France Retirement Visa For US Citizens

US citizens who plan to retire in France for more than 90 days must apply for an appropriate French long-stay visa before traveling. France does not have a standalone retirement visa.

A common route for retirees who will not work in France is the long-stay visitor visa, known as the visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS Visiteur). This visa can allow a person to live in France for the period shown on the visa, provided they meet its conditions.

After arriving in France, VLS-TS holders must validate their visa online within three months. Once validated, the visa serves as their residence permit for its duration.

Those who want to remain in France after the initial visa expires must apply to renew their residence status before the current document expires. Eligibility for renewal depends on continued compliance with the conditions of the visa or residence permit.

After 5 years of lawful and continuous residence, some non-EU nationals may be eligible to apply for a resident card (carte de résident). This card is commonly issued for 10 years, though applicants must meet the relevant residence and integration requirements.

Retirees planning to make a qualifying business investment in France may instead explore the Talent Passport—Business Investor route. