french long stay tourist visa

Javascript est desactivé dans votre navigateur.

République Française

Service-Public.fr

Le site officiel de l’administration française

• Se connecter
• Accéder au site pour les entreprises

This page has been automatically translated. Please refer to the page in French if needed.

Share the page

Link copied

Le lien vers cette page a été envoyé avec succès aux destinataires.

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.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

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

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

How to get a France long-stay visa

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

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

Is your U.S. passport valid?

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

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

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

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

France long-stay visa Basics

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

What is a France visa?

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

Do Americans need a visa to go to France?

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

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

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

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

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

How to apply for a France long-stay visa?

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

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

Is there a digital nomad visa for France?

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

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

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

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

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

Can I travel within Europe with a France visa?

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

How much does a long-stay visa cost?

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

France visa and residence permit

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

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

Which type of visa you get depends on:

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

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

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

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

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

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

VLS-TS visa equivalent to a residence permit

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

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

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

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

Get a long-stay visa suited to your situation

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

France long-stay visa for students

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

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

France long-stay visa for visitors

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

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

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

France long-stay visa for employees

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

Passeport talent visa

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

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

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

France long-stay visa for family reunification

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

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

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

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

France long-stay visa for retirees

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

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

VLS-T temporary long-stay visa

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

A temporary visa does not allow you to work.

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

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

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

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

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

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

France-Visas guidelines detail the entire process.

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

Learn some French today!

Check out my French Glossary of Visa Terms

Once your visa has been accepted

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

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

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

About Nathalie Nahmani

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

Related articles

Best French SIM card

eSIM France: best prepaid eSIM

France Visa travel insurance

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

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

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

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

You must log in to post a comment.

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

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

Date of update

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

Eligibility

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

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

• The Vatican
• San Marino.

Related Cards

Visa, staying, working.

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

Fact sheet: residence permit

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

Residence-permit

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

Startup founders

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

Work permit

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

Accompanying family

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

Categories of VLS-TS

Available categories of VLS-TS include the following:

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

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

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

Obtaining a VLS-TS

Where to apply.

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

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

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

When to begin applying?

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

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

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

Documents required

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

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

Formalities upon arriving in France

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

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

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

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

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

Medical examination

France, and bring the following:

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

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

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

Republican citizenship contract

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

Extending your stay

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

Completing the long-stay visa application form

Download Cerfa 14571*05

Enter your search term and press enter to validate

Subscribe to The Connexion

See prices & plans

HELP GUIDES

Income Tax in France

Healthcare in France

Inheritance Law and Wills in France

Visas and residency cards for France

Explainer: Temporary long-stay visas to visit France

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

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

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

How to apply

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

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

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

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

5. Click ‘verify’ to continue

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

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

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

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

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

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

12. The website will indicate supporting documents needed

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

Your visa appointment

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

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

You will pay the visa fee at the appointment.

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

Health cover

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

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

Proof of funds and accommodation

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

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

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

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

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

Picking up your passport and visa

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

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

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

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

visas and residency cards how to

UK jockey gets French residency card meeting after public complaint

James Reveley asked about obtaining a titre de séjour after victory in prestigious ‘president’s race’ in Paris last weekend

Grass clippings: what to do if the tip does not accept them in France

Rennes metropole is the first to bring in a ban - and has ended door-to-door pick ups - but other areas have followed

How to apply for seasonal work in France as a non-EU citizen

Job adverts, work permits and visas - we explain the rules for employees and employers

PHOTOS: Olympic Flame to travel to France on beautiful historic ship

The 127-year-old ship sets sail on Saturday with ‘the most important passenger it has ever carried’

Phone scams, gardening, insurance claims: 5 French practical updates

Our roundup of recent practical articles you may have missed

Dealing with French 'small village mentality'

Picnic in paris chance to join huge meal on champs-elysees, many older electrical installations in france have security faults.

Widespread confusion over new checks at UK/France borders

Most Britons polled said they are unaware of the coming changes

‘Brexit: no-one else dares speak of leaving’: President Macron

The president also spoke of the threat from the far-right, the need for more border control, simpler rules and more defence investment in a speech in Paris

Scams in France: watch out for these telephone prefixes

Stay alert to these numbers as they are often used by fraudsters

House ruined by wood-rotting fungus - ‘French insurance will not pay’

Fungus can be swept in through windows and vents and lead to extensive damage. Insurers consider it homeowners’ fault

Why being told to go cook an egg in French is rarely a good thing

We look at seven colourful expressions to brighten up your conversations

More than 31,000 in 2024: Spectacular rise in centenarians in France

Women in particular are living longer, a new report shows

Vichy laws still endure in modern-day France

Legislation introduced by the Vichy regime in World War Two is still being applied in France today, a historian who specialises in the period has pointed out

Career change in France: from police officer to gardener

Amanda Freeman explains how she swapped law and order for a more creative vocation in the French countryside

Body odour machines help catch mosquitoes in south of France

British retiree in france takes brexit case to human rights court, eurostar fares revamp and motorway closures: 6 france travel updates.

French teenager suspected of plotting terrorist act at Paris Olympics

The 16-year-old had ‘pledged allegiance’ to Islamic State and has admitted his plans

Blades of Paris Moulin Rouge cabaret club mysteriously fall off

It was not a windy night and the blades are checked regularly, say managers

Heat pump insurance cover downgraded for many home owners in France

Wood-burning stoves are also affected following a court ruling

Saharan winds bring sands and storms to France this weekend

Rains could last until May 1 bank holiday next week, with no part of the country spared

Should I include appliances in a French house insurance estimate?

How does your area of france fare for delay to see a doctor, map: where and why are there curfews in france who is affected.

France to build more reactors as nuclear prioritised

At least six new reactors and potentially as many as 14 could be built to meet climate change goals

Must I declare dividends that are reinvested outside of France?

Investment types and their rules can vary between the UK and France

Mass flight disruption at French airports today April 25

Around 3,000 flights are set to be affected despite strike action being called off. A three-day strike notice for May remains in place

What is cost of average funeral in France?

Prices are reported to be similar in France to those in the UK

Stray dogs to be shot after sheep attacks in southern France

But animal welfare campaigners say the dogs should be taken to shelters instead

State of French roads causing alarm

Spectacular images of roads that have collapsed or been blocked by mudslides this winter have prompted renewed concern about the state of France’s roads

Does everyone in France need to complete an income tax return?

Deadlines to complete declaration fall in May or June this year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let us understand how this will work:

How will this work?

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

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

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

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

5-year post-study visa in France 

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

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

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