France Long-Stay Visa

A French long-stay visa covers stays of more than 3 months. Its most common form, the VLS-TS, works as a residence permit for up to 12 months once it is validated online after arrival (Service-Public). This page covers the visitor category, the one for people who live on their own means without working in France.

• Resources: at least €1,477.93 a month for a single person
• Work in France: No
• Insurance: Health insurance covering the whole stay is required for the visitor card.

Visitors may not work in France in any form. The official pages don't address remote work for a foreign employer, so it should not be taken as allowed. The France guide covers the work-based routes.

The visitor category suits retirees, people living on savings and others who can support themselves without working (Service-Public).

• Resources: at least €1,477.93 a month net for a single person, over 1 year. Pensions, rental income or a solvent guarantor count; family allowances don't.
• No work: no salaried, commercial, self-employed, craft or liberal work in France
• Insurance: health cover for the whole stay

Students, employees and talent card holders use other long-stay categories with their own rules.

The visitor file centers on money and insurance (Service-Public):

• a valid passport
• proof of resources of at least €1,477.93 a month
• a health insurance certificate covering the whole stay

France-Visas gives the exact checklist for each consulate after the online form is filled in (France-Visas).

• Long-stay visa: €99 (France-Visas fee list), plus any visa center service charge
• VLS-TS validation tax: €300, paid online in France since May 1, 2026 (Service-Public)
• Visitor card renewal: €250

Private health insurance for the stay is an extra cost that varies by insurer and age.

Online on France-Visas, then at the French consulate or visa center in the country of residence; validate the VLS-TS online within 3 months of arrival.

1. Fill in the application on France-Visas and book an appointment.
2. Submit the file and pay the fee at the consulate or visa center.
3. After arrival, validate the VLS-TS online and pay the validation tax within 3 months (Service-Public).

Waiting times vary by country and season, and no official figure is published.

The VLS-TS is valid for up to 12 months (Service-Public).

• Staying longer: Before the VLS-TS ends, apply online (ANEF) for a residence card: the visitor card lasts 1 year and is renewable, applied for 4 to 2 months before expiry; renewal fee €250.
• Long-term residence: Yes, under the general rule: after 5 years of continuous legal residence a holder can apply for the 10-year EU long-term resident card, with French at level B1 and stable resources at least equal to the SMIC.

The visitor card rules are on Service-Public, and the 10-year card on Service-Public.

Holding a long-stay visa doesn't change how France taxes income. Service-Public lists no special tax regime for it.

France treats a person as a tax resident when any one of four tests is met: the household or main home is in France, the person spends at least 183 days there in the year, the main professional activity is in France, or the center of economic interests is there (Service-Public). Meeting one test is enough, so staying under 183 days doesn't guarantee non-residence. A tax treaty between France and another country can set different rules.

Anyone who keeps income or a home in another country should check the treaty and ask both tax authorities before the first French return.