Long-stay visa for France: types, requirements and costs (UK guide)

Many Brits are drawn to France for a fresh experience. Whether it’s the fine cuisine calling your name, the chic couture, or a charming châteaux. Making the move is a little more complicated since Brexit, but still possible with a long-stay visa.

Brits can no longer stay in France visa-free for more than 90 days within a 180-day period. You’ll need a long-stay visa (VLS), which is valid for between 3 and 12 months. Depending on the type of visa, you can extend your stay by applying for a residence permit once you’ve arrived. This means the VLS can be a gateway to permanently moving from the UK to France.

This guide explains what you need to know about French long-stay visas. We’ve covered the different types, requirements and how to apply — whether you’re hopping across the Channel to work, study, travel or retire.

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Table of contents

Who needs a long-stay visa for France? The 90/180-Day Schengen rule Who is exempt from the Schengen Rule? Who doesn’t need a French long-stay visa? Types of French long-stay visas The VLS-TS visa for 4 to 12 months with possible extension The VLS-T visa for 4 to 6 months without extension French long-stay visa requirements and costs Financials, accommodation and insurance Cost of a long-stay visa for France Processing time for a long-stay visa in France French long-stay visa application process: Step-by-step guide Step 1: Start with the official France-visas website Step 2: Gather your supporting documents Step 3: Complete the application form Step 4: Book your visa application appointment Step 5: Attend your visa appointment Step 6: Track your application Arriving in France with your visa Don’t forget to validate your VLS-TS Can you extend your stay in France? Additional France long-stay visa advice for UK citizens What you need to know if you own a second home in France For UK nationals resident in France before Brexit Heading to France? Check out the Wise account

Who needs a long-stay visa for France?

You’ll typically need a long-stay visa for France if your stay will break the 90/180-day Schengen rule.

The 90/180-Day Schengen rule

You can travel to the Schengen Area, which includes France, without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Currently, Brits don’t need a French Schengen visa. You’re allowed to travel for things like:

• holidays and sightseeing
• visiting family or friends
• sports events
• business meetings, conferences and short courses

Some business travel in France isn’t allowed under the 90/180-day Schengen rule, meaning you may need a work permit. See the UK government’s advice on travelling to France for work.¹

Remember, the 90 days apply to the whole Schengen Area, not just France.

Let’s say you took a 14-day holiday in Germany before travelling to France. This means you’d have 75 days left to spend in France within the 180-day window.

Going over the 90-day limit can land you with fines or even a ban from Schengen countries for up to 3 years.²

Who is exempt from the Schengen Rule?

You don’t have to worry about this rule if you’re a citizen of the EU, EEA, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or the Vatican. But for UK citizens after Brexit, any stay in France longer than 90 days means you’ll need a French long-stay visa.³

Who doesn’t need a French long-stay visa?

You don’t need a French long-stay visa if you:

• have a short-stay visa marked “Famille de Français”
• are a citizen of Monaco, Andorra, San Marino or the Holy See
• have a long-term residence permit in an EU country
• are posted to France by your employer
• have been going to school in France since age 16 and are still studying there

However, you may still need a residence permit.⁴

Types of French long-stay visas

It’s important to arrive with the right visa, as you usually can’t change it once you arrive. French long-stay visas vary depending on your main reason for going. There are several categories, including for:

• professionals hired or contracted by a company in France
• students and researchers joining a French university
• au pairs being hosted by a family in France
• ICT professionals being transferred by their company
• highly skilled workers, investors, entrepreneurs, artists and other experts
• financially independent foreigners and digital nomads with a source of income outside France.^{5, 6}

For full details on all these visa categories, visit the official France-Visas website.

Long-stay visas are also different depending on how long you’re planning to stay in France.

Going for more than 12 months? You’ll likely have a long-term visa (VLS) valid for 3 months that lets you enter France and apply for a French residence permit. Your visa may let you work, study or train while you wait for the permit to come through.

Planning a shorter trip? You might be looking at a VLS-TS or VLS-T.

The VLS-TS visa for 4 to 12 months with possible extension

The Visa de Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour (VLS-TS) is the most common long-stay visa for France. It lets you stay for 4 to 12 months. It’s not a residence permit, but gives you similar rights without you having to apply for one. This means things like access to social security and the freedom to work part-time while you study. ⁷

If you fall in love with France and don’t want to leave, you may be able to apply for a residence permit up to 2 months before your VLS-TS runs out.

You must validate your VLS-TS and pay the tax within 3 months of arriving in France. This process often involves a quick medical check.²

The VLS-T visa for 4 to 6 months without extension

The Visa de Long Séjour Temporaire (VLS-T) is usually issued to people who want to spend between 4 and 6 months in France and are certain they won’t extend their stay.

For example, you might be taking a short course, visiting for personal reasons, or doing a secondment. It’s also a popular choice with Brits who buy a second home in France.

