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Here's what you need to know about visas when visiting France

May 9, 2023 • 4 min read

Here's everything you need to know about visas for visiting France © LeoPatrizi / Getty Images

A trip to France is one of the world’s most sought-after travel experiences.

Whether you need a visa will depend on your individual circumstances, such as your citizenship, your reasons for travel, and how long you plan to stay. Still, all visitors should be up to speed with the entry and exit procedures. Here's our guide to help you on your way.

What you need to know about visas for France

France is part of the  Schengen area , a bloc of 27 European countries that have abolished internal border controls. As a result, citizens of Schengen member countries (including non-EU countries Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein) and Ireland (a member of the EU but not Schengen) can enter France with just a passport or national ID card ( carte d'identité in French) for an indefinite stay.

What about non-EU nationals?

To enter France, nationals of countries outside the EU and Schengen Area will need a passport valid for at least three months after their intended date of departure, along with proof of insurance, evidence of an onward travel ticket and accommodation (or sufficient funds to pay for these), and a visa if required.

Check the French government’s France-Visas website for full details of the information you’ll need to present on arrival in France . The site also has a handy  Visa Wizard to help you find out if you need a visa and details of how to apply. France has a well-deserved reputation for red tape, so make sure all your documents are in order.

Many nationalities can visit France visa-free

Citizens of around 60 non-EU countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and many Latin American countries, don’t need a visa for a short stay in France.

Nationals of visa-free countries can normally stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Once you leave, you can’t re-enter the Schengen Zone for a further 90 days (you can estimate dates on the EU’s travel day calculator ).

Some countries have special bilateral visa waiver agreements that allow visitors to spend time in one Schengen country without reference to time spent in other countries in the Schengen Area, subject to permission from border officials; check your home country’s government travel advice.

There are some changes ahead

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) , which has suffered some delays but is due to be operational by the end of 2023, will beef up security at external EU borders by electronically monitoring border crossings, making it easier to identify anyone overstaying.

The new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will come into operation in 2024. Under the new rules, nationals from visa-free countries will need to apply for pre-travel authorization online (arrange it 72 hours ahead of travel). The cost is €7 for a three-year, multi-entry authorization (there's no charge for travelers under 18 and over 70).

Non-EU nationals will need to apply for a Schengen visa

Nationals of non-visa-free countries, including China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and South Africa, need a Schengen Visa to visit France and other member countries. A short-stay Uniform Schengen Visa allows visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day period and is valid for travel throughout the Schengen area. The cost is €80 for adults and €40 for children aged six to 12 (free for children under six).

Visit the French government’s website France-Visas for the latest regulations and information on the process for applying. Find your closest French embassy or consulate on the  Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs - France Diplomatie website.

Tourist visas can't be extended within France

When your visa expires, you'll need to reapply from outside France to spend more time in the country. It’s not possible to extend tourist visas within France, except in emergencies (for example, a medical emergency), in which case you should contact your nearest Préfecture .

Student visas are available

Tourist visas cannot be changed into student visas after arrival, but students sitting university-entrance exams or attending interviews in France can apply in advance for a special short-term étudiant concours (literally, "student-in-competition") visa. Details are listed on the French government website Campus France .

Working holiday visas in France are valid for a year

If you’re from a country with a working holiday visa agreement with France and are aged between 18 and 30 (or 35 if you're from Canada), you may be eligible to apply for the programme vacances-travail (PVT) scheme through the French embassy or consulate in your home country. The scheme allows participants to live and work in France for 12 months. Currently, France has arrangements with Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Russia, Taiwan, and Uruguay.

This article was first published May 6, 2021 and updated May 9, 2023.

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Tourist Visa In France: A Simple Guide

Dreaming of the Eiffel Tower , lavender fields, and Riviera beaches?

Before you indulge in the French experience, a tourist visa might be your golden ticket.

Unravel the path to savoring France’s iconic delights seamlessly.

Let’s dive in!

What is the France Tourist Visa?

If you wish to visit France for tourism for a period shorter than 90 days, depending on your nationality, you might be required to obtain a France Tourist visa first.

The French Tourist visa permits you to stay in France for 90 days at most per a period of 180 days. 

Aside from the cases when your visa is marked as a Limited Territorial Validity visa, you are generally permitted to travel with this visa to other Schengen countries within that period.

What To Consider Before Applying For A French Tourist Visa

Before you apply for a French tourist visa, you should:

• Check Your Passport: Make sure your passport meets the validity requirement. If you still need to, apply for a new one before you apply for a visa.
• Book Your Flight In Time: Do not leave it for the night before your visa appointment after you have completed everything else. You may need help finding a place on a flight on your intended date.
• Make Sure Everything Is As Required: Do not tell yourself, “Maybe they won’t notice this,” or “they can’t make a huge deal out of such a small detail.” 

