accommodation certificate or other proof of accommodation in France.

Helpful tip: On the day of the medical examination, a tax charged on first issuance of a residence permit, known as the ‘OFII tax’, must be paid. The amount of this tax varies depending on the category of VLS-TS.

Once these formalities have been completed, an OFII sticker is affixed to the foreign national’s passport allowing them to reside in France until the visa expires.

Republican citizenship contract

Holders of this type of visa must sign a Republican citizenship contract (Contrat d’intégration républicaine – CIR). Through this contract, the State undertakes to organize access to individual rights and the opportunity to learn the French language.

Extending your stay

Holders wishing to extend their stay in France beyond the visa expiry date must submit a residence permit application to the Préfecture in the two months before their VLS-TS expires.

Completing the long-stay visa application form

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Visas and residency cards for France

Explainer: Temporary long-stay visas to visit France

Key points on the french vls-t and step-by-step guidance on how to apply.

Non-EU citizens looking to spend more than three months in France and who do not have a spouse who is an EU citizen can use a temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T).

• Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can only benefit from visa-free travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
• The visa is a sticker in your passport that allows a stay for a fixed, dated period, usually of four to six months, not counted as part of the usual 90-in-180 days and not renewable or extendable
• The visa costs €99, plus a processing fee of around £31 or $36, depending on the country you are applying from
• If applying again, six months must pass between the end date of the last visa and the intended start date of the next one
• The French police told The Connexion it is possible to stay on a bit longer after the end of the visa period using unspent days under the 90/180 days rule. It may be simpler to avoid doing so but if necessary, explain this at the border if need be and to keep evidence such as travel tickets.
• Use this tool to check on your ‘90 day’ rights (time in France within your visa dates can be deducted from the count)
• You risk being seen as a French tax resident if you spend more than six months in a given year in France
• Spouses, Pacs or civil partners of EU (but not French) citizens do not need a visa and the Interior Ministry told The Connexion that they can apply in France for a residency card at a prefecture if the couple are planning to stay for more than three months in France
• Other long-term partners can also qualify but evidence of five years living together is needed
• There are also rules for spouses of French people, who can obtain a free long-stay visa to stay in France with them
• Non-EU children also need visas

How to apply

1. Start a temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T) application at france-visas.gouv.fr (one expert suggested to us doing this anything up to six months before departure)

2. Submit it up to three months before travelling, leaving time for any delays in obtaining an appointment to take in supporting documents and for processing

3. Scroll down to Start your visa application, where you will be invited to create an account

4. Choose a visa centre for taking in your paperwork and give the type of visa (‘long-stay’), your passport number and expiry date, and your plans (eg. ‘visitor’) and the main purpose of your stay

5. Click ‘verify’ to continue

6. On further pages you are asked for personal details, previous stays in France for more than three consecutive months, intended dates and plans

7. Put in the intended start day, and under ‘number of months’, choose ‘between three and six’

8. You are asked if you plan to travel with others (note: non-EU children also need visas)

9. Details of where you will stay are needed, and of how you will fund the trip (eg. ‘cash’, ‘credit cards’, etc.). Other options include funding by a host or a guarantor.

10. Once a first application has been submitted, it is possible to add further applications from up to six members of your group. If you do, you will be called in together to hand in supporting documents.

11. When you have completed your application, with payment of any processing fees, print the application form off, as well as the receipt that will be generated at the end of the process

12. The website will indicate supporting documents needed

13. You then book your appointment to take in original supporting documents

Your visa appointment

In the case of the UK and US, this is done via websites of the contractors and the appointments are at one of their offices.

Bring in originals of all documents, your passport, and photocopies of these, including important passport pages.

You will pay the visa fee at the appointment.

Other documents to take include recent passport photos, a written promise not to work in France and explanation of your plans, and evidence of your ‘socio-economic situation’ (see below), such as pension documents, a work contract or study certificate.

Health cover

A UK-issued Ehic or Ghic suffices for health cover for people applying from the UK.

For other nationalities, private health insurance is required for urgent medical care and repatriation.

Proof of funds and accommodation

You also need proof of your accommodation in France, such as a rental contract or deeds, or a statement by a host, as well as proof of funds, such as your last three bank statements.

If your partner will support you, you need a marriage or civil partnership certificate.

As a general rule, the amount requested is income equivalent to the French minimum wage (€1,383 net) per month of the stay, or equivalent savings.

Slightly lower levels are accepted for second-home owners. Levels for those applying as couples are usually slightly higher in total, but not double.

The service will check the papers, scan or take a photo, scan your fingerprints, and retain your passport and document copies for forwarding to the consulate for processing.

Picking up your passport and visa

You can track the application’s progress online. Any queries or requests for more documents will usually be by email.

When the visa is ready, you can collect your passport or pay for courier delivery.

Another person can collect it if they bring application print-outs, a copy of your passport and an authorisation letter from you.

The information here is an edited extract from our guide to French visas and residency cards .

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Foreigners trainee in france: long-stay visa or residence card.

Verified 01 January 2024 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Concerns foreigners who are not nationals of the European Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway

Supplementary document of the contract stating that the two parties have agreed to amend, adapt or supplement the contract

If you are a foreigner no European , you can stay in France as trainee under certain conditions. You must come to France for more than 3 months to take a vocational training or do an internship in company or in a public hospital. You must go through the process to obtain an entry visa for France. If your internship is extended, you must apply for a residence card in the prefecture.

What applies to you ?

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Internship in company

Continuing education, internship in public hospital, who is involved.

You are concerned if you are foreigner you come to France to do a company internship as part of a training organized in your country of residence.

Your training must lead to a diploma or to the recognition of a level of professional qualification under:

• a school or university course,
• or vocational training,
• or a European Union (EU) or intergovernmental cooperation program on education, training, youth or culture.

You must complete your internship as part of an internship agreement.

This agreement is between you, the training institution abroad and your host company.

The traineeship agreement cannot give you the status of employee.

The company must, at least 2 months before the start of the internship, have the internship agreement validated online by the administration.

Have a foreigner national sign a traineeship agreement of more than 3 months

In the event of agreement, the relevant agreement is transmitted to you before your entry into France.

If the administration has not replied within 30 days (or 15 days if your internship is part of a European or intergovernmental cooperation program), the request for validation of your agreement is refused.

What are the resource requirements?

You must have a minimum amount of resources to live during your stay in France.

The minimum amount per month shall be fixed at the monthly amount of the basic maintenance allowance paid to the French Government grant holders, i.e. €615 .

What are the steps to enter and stay in France?

Application for a long-stay visa as a residence permit.

You must ask the consulate in your country of residence for a long-stay visa as residence permit (VLS-TS) mention trainee . This visa allows you to enter France and waives the need to apply for a residence card. However, there are steps you need to take with the Ofii : titleContent , after your entry into France.

Who shall I contact

• Visa department (French embassy/consulate abroad)

Please note

if your internship is less than 3 months, the procedure is different and you are under the short-stay visa .

Documents to be provided

• Your valid passport
• Tripartite traineeship agreement, signed by the administration and signed between you, the training establishment or your employer abroad and your host company in France
• Justifying your resources
• Proof of accommodation in France

Ask your consulate to submit your application.

• French Embassy or Consulate Abroad

How to renew the internship?

Validation of an amendment to the initial traineeship agreement.

To renew your internship, the company hosting you must have validated by the administration a agreeable at your initial internship agreement.

If the administration has not replied within 15 days, the request for validation of the amendment shall be accepted.

Application for a residence card

If the amendment to your traineeship agreement is validated, you must apply for a temporary residence card trainee .

• Sub-prefecture
• Prefecture de police de Paris - Service of residence permits

Warning  

It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on your prefecture's website.

• Expiring long-stay visa
• Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas) or consular attestation with photo or photo ID or consular card with photo or certificate of nationality under 6 months with photo
• Proof of domicile less than 6 months old
• 3 photos . If the request is made on the internet: enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service .
• Proof of payment of stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the security)
• Initial traineeship agreement and its addendum
• Justifications on your resources

You need to pay  €75  by tax stamps .

The stamps are requested at the time of agreement on your request or the delivery of your card. Ask your local prefecture.

Card Delivery

The card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your residence (depending on the place where your application is filed).

You are concerned if you are foreigner an employee of a company established abroad and who you come to France for continuing vocational training.

Your vocational training may, if necessary, be supplemented by a traineeship:

• in a company in the same group as yours,
• or in a company with which your employer has a business relationship.

This agreement is concluded between you, your employer abroad and the organization for continuing vocational training in France.

The traineeship agreement cannot give you employee status.

It has to be validated, unless there are exceptions.

General case

• You're Canadian

The training organization must, at least two months before the start of the training period, have the traineeship agreement validated on-line by the administration.

The administration takes a decision within 30 days (or 15 days if your internship is part of a European or intergovernmental cooperation program). After this period, the request for validation of your agreement is refused.

You're Canadian

Your internship agreement does not need to be validated.

The minimum amount per month shall be the monthly amount of Smic : titleContent crude either €1,766.92 .

• Tripartite traineeship agreement, covered by the administration and signed between you, the training establishment or your employer established abroad and your training organization in France

To renew your internship, the training organization that welcomes you must have the administration validate a agreeable at your initial internship agreement.

You are concerned if you are foreigner and have either a PhD in medicine or a diploma in nursing and you come to France for a practical internship. This training course must take place in a public health institution under an international hospital cooperation agreement.

This agreement is between you, the host hospital and the organization that is a party to the health cooperation agreement and, if different, the organization that pays you.

The host hospital must, at least 2 months before the start of the training period, have the training agreement validated by the administration.

if you are a canadian, your internship agreement does not need to be validated.

You must have a minimum amount of resources to live during your stay in France, corresponding to the amount of the bonus you will be paid.

The hourly rate of the bonus is equal to the minimum of €4.35 per training hour, corresponding to 15% the hourly ceiling for social security (either €29  x 0.15).

• Tripartite traineeship agreement, covered by the administration and signed between you, the training establishment or your employer established abroad and your host health establishment in France

To renew your internship, the hospital hosting you must have validated by the administration a agreeable at your initial internship agreement.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service

For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.

Cost: free service

The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.

Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.

The service is available at the following times:

• Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
• Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
• Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
• Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
• Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
• Lundi  : de 08h30 à 17h30
• Mardi  : de 08h30 à 12h15
• Mercredi  : de 08h30 à 12h15
• Jeudi  : de 08h30 à 17h30
• Vendredi  : de 13h00 à 16h15

Request a call

Statute and miscellaneous references

Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Article L426-23

Special provisions applicable to trainee foreigners

Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Articles R426-16 to R426-22

Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Articles L432-1 to L432-15

Refusal and withdrawal of the residence card

Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Articles R*432-1 to R432-15

Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Articles R433-1 to 433-6

Renewal of residence permit

Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Articles L436-1 to L436-10

Stamp duty payable and taxes

Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: annex 10

List of documents to be supplied: point 62

Online services and forms

Online service

What photo to provide for an identity document (passport, identity card...)?

Passport: How to buy a tax stamp?

Additional topics

1-year residency certificate for Algerian

Social security for a student

French Office for Immigration and Integration

Minimum cross-industry growth wage

Indians can now stay in Switzerland, Amsterdam for up to 2 years like visa-free nationals. Check details

W ith European Union (EU) adopting favourable Schengen visa rules for Indians, the strength of Indian passport is arguably set to grow with travel to 29 European countries getting seamless and hassle-free. 

Incidentally, Indian passport is currently ranked at 85 , as per Henley Passport Index for 2024 that ranks 199 nations based on the strength of their passports. Our neigbouring country Pakistan is ranked at 106, while Bangladesh at 102.

Under the new Schengen visa regime , Indians will now be able to enter any of these European countries multiple times for two years, which is further extendable by 5 years, and stay there like a visa-free national.  

This is a stark departure from the current practice. Until now, when Indians intend to travel to one or more European countries, they are meant to apply for the much sought-after Schengen visa, which is given for a maximum of three months. 

ALSO READ: Indians can now apply for multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity. Check details

But now, under the cascade regime -- guess what? You can stay in Switzerland, Amsterdam, and/ or any other European countries such as Austria, Hungary, Poland, Belgium, Germany, France, among others, for as long as five years without any hiccups. 

According to a report in Aug 2023, Scandinavian region in Europe saw a substantial growth of 140 percent as of August 2023 in comparison to pre-COVID levels in 2020, according to insights from MakeMyTrip.

Let us understand how this will work:

How will this work?

This is primarily beneficial for those Indians who frequently travel to one or more of European countries. And if you have travelled to Europe on a Schengen visa for two times in the past three years, then you are eligible for this new visa category ‘cascade regime’ under which you will be given two-year multi entry visa and you can travel and stay in any of these countries just like an individual who does not require a visa to be there. 

But the only catch is that you won’t be allowed to work and earn there like a local citizen.

This two-year visa will then be followed by a five-year visa so long as the passport has sufficient validity. For example, if the passport is set to expire three years later, then the visa seeker won’t be able to get the Schengen visa extended by five years. 

"The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals," reads the statement shared by Herve Delphin, Ambassador, Delegation of European Union to India on ‘X’ Platform. 

5-year post-study visa in France 

This Schengen move is testimony to growing partnership between Europe and India. Last year, France also eased its visa rules for inbound Indian students. 

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France in July 2023, the European nation had extended five-year post-study visa to Indian students who had completed their master's degree there. 

Earlier, Indians were given two-year work visa after completing their master's degree.