France Long Stay Visa For UK Citizens

You may have to apply for a Long-Stay Visa (Type D) to France for various purposes, including a long visit or retirement (visitor), personal reasons, professional activity, education, or joining a family member. This visa might also be marked VLS-TS and be valid as a Residence Permit for its first year.

See our specialist pages for the detailed rules on France visas from the UK, including visitor, work, study and family visas.

What Must You Arrange Before Applying?

Depending on your visa, you may need to arrange some things before you apply:

• a job contract with work authorisation obtained by your French employer
• a place on a course, usually via Campus France
• accommodation in France
• private health insurance for your whole stay (for visitor visas especially)

What Documents and Evidence Do You Need for a French Long-Stay Visa?

When coming to France for more than 3 months, you will be required to apply for one of the Long-Stay Visa categories, depending on the purpose of your visit. To obtain a visa to France from the UK, you must provide the following supporting documents as evidence of your eligibility:

• Valid and current passport or other travel document – passports must be valid for at least 3 months after your intended departure from the French territory; they also must have been issued within the last 10 years and have 2 full blank pages for visa stamps.
• Recent passport photograph – following the French passport requirements
• Completed and signed visa application form
• Cover letter explaining the applicant’s purpose for the visit
• Travel arrangements – proof of transport, such as flight reservations or itinerary of the visit
• Health insurance covering your stay in France. Long-stay visas, particularly visitor visas, usually need private insurance for the whole stay. A UK GHIC isn’t enough for a long-stay visa.
• Evidence of accommodation during your stay in France – a rental agreement, property deeds or a signed letter from your host
• Proof of funds to demonstrate that you are able to support yourself financially during your stay in France – bank statements for the last 3 months. For a visitor visa, you usually need resources at least equal to the French minimum wage, currently €1,867.02 gross per month.

Many consulates accept documents in English, but you may be asked for a certified French translation.

Depending on the type of Long-Stay Visa you’re applying for, you will be required to provide additional supporting documents to show your eligibility for the particular type of visa you want to obtain:

• Work Visa – contract of employment and work authorisation, bank statements from the last 6 months, income tax return form, your business licence if you’re self-employed
• Study Visa – proof of enrolment to the study program or course, and proof of funds of at least €615 a month
• Family Visa – proof of family ties, such as a marriage, birth or adoption certificates

If you’re unsure what documents to provide for the type of Long-stay Visa you’re applying for, contact Total Law to receive professional immigration advice. Call +33 187653350, or contact us online.

How Do You Apply for a French Long-Stay Visa From the UK?

Before you apply for your visa, you should know the purpose of your trip to determine the type of Long-Stay Visa you need.

To apply for your visa, create an account on France-Visas, the official French visa website, and complete an online application form. You must ensure that you complete the application truthfully and have adequate supporting documents.

After submitting your application online, you are required to book an appointment at a French Visa Application Centre,

When Should You Apply and How Long Does It Take?

Apply in good time before you travel; France-Visas shows the earliest date you can apply for your visa type.

It usually takes a few weeks for a visa application to be processed; in special cases, it can take longer if additional documents or information are needed. You might be able to get a faster decision on your application in exceptional, urgent and unforeseen circumstances. This option is offered at the French Consulate’s discretion.

How Much Does It Cost for a French Long-Stay Visa from the UK?

The main costs are:

• The cost of the Long-Stay French Visa from the UK is €99.
• TLScontact charges a service fee, shown when you book.
• Once you’re in France, validating a VLS-TS costs €300.
• A residence card (carte de séjour), including renewals, costs €350.

All visa fees can be paid by debit or credit card.

What Happens at Your Appointment?

When attending the appointment, you will be asked to submit the required supporting documents, and you might be asked questions about the purpose of your trip to France. You must have a clear purpose for travel and adequate documents to prove it. You will also be required to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and photo taken) and then pay the visa processing fee.

How Do You Track Your Application and Collect Your Passport?

You can track your application on France-Visas and through your TLScontact account. You’ll be told when your passport is ready to collect from the centre, or you can pay for courier return.

What Happens if Your Visa Is Refused?

Please note that if your application is incomplete, missing documents, or failing to prove your eligibility in some way, it might be refused. You can appeal to the Commission de recours contre les décisions de refus de visa (CRRV) within 2 months, or reapply with stronger evidence.

The French visa can also be revoked if you no longer meet the eligibility requirements necessary for the visa issuance. If this happens, your visa will no longer be valid, and you cannot use it to enter or stay in France.

You must address any reasons for refusal or have proof that the decision was unjust, and it is not guaranteed that your appeal will be successful. If you choose to re-apply for a new visa, you will need to submit all the required documents and pay the visa application fee again.

What Must You Do After Arriving in France?

Once you arrive in France, you must present your supporting documents at the border unless:

• You have a French Residence Permit, French Identity Card (TIR) or the Foreign Minors’ Circulation Document (DCEM)
• You are the spouse of a person holding French citizenship
• You have a Long-Stay Visa, which states that the Residence Permit must be applied for upon arrival
• You are coming to France to fulfil diplomatic missions and consular posts, carry out activities as a member of parliament, conduct assignments from your government as an official of foreign public services or an intergovernmental organisation, or engage in service travel as ships and aircraft crew

If you have a VLS-TS, you must validate it online on the ANEF website within 3 months of arriving in France. To validate your Long-Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit (VLS-TS), you will need to provide the following information:

• Your visa
• The date of your arrival in France
• Your address in France
• Your bank card details to pay the validation tax

If your visa says you must apply for a residence permit, apply online through ANEF or at your Prefecture.

To stay longer than your visa allows, you must apply for a Residence Permit (‘Titre de Séjour’, also referred to as ‘Carte de Séjour’) at least 2 months before your visa or permit expires. You can do this online via the Ministry of the Interior (ANEF) website. You will be issued a residence card after your application is approved.

To settle successfully, practical steps are important. You will need to register your address, open a French bank account, obtain health coverage (either through employment or the public healthcare system), and possibly enroll in language courses. Long-term residents can apply for multi-year residence permits, and after several years of continuous legal residence – typically five years – you may apply for a 10-year resident card (which needs French at B1) or French citizenship, provided you meet language and integration requirements.

Overview

To extend or renew your visa, you will need a Residence Permit. By renewing your Residence Permit, you will extend the validity of your visa. You must apply for a Residence Permit (‘Titre de Séjour’, also referred to as ‘Carte de Séjour’) renewal 2 months before the expiration date of your current Residence Permit. You can do this at the Prefecture nearest to your place of residence or online via the Ministry of the Interior website. You will be issued a residence card after your renewal application is approved.

How Do You Renew the French Long-Stay Visa in Person?

To renew your visa, you will need to book an appointment at your local Prefecture or the nearest police station if you live in Paris. You will be given a date for your visa renewal appointment and have time to prepare documents to bring to the appointment (remember that any documents in English must be translated into French). When you attend the visa renewal appointment, you will need to submit the same support documents you have used for your initial visa application.

During your appointment, you will have your biometric information taken (fingerprints and photos). If your visa renewal is approved, you will be issued with a confirmation of your visa validity extension. The cost of visa renewal is the same as that of a Residence Permit