The consular officers check everything with the utmost attention, so you’d better follow all procedures and meet all requirements.

When Can You Submit The Application?

Submitting the application file at the right time is crucial for a positive outcome on your France Tourist Visa application. According to the French tourist visa rules, the earliest you can apply is six months before your booked flight to France.

On the other hand, the latest you can do so is two weeks before the date of your intended trip.

According to the French authorities in your country of residence and how they have regulated visa admission, you may have to submit your application at:

• The consular section of the French embassy in your country.
• A French consulate in your country.
• A third-party visa-processing center to which France has outsourced visa submission in your country.
• The French embassy/consulate/visa processing center in a neighboring country, to which French authorities in your country of residence have outsourced visa submission.

What If You Have To Travel To Other Countries Besides France?

If you travel to the Schengen Area to visit other countries besides France, you might have to apply to another embassy rather than in France. This sounds a bit complicated to many, but it is straightforward.

First of all, list the countries you plan to visit and write the number of days you will spend in each country. Apply at the embassy where you are planning to spend most days . I.e. 

If you are visiting Germany and France, and you will be spending three days in the first and five in the latter, then you will have to apply at the country embassy, where you will spend more days in France.

On the other hand, if you are spending an equal amount of days in two countries or more, i.e., two in France, two in Germany, and two in Switzerland, then you will have to apply at the embassy of the country where you will be landing first.

How To Obtain A French Tourist Visa?

The application process for a French Tourist visa might seem complicated and frustrating , especially for people who have not obtained a visa before. 

However, if you make a list of the steps you have to take and follow them slowly, then you will quickly achieve your goal and obtain the visa:

• Complete the French Tourist Schengen visa application form.
• Collect the required documents.
• Book an appointment .
• Pay the fees .
• Show up at the appointment.

You can find the France tourist visa application form on the website of the French embassy in your home country. If you do not, you can require a form to be sent to you online through email by the embassy.

Fulfill the application form with honest and correct information. Prepare “how to fill in the visa application form” beforehand to avoid making mistakes. 

Remember that the information you give in this form must comply with that in the other documents. Otherwise, your application will likely be rejected. Remember to print it twice and sign both copies at the end.

Collect The Required Documents

After completing the application form, collect the required documents for a French tourist visa. Take care to have each document in original and copy .

Be sure to complete even one document on the day of your appointment since that might result in the refusal of your application.

You should submit the following documents to apply for a Tourist visa to France:

• French Tourist Visa Application Form: Make sure you complete the proper form and that the information you provide is correct.
• Two passport-style photos: They must be at most three months.
• Your valid passport: It must have been issued within the last 10 years and is valid for a minimum of 3 months after the end of your planned stay in France. The passport must have at least two blank pages to put the visa sticker on it.
• Copies Of Older Visas: If you have ever held any visa to any country, submit copies of those visas.
• Travel Medical Insurance : Medical insurance that covers a minimum of €30,000 for your entire stay in France and the Schengen.
• Certificate of criminal record : Official certificate showing that candidate has no open crime case involvement
• Proof of paid visa fee: Make sure to include valid receipt
• Travel Itinerary: This document shows what you will do in France when you arrive and leave and includes proof of arranged transportation, i.e., plane ticket booking.
• Proof of Accommodation in France: It can be a hotel/ hostel booking or a letter of invitation if you plan to stay with friends or relatives.
• Means of subsistence: Proof that you have the financial means to cover your stay in France and other Schengen countries if you plan to. 

This could be a bank statement of up to three days covering the last three months or a scholarship certificate stating how much you will receive during your stay.

You will need to book an appointment for your interview with a consular officer of the French embassy. The interview is a must for every applicant over the age of 12. 

Book the interview online at the website of the French embassy or consulate in your country. If that option is not available in your country, you must go to the embassy to schedule an appointment.

How Much Does A France Tourist Visa Cost?

You must pay the visa fee before you attend the interview on the day of your appointment at the embassy, consulate, or visa application center. The fee for a French tourist visa is €80.

You will have to pay the fee in euros or the local currency , according to the exchange rates applied by the embassy.

France Tourist Visa Validity

The validity of your visa depends on the French embassy that issued it to you. The maximum validity of a French tourist visa can be three months within half a year.

The embassy may issue you a visa for the required period, i.e., ten days, three weeks, or even three or five days. On the other hand, you can still get a multiple entry 3 months valid visa, mainly if you are a frequent traveler to the Schengen territory.

Can You Visit Other Countries In Europe?

It depends on the type of Schengen Visa you’re granted. 

If the visa sticker on your passport says “ The Schengen States ” or “ États Schengen” or the exact words in another EU language, then you can travel in the whole Schengen territory with that visa as soon as it becomes valid.

On the other hand, if your visa says “ Schengen states (-the acronym of a country),” it means you cannot visit only that particular country, i.e., “Schengen states (-ES)” means you can visit all the Schengen states but Spain . 

