A Long-Stay Visa Guide: French Visas and Residency Explained

For those looking to relocate to France for an extended period, understanding the visa requirements is crucial. While Brits can holiday in France without a visa, a long-stay visa is necessary for stays exceeding 90 days within a 180-day period. The two primary visas relevant to permanent residents are the non-working visa and the working self-employed visa.

To qualify for a 12-month, non-working visa, known as the VLS-TS, applicants must meet three essential requirements. First, they need a monthly income of €1,800 in gross terms, or €22,000 annually. Alternatively, they can use savings, investments, pensions, or other assets to meet the annual requirement. For couples, the monthly income threshold is €2,500, or its equivalent in savings.

It's worth noting that a single individual can financially support their entire group, and it's not mandatory for each person to meet individual financial prerequisites.

Second, applicants must have private health insurance that covers the entire 12-month period. This insurance must be Schengen-compliant, not an annual travel policy. Lastly, a verified address in France for the full year is mandatory. This could be a property owned, rented, or where someone is staying with family or friends, provided there's written confirmation from the local town hall (mairie).

The visa application process involves several steps. Initially, applicants complete an online form with details about themselves and any traveling companions. In the UK, TLScontact, an independent organization appointed by the French Consulate, handles the physical application process. Applicants must visit one of TLScontact's UK offices in London, Manchester, or Edinburgh to submit their application.

While TLScontact doesn't decide on the application's success, they facilitate the process by sending the dossier to the French Consulate in London for evaluation and issuing the visa if successful.

The working self-employed visa, or VLS-TS entrepreneur/profession libéral, follows a similar process to the non-working visa. However, it requires applicants to prepare a viable business plan demonstrating that their work will generate the necessary income to support themselves and any group members. This plan must cover income and trading projections for at least three years, along with evidence of qualifications, relevant experience, and a recent police check (ACRO).

The plan should be detailed enough for an independent assessor to verify its feasibility, typically consisting of a few pages with concise main points. Applicants must also have an address in France, whether owned, rented, or where they're staying with family or friends, to support their visa application.