The VLS-T differs from the VLS-TS in several ways:

• You don’t have to validate it
• You won’t have the same rights
• You can’t apply for a residence permit
• Your stay can’t be longer than 6 months ²

You can apply for a new VLS-T every year, but the start date must be at least 6 months after the previous VLS-T expired.⁸

French long-stay visa requirements and costs

Financials, accommodation and insurance

You will typically need to show proof of:

• sufficient funds to cover your stay, like a bank statement
• accommodation in France, like a rental agreement, property deed, or invitation letter from your host family
• comprehensive health insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000

Cost of a long-stay visa for France

It typically costs €99 to process your visa application. This fee isn’t refundable, even if your visa is denied. You may get a reduced rate of €50 if you’re a student whose application was considered by a centre for studies in France. You shouldn’t need to pay a visa fee if you’re the spouse of a French national.

If you use an external service provider, you’ll also pay them a service fee of up to €45. They may offer optional paid services, too.

When you arrive in France, there’s a tax for validating the VLS-TS visa.

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Processing time for a long-stay visa in France

You can apply for a French long-stay visa up to 6 months before the date you want to go. The latest you can apply is 2 weeks before your departure date — but it’s best to leave more wiggle room to get your application right. Most visas are processed within 15 days, but it can take up to 45 days.⁹

French long-stay visa application process: Step-by-step guide

If you need to apply for a long-stay visa in France, here’s how: ⁹

Step 1: Start with the official France-visas website

Use the French government’s visa wizard to work out which French long-term visa you need. The tool simplifies the process by listing all the requirements and costs of the relevant visa.

Step 2: Gather your supporting documents

Before you start your application, make sure you have:

• your passport — issued less than 10 years ago, with at least two blank pages, and valid for at least three months after your visa will expire
• two recent photos in ISO/IEC format
• original and photocopy of the required supporting documents

Step 3: Complete the application form

Complete the application form online and create a personal account to save your progress. If your family members are applying too, make sure to put your applications in the same group.

Step 4: Book your visa application appointment

Before you can submit your application, you’ll need to attend a UK visa application centre in person, such as TLScontact. Book your French visa application appointment early as slots can fill up quickly, especially during peak travel periods.

Step 5: Attend your visa appointment

At your appointment, the visa centre or consulate will go over your application, collect the visa fee, take your photo and fingerprints, and keep your passport along with copies of your supporting documents to send to the consulate.

The whole appointment usually takes around 20 minutes.

Step 6: Track your application

Once you’ve submitted everything, the visa centre will handle the rest and keep an eye on your application. You can track your application’s progress when you log in to the France-Visas website.

You’ll get a notification when your passport is ready to pick up from the visa centre where you applied. In some cases, your passport may be returned by mail instead.⁹

Arriving in France with your visa

Don’t forget to validate your VLS-TS

If you have a VLS-TS visa, you’ll need to validate it online within three months of arriving in France. This step is essential to make your stay legal and keep your immigration status in good standing.

You may also be asked to attend a medical exam as part of the process. You can validate your VLS-TS online via the official site.

Can you extend your stay in France?

Some long-stay visas require you to apply for a residence permit (carte de séjour) shortly after arrival in France. Check the conditions on your visa to see if this applies to you.

If you hold a VLS-TS and want to stay longer than your visa allows, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit before the last two months of your visa.

If you have a VLS-T, you can’t extend your stay or apply for a residence permit from within France. You'll need to leave and apply for a new visa from abroad if you want to return.

Additional France long-stay visa advice for UK citizens

What you need to know if you own a second home in France

Unfortunately, owning property in France doesn’t give you automatic residency rights. Second-home owners typically apply for a VLS-T or another suitable long-stay visa for France.

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For UK nationals resident in France before Brexit

If you were living in France before Brexit, you may be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you applied for a Withdrawal Agreement residence permit (WARP) by 4 October 2021, your rights are protected while you wait for a decision.

Children under 18 don’t need a WARP, but will need to apply when they turn 18. In some cases, they can get one from age 16 if they meet the conditions. The permit is free. If your child has been asked to show a WARP, get in touch with your prefecture.

If you’ve applied but haven’t had your appointment or received your card, your file may have been closed. Hold on to your certificate of application, and contact your prefecture and the Interior Ministry. Make sure to keep copies of everything you send.

You can apply late if you have a good reason. Just be ready to explain the delay and provide supporting documents.

See the UK government’s Living in France guide for more details.

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Sources used in this article:

1. Gov.uk - travelling to France for work
2. Gov.uk - visa requirements
3. Service-public.fr - long-stay visa length, VLS-TS visa info and temporary visas
4. Welcome to France - long-stay visa exemptions and residency permit info
5. France-visas.gouv - Au pair and carer visa information
6. Immigrant Invest - types of long-stay visas in France and who they’re for
7. Info Droits Étrangers - VLS-TS visa information
8. Cruising Association - rejections
9. France-visas.gouv - visa application guidelines

Sources last checked 27-Jul-2025