You can also receive a visa that includes only the acronyms of the states you are permitted to visit, i.e., “F, FIN, GR”, which means you can only visit France, Finland, and Greece.

Traveling To France

One cannot ignore the mesmerizing beauty that France carries. Even though you have never visited France, it holds so much merit. Without a doubt, it would drag you down the lane of nostalgia. 

It uplifts you with images of the Paris Eiffel Tower, the Cannes Film Festival, pebbly beaches in Nice, the finest wines in Bordeaux, and impressive architecture in Lyon. 

While half of the world is already in love with France, there are millions of reasons that can make your love for France even deeper. 

France never ceases to fascinate world travelers with its individualistic beauty, art, history , and gastronomic heritage . And that is why it has been the most famous tourist destination in the world. 

Whether you visit France with a profound purpose or want to play around, France has everything for everyone.

Why Should You Visit France?

Home to the paris.

The city of Paris belongs to France. Now, this fact equals every reason you must choose France over every other destination you keep as an option. Paris is the most charming city that no other city can compete with as its existence is nearly perfect. 

With famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Pantheon.

And remarkable museums like the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay, the cutest cafés like Laduree, sophisticated streets like Champs Elysees, and theme parks like Disneyland, you cannot deny its alluring beauty in any situation. 

France Is Haven Of History And Culture

France feels a thousand times attractive for its rich culture and history . French people take so much pride in their historical heritage. 

Art, architecture, and literature honor the most significant battles fought during the French Revolution and the Napoleon period. 

You can still witness time being kept intact in France through attractions like the Palace of Versailles, Notre Dame Cathedral, Sacre-Coeur, Old Port of Marseille, and more. 

France has almost 39 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list to highlight its strong, culturally enriched presence in human history. 

French Cuisine Is A Gastronomical Treasure

French cuisine is an integral part of the culinary world. It upholds the reputation of France not only for its unique and rich taste but also for its valuable recipes and cooking techniques that are also gastronomical treasures.

Every food lover should taste France’s authentic , traditional, and local foods. 

From croissants, baguettes, and seafood to over 400 cheese varieties, your culinary endeavor will be otherworldly. 

Paradise For Fashion Admirers

France is home to famous fashion brands like Dior, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. For the fashion admirer inside you, France is a shopper’s paradise. You can walk down the famous streets where you can shop till you drop. 

Not just that, the entire French community will inspire your wardrobe update. Even on a regular day, the people of France like to flaunt their rich fashion sense as they walk down the street. 

Fashion brands will also organize Fashion Week events where you can admire the latest collection and grab some aesthetic pieces of clothing. Rue de Rivoli, Champs Elysees, and Les Halles are some of the best streets to style up yourself.

Country With Distinctive Geography

France’s geography creates more opportunities for tourists with its distinctive geography . Do you want to swim, surf, and snorkel or relax in a sunny spot on a beach? Head directly to Cannes, Nice, or Côte d’Azur.

Do you want to spend your vacation on the snowy slopes and ski to your heart’s content? Visit Mont Blanc. France has a space for every venture you are seeking.

Land Of Art And Museum

You are aware that France is the land of art and museums . 

From the Louvre Museum(the World’s Largest Museum), which houses notable art like the painting of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, to the extraordinary collection of modern art in Centre Pompidou.

Every region of France has a museum that surprises you with renowned masterpieces.

Wine Enthusiast Getaway

There is no better place than France if you are a wine enthusiast who likes to try the finest wines in the world. 

There are more than 450 types of homemade wine collections in France. Every region has a specialty, and you can’t resist trying all the duty-free wines without being bored.

Charming Castles

There are so many Castles in France. You might need an entire month to explore all the Castles reflecting Gothic and Romanesque architecture . The fun part is you can stay in some of them and admire the beauty. 

From Château de Chantilly, Palace of Versailles, to Château de Chenonceau, you will be stunned by these picturesque castles that let you understand France like never before.

Relaxing Countryside

If you want to escape the clamor of the city, there is no better place than France’s countryside with picturesque views . To be clear, over 80% of France is typically villages.

They offer a solid level of peace and tranquility that helps you forget all your worries, enjoy time with the locals, and cherish every moment by etching the breathtaking view in your mind.

Hotspot For Romance

Finally, the most important reason to add France to your bucket list is that France naturally makes it hard to disregard its romantic side. Even the elegance of the French language adds more romance to romantic endeavors in the “ city of love .”

Traveling Costs In France

France is consistently the most popular tourist destination in Europe, with Paris welcoming tens of millions of visitors each year and only Istanbul and London coming close to challenging for the number one spot. But is France expensive to visit?

France is diverse but expensive to visit, with an average cost of €85-580 per person daily. That said, there’s something for everyone in France, and most locations have options to accommodate all types of budgets. 

Accommodation Prices In France

When making a France travel budget, accommodation should be the first thing to research as it can be relatively expensive if you don’t carefully look at your options.

Camping is one of the cheaper options for accommodation in France. Still, not everyone’s idea of a relaxing holiday is sleeping on the floor in a woodland, regardless of how beautiful the landscape is…

Solo young travelers may be disappointed by the lack of hostels across France, although you can find some in big cities like Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. 

Outside of Paris, you can expect to pay no more than €50 for a single bed in a dorm room, although it’s hard to find a bed unde r €30 as you can in other European cities.

Within Paris, the majority of beds in dorm rooms are over €50 , so if you’re traveling with a friend or partner, it’s usually worthwhile staying in a hotel and splitting the cost of the room.

In general, expect the accommodation cost to be more expensive in Paris than in other cities and regions in France.

Looking at hotels in a variety of towns and cities in France, the majority of the double rooms cost over €100 per night, while only about one-third of rooms cost €50-€100 , leaving just a tiny percentage of rooms that cost less than €50 per night. 

If you’re looking for something more luxurious, expect to make more than €300-550 per night for a room – and often much more, depending on the hotel and location.

This shows that accommodation in France can be expensive, although there are many reasonable options to be found if you’re visiting France on a budget; either way, accommodation is a big factor in your overall France trip cost.

Transportation Prices In France

On the other hand, traveling in France is as easy , cheap, and comfortable as it is highly recommended. France, especially the South, welcomes tourists and travelers, so moving around is very simple.

If you’re willing to take a risk, you can even hitchhike from one place to another very quickly to keep your trip to France to a minimum.

The majority of French people are very friendly and will take you as far as they can as well as recommend places to visit and things to do in the area that you might not otherwise know about.

That’s also why the ride-sharing app Blablacar works so well in France. 

It’s hard to book a journey many weeks in advance, but if you’re on a loose schedule, you can find many different cars to join over the coming week and choose whichever driver you have more in common with or which journey best suits your timing or budget.

A 3-hour journey can cost as little as €15 , and you can even find rides over long journeys such as 9 hours from Paris to Montpellier from just €50.

France also has an incredibly well-developed train network, with high-speed trains able to transport you to all corners of the country. However, the cost of train tickets can vary depending on the journey length and how far in advance you book.

There is also a decent bus network that is often less expensive than the train. However, the journeys can take longer and are often less comfortable than a train ride. 

If you’re planning a road trip or are keen to try your hand at driving in France, however, you can easily rent a car from French Airports or city centers from €50-100 for a small car. 

Within French towns and cities, you can use the bus, tram , or metro for €1.50-2.50 for a single ticket, although there are often cheaper alternatives for 10 journeys or 24 hours if you think you’ll use public transportation in France often over your stay.

Or, for a greener and more active alternative, you can find city rental bikes in the streets of the most prominent cities in France, which you can rent for €0.50-1.50 per hour or €5 a day to get around quickly.

These city bikes do require a credit card to make sure you return the bike, so if you don’t have one or you’re in a smaller town, you can still rent a bicycle for around €20-30 a day, sometimes with an additional few euros for a helmet or basket.

Some of these bike rental shops also have e-bikes available so you can save your legs, although the price can be a lot more expensive, from €35-70 per day.

Food Prices In France

Dining is one of the best activities in France, and the options won’t disappoint you. Sure, you can find cheap French fast food chains and cafeterias everywhere like Flunch and Quick, but it would be a waste of a trip to the gastronomic center of Europe to eat here.

The cost of food in France can vary depending on your habits. Breakfast is a cheap and easy affair, with bakeries on every corner selling fresh pastries and baguettes for less than a couple of euros each.

Meanwhile, you can have a cheap and cheerful lunch of a delicious sandwich for a few euros from any cafe or turn it into a meal deal in the French cafe La Mie Caline, where you can get a sandwich, cake, and drink for a very affordable price. 

The classic French croque monsieur can be found everywhere, as well, for low prices.

Of course, it’s always affordable and a great way to support local vendors to pick up some bread, local cheese, or some meats from small delis or market stalls and have a lunch picnic, too!

However, if you’re going to make the most of your trip to France and dine as the locals do, you can find excellent set menus for lunch for €15-30 for 2-3 courses of usually expertly prepared and locally sourced dishes.

For dinner, there are many options in France in terms of price and cuisine, but you can almost always guarantee it will be high-quality food .

A mid-range restaurant will serve exquisite dishes, often prepared in the same traditional way over many generations, so you know they have the classic French cooking down to a T. 

Evening set menus can cost between €20 and €45 for three courses in most restaurants, with a bottle of wine costing €20-60 .

So, you only need to spend a fortune in a 5-star restaurant in France if you’re out for a special occasion or want to enjoy a spectacular view, such as the Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower. Here, you can have a 5-course dinner time tasting menu for €255 .

Your French rendezvous awaits, and the tourist visa is the first step to those dreamy Parisian nights and Provençal sunrises.

Voyage magnifique begins with the right paperwork!

Voyage Verified!

But wait! There’s lot more that you might be interested in following:

• Types Of Visas In France
• Tax Refund In France
• Temporary residence In France

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Long-stay visa (stay of more than 3 months to 1 year).

Verified 04 January 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

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

Situation of a foreigner in possession of documents authorizing him to remain in France

Abolition for the future of an administrative act or a rule of law

To enter and stay in France for more than 3 months, a foreigner must hold a long-stay visa ( type D ). This visa is granted by the French consular authorities. It is issued most often for education, work or family reasons. Several types of long-stay visas exist depending on the reason for the stay, its length and the intention to apply for a residence permit to settle in France on a long-term basis.

What's this about?

A visa is a sticker affixed by a country's administration to a person's passport to allow him or her to enter and stay for a specified period of time.

The long-stay visa, type D , allows you to enter and stay in France from 4 months to 1 year.

If you are an adult, you must apply for a long-stay visa even if your nationality does not require a short-stay visa.

There are different types of visas depending on the reason and length of your stay and your intention to settle you in France.

it also allows you to move around (without any other visa) in the whole area Schengen , provided that it does not exceed 90 days during its period of validity.

Please note

you do not need this document if you are a citizen European , Andorran, Monegasque, San Marino, Holy See/Vatican.

Long-stay visa as residence permit (VLS-TS): valid for 4 to 12 months

This visa, says VLS-TS , is valid as a residence permit and you do not need to apply for a residence card in the prefecture as soon as you arrive in France.

This applies in particular to the following cases:

• Employee (holder of a contract of indefinite duration)
• Husband of French
• Talented passport

if you are married to a Frenchman, the VLS-TS is issued to you without conditions. It may be refused if your marriage is fraudulent or has been canceled or if you pose a threat to public order.

VLS-TS Validation

Within 3 months of your arrival in France, you must validate your VLS-TS and pay a tax in addition to the visa fee.

The online approach makes it possible to be in regular stay and to be able to cross the border again from the Schengen area .

Validate a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) and pay the tax

Visa mention "residence card to be requested within 2 months of arrival"

The endorsement shall bear the residence card to be requested within 2 months of arrival . It allows you to enter France and obtain a residence card in the prefecture.

It is given to you in order to benefit from a residence card (annual, multiannual or 10 years depending on your situation), in particular in quality:

• French family (child aged 16 to 21 or dependent on a French person, dependent on a French person and his or her husband),
• a professional or self-employed person (trader, craftsman, etc.),
• worker (employee on assignment, EU Blue Card, seasonal, talent passport) or worker family,
• pensioner or pensioner spouse,

Working holiday visa 

This visa can only be issued to you if your country is bound by a bilateral "working holiday" agreement with France . It may also be issued without bilateral agreement for Taiwanese nationals.

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This visa is for young people aged 18 to 35. It has a maximum duration of 12 months and waives the need to apply for a residence card.

This visa is for young people aged 18 to 30. It has a maximum duration of 12 months and waives the need to apply for a residence card.

China (Hong Kong)

South korea, new zealand, minor visa in france: valid for 11 months maximum.

You can benefit from this visa under the following conditions:

• You must be under 18
• You have to follow your education or studies in France for more than 3 months
• Your parents must reside abroad.

This visa has a maximum duration of 11 months. It allows you to enter France as many times as you want during its period of validity, without having to apply for a new visa.

as a minor, you do not have to hold a residence permit.

Temporary long-stay visa: valid for 4 to 6 months

This visa lasts between 4 and 6 months maximum. It is worth a temporary authorization to stay in France. It can be issued to you if you come to France:

• for short courses,
• or to engage in artistic activity,
• or as a visitor (you must be able to live from your own resources).

During the validity of your visa, you are exempt from applying for a residence card in the prefecture. At the end, you have to go back to your country of origin.

What documents should be provided?

The long-stay visa allows you to settle in France. The documents to be presented vary according to the reason for your stay: as employee, student, family of Frenchman or a foreigner regularly settled in France, etc.

You must consult the France-Visas portal to know, according to your situation, the list of the parts to be provided.

France-Visas - Visa Assistants - List of documents to be supplied

How to apply for the visa?

General case, where to apply.

You must submit your visa application (no more than 3 months before departure planned) with the French consular authorities of the country where you live:

Apply for a visa

Who shall I contact

• Visa department (French embassy/consulate abroad)

Validity of the passport

• Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the end date of your visa.
• It must be at least 2 blank pages
• It must have been issued less than 10 years ago.

Special cases of certain foreigner students

Foreigners from 43 countries must apply for a visa on the Studies in France at the time of online pre-enrollment in French higher education.

