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

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.

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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.

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:

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.

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:

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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Argentina

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.

Brazil

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.

Canada

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.

Chile

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)

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.

Colombia

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.

South Korea

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.

Japan

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.

Mexico

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.

New Zealand

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.

Peru

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.

Russia

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.

Taiwan

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.

Uruguay

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.

Minor visa in France: valid for 11 months maximum

You can benefit from this visa under the following conditions:

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:

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.

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:

Who shall I contact
Validity of the passport
Student

General case

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:

Who shall I contact

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.

Democratic Republic of Congo

North Africa / Middle East

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

Recording of the applicant's data

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

This data is the scanned images:

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:

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

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:

Who shall I contact

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

Who shall I contact

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:

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).

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:

Who shall I contact