The request is made on the site Studies in France at the time of online pre-enrollment in french higher education:

Enrollment in French higher education / application for a student visa procedure "Studies in France"

Recording of the applicant's data

Your biometric data is stored in a file, called Visabio .

This data is the scanned images:

• of your photo,
• and your fingerprints (except children under 12 years of age).

You cannot object to this registration (you have a right of access and rectification to the file ).

What is the cost?

The amount of the visa fee varies. It is expressed in euros or CFA francs, depending on the country.

To find out, you should see Rate of the country pages of the France-Visas assistant:

France-Visas - Cost of visa according to country

However, some applicants are exempt from visa fees, including:

• Non-European family member of a European (other than French) or Swiss
• Seasonal worker
• Turkish, Serbian or Montenegrin wage earner and his family reunited with their families
• French teacher
• Foreign Language Assistant or Reader
• Some working holiday visa recipients
• Holder of a diplomatic or service passport
• Scholarship student from the French government or a foreigners government or a foreign foundation
• Guest from an intergovernmental organization based in France
• Veteran with a free care notebook coming to France for medical treatment

What remedy should a refusal be granted?

Grounds for refusal of visa .

Reasons must be given for any refusal to grant a visa.

Appeal against refusal of visa

In case of refusal of your visa application, you can form a ex gratia appeal to the consulate asking it to review its decision:

• French Embassy or Consulate Abroad

You can also appeal to the Board of Appeal against decisions refusing entry visas to France (CRRV):

• Board of Appeal against Decisions Refusing Entry Visas to France (CRRV)

This remedy is obligatory before any appeal to the administrative judge. It is imperative that you present it in a period of 2 months next:

• notification of the written refusal,
• or the implicit refusal of your visa application (if the consulate has not replied to you within 2 months).

You must give reasons for your appeal (set out the legal and factual elements). You must write it in French, sign it and attach any useful documents.

The VAC can be referred by you, your lawyer, or anyone with an interest in challenging the visa refusal (for example, a family member).

The VAC may:

• dismiss your appeal (if no reply is received within 2 months, this is an implied dismissal),
• or recommend to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of the Interior to grant you the visa.

if your appeal is manifestly inadmissible or unfounded, the Chairperson of the VRC may dismiss your appeal on his or her own, without convening the VRC.

If the VAC rejects your appeal, or if the ministers confirm the visa refusal despite the VAC's favorable opinion, you can file an appeal for cancelation within 2 months. This appeal must be lodged with the Administrative Court of Nantes:

• Administrative Court of Nantes

Can the visa be revoked?

Your long-stay visa as a residence permit may be revoked for one of the following 3 reasons:

• Obtaining your visa fraudulently
• Entry to France for an installation for purposes other than the issuing of your visa
• Disturbance of public order.

The prefect responsible for deciding whether to revoke your visa is the one where you are staying or the one where you have been checked.

You may appeal the decision to repeal one ex gratia appeal to the prefect and/or a hierarchical appeal to the minister of the interior .

• Paris Police Department
• Directorate of Immigration - Ministry in charge of the Interior

You can also refer a case to the administrative judge action for annulment  :

• if your administrative appeals have not been successful,
• or directly without going through those administrative remedies.
• Administrative Tribunal

What to do at the end of the visa?

If you wish stay in France , you must file a application for a residence card within 2 months before the end of your visa to the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your home.

Find out more on your prefecture's website.

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: Articles L312-6

Visa issued to the husband of French: Article L312-6-1°

Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Articles L412-1 to L412-4

Requirement to present, with exceptions, a long-stay visa in order to obtain a temporary residence card 

Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Articles L423-7 to L423-11

Mandatory long-stay visa for issuing residence card to the ascendant of French: article L423-11

Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Articles L423-12

Long-stay visa required for the issuance of the residence card to the child of French

Code of relations between the public and the administration: Articles L211-2 to L211-4

Code of relations between the public and the administration: Articles L211-5 to L211-6

Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Articles R431-16 to D431-19

Long-stay visa as residence permit and temporary long-stay visa 

Decree No. 81-778 of 13 August 1981 fixing the tariff of fees to be collected in diplomatic and consular chancelleries and, in France, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Cost (table of fees: Article 18 B.1 B2. B3. B4.)

Online services and forms

Application for a visa for a long stay in France (paper format)

Additional topics

France-Visas

Ministry of the Interior

The steps of applying for a visa

Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

Working holiday visa

Countries concerned by the online registration procedure "Studies in France"

Agence Campus France

• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Get a Tourist Visa for France

Last Updated: October 11, 2022 Approved

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 77 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 29 testimonials and 90% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 413,827 times.

Approximately 79 million people toured France in 2010, making it the most visited country in the world. Its rich culture, food, wine and scenery make it a great place to visit for a few weeks to a few months. The type of visa you need to visit France depends upon your nationality and your length of stay. France allows citizens of many countries to visit without a tourist visa for 3 months. [1] X Research source If you want to stay longer, you can apply for a French long-stay visa after you have returned home. If you need a Schengen or long-stay visa to enter France, then you must make an appointment with your local French consulate and provide the appropriate documents. This article will tell you how to get a tourist visa for France.

Select a French Visa

• If your native country is Andorra, Monaco or Switzerland, or it is part of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), then you do not need a tourist visa to France for any length of time. [3] X Research source
• You will not need a 3-month tourist visa, if you hold a passport from 1 of the following countries: United Kingdom, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, or the Special Administrative Region of Macao of the People's Republic of China.
• If your country is not listed, then you will most likely need to apply for a 3-month Schengen visa to visit France. Countries that require a Schengen visa include South Africa, India, Algeria, Philippines, Ukraine, China, Thailand, Russia, Zimbabwe and Pakistan. The Schengen visa is based on an agreement between 25 European countries that allows tourists to enter 1 of the 25 countries and go between other Schengen countries without showing their passport. [4] X Research source

• If you need to stay longer than 3 months, apply for a long-term stay visa. This is required for any nationality outside of the EU and EEA. Most often, the applicants for long-stay visas are applying to work, study or attend a family reunion.

Apply for a French Visa

• Allow extra time if you are apply from 1 of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burundi, Guinea, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Palestine, Rwanda, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen, Algeria, Belarus, Congo, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Niger, Oman, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Suriname, United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe, Bahrain, Burma, Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Somalia, Syria, Vietnam, or US Refugees.

• Both applications include sections for personal, address, traveling, passport, insurance and return information. Fill it out completely and legibly. Print in black ink or use a typewriter.

• Make 2 copies of all of the identification pages in your passport.

• 3 1.4 by 1.7 inch (3.5 by 4.5 cm) passport photographs. Your face must take up approximately 80 percent of the picture and it must show your ears and hairline.
• Your hotel or tour reservations and your departure and return flight information. These should be separate and detailed documents.
• Proof of medical insurance coverage while you are traveling in France. The minimum coverage for medical expenses shall be EUR 30 000.
• Original bank statements from the last 3 months, to show proof of funds while you are traveling in France.
• Proof of residence in the region where you are applying. A utility bill and an identification card with that address listed may work as proof of residence.

Community Q&A

• If you have already visited France for 3 months, you must leave for 90 days before entering without a visa again. You must also leave for 90 days before applying for a 6-month tourist visa. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• You may also be able to use a credit card to make your visa payment; however, this is not guaranteed. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you are a minor, then you must also provide a copy of your birth certificate and a notarized parental authorization letter. If you plan to study, you must have a copy of your French school registration. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• The visa fees in dollars or pounds may change according to exchange rates. Thanks Helpful 40 Not Helpful 16
• There are a number of private companies who submit your Schengen visa for you. You do not need to use a company or pay for an application in order to get a Schengen visa. Thanks Helpful 48 Not Helpful 23

Things You'll Need

• Long-term visa application form
• Schengen (short-stay) application form
• Passport photos
• Airline reservations
• Hotel or tour reservations
• Proof of residence
• Proof of funds
• Proof of medical coverage
• Appointment for Biometric at the French consulate

Other wikiHows

• ↑ https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas/tourist-or-private-visit
• ↑ https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas/short-stay-visa
• ↑ https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas/long-stay-visa
• ↑ https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/who-needs-schengen-visa/
• ↑ https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas/visa-application-guidelines#Etape3
• http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/IMG/pdf/Long_Stay_Visa_Application_Form-2.pdf
• http://www.learn4good.com/travel/fr_visa.htm

About this article

To get a tourist visa for France, make an appointment with your region's French consulate 1-3 months before your departure to France. Before your appointment, look on the French government's website under "Getting a Visa" for all of the documents you should bring. Prepare to fill out 2 copies of the Visa application form and pay a fee of $83 for a short term visa or $138 for a long term visa. Then, go to your appointment and wait 3-6 weeks for your visa to be approved. To learn how to select which French visa you need, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Jan 13, 2019

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Accueil > Fact sheet: long stay visa

Fact sheet: long stay visa

Date of update

Citizen of a Third State to the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you wish to enter French territory for a long period?

A long-stay visa allows foreign nationals to stay in France for longer than three months , with the aim of enabling the holder to obtain a residence permit so they can live in France for a specified period.

Eligibility

Foreign nationals wishing to reside in France for more than 90 days, whether for personal reasons (family reunion, retirement, etc.) or professional reasons (starting up a business, taking up paid employment, etc.), must submit a  long-stay visa  application to the French consular authorities in their country of residence.

This type of visa allows the holder to live in France for a specified period.

During this validity period, it grants the holder the same rights as the holder of a  temporary residence permit  or  multi-year residence permit . It also allows the holder to apply to the Préfecture in their place of residence for a  residence permi t so they can stay in France.

The appropriate type of long-stay visa depends on the reason for the stay .

Only the following are eligible for exemption:

• Other foreign nationals (‘third country nationals’) holding a short-stay visa marked Famille de Français (‘Family of a French national’).
• EU nationals.
• EEA nationals (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein).
• Nationals of the principalities of Monaco and Andorra.
• Nationals of San Marino and the Holy See.
• However, the following are exempt from the long-stay visa requirement:
• Foreign nationals and their families who have acquired long-term resident status in another European Union Member State.
• Students who have attended school in France without interruption from the age of 16 and are continuing their studies in the country

Related Cards

Visa, staying, working.

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

Reasons of stay

Long-stay visas depend on the reason for the foreigner’s stay:

• visa for posted employees on intra-company transfer (ICT);
• “Passeport Talent” visas and its 10 mentions, for the purpose of applying for the multi-year “Passeport Talent” residence card for any planned stay longer than 12 months.
• “Working holiday” visa for young eligible nationals;
• “Student” visa (VSL-TS);
• “School-aged minor” visa;
• to carry out an internship or training : the visa for “trainees or young professionals in training” (VLS-TS);
• for tourist, family or private visits or even business trips: the “Temporary visitor visa” visa (VLS-TS);
• for family reunification.

Long-stay visas issued for professional reasons allow their holder to exercise a professional activity as soon as they arrive in France, without waiting for the delivery of the residence permit.

Length of stay and validity

Long-stay visas allow foreign nationals to enter France with a view to staying for more than three months.Typically, long-stay visas are valid for  3 months . In any event, they  may not be valid for more than one year  (as in the case of a ‘VLS-TS’ long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit).

Helpful tip: A long-stay visa also allows the holder to move freely within the Schengen Area for 90 days in any 180-day period

Formalities upon arriving in France

The visa also allows the holder to apply for the corresponding residence permit with the Prefecture of his place of residence in France in order to settle on French territory. He must contact the competent prefecture as soon as he arrives to initiate the procedure and inquire about the procedures for submitting his residence permit application file. These terms may vary depending on the Prefectures which explain the procedure on their website.

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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.

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How to get the France family reunion visa

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The French visa types: which one do you need?

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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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in France set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact France’s Embassy in the UK .

Countries may restrict travel or bring in rules at short notice. Check with your travel company or airline for changes.

Visit TravelHealthPro (from the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre) for general COVID-19 advice for travellers .

Public spaces

You’re strongly recommended to wear a face mask in health settings. In some areas, people aged 6 and above may need to wear a face mask.

Passport validity requirements

If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, follow the Schengen area passport requirements .

Your passport must be:

• issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

Check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

Contact the French Embassy in the UK if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to .

Passport stamping

At French border control, you may need to:

• show proof of where you intend to stay, for example, a hotel booking or proof of address if visiting your own property
• show proof of insurance for your trip – check FCDO’s travel insurance guidance
• show a return or onward ticket
• prove that you have enough money for your whole stay

Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through France as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.

You can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area, and ask the border guards to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets.

If you live in France, read our Living in France guide for passport stamping information.

Proof of accommodation and funds

You may need to show proof of where you intend to stay. Read about documents you may need for short stays on the French government website . This will differ depending on where you are staying.

Staying with family, friends or a third party

You may be asked to provide an ‘attestation d’accueil’ (welcome invitation) from your host. The French resident hosting you must get the ‘attestation d’accueil’ from their local mayor’s office, and send the original ‘attestation’ before you enter France. Be prepared to show proof that you have at least €32.50 euros a day for the duration of your stay.

Second homes in France

You will need to be able to prove ownership or tenancy of your property, such as a tax or utility bill.

Staying in a hotel or other commercial accommodation

You may be asked for confirmation of your reservation when entering France. Be prepared to show proof that you have at least €65 euros a day for the duration of your stay.

Other circumstances

If you do not have an ‘attestation d’accueil’ (welcome invitation) or any pre-booked accommodation, you may be asked to prove you have at least €120 euros a day for the duration of your stay.

For more information on these requirements, visit the French government’s website on travel conditions for British citizens.

Visa requirements

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area, which France is part of, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

If you are travelling to France and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you will need to meet the French government’s entry requirements. Check which type of visa you may need on the France Visas website .

If you are travelling to France for work , read the guidance on visas and permits.

If you stay in France with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

British citizens who cannot return to the UK before their visa, permit or visa-free limit expires should contact their local prefecture in France .

Vaccination requirements (other than COVID-19)

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and vaccination certificates you may need on TravelHealthPro.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of France. Check the French Directorate General of Customs and Excise website . Declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food and drink into the EU

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions for medical reasons, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons. Check the rules about taking food and drink into the EU on the European Commission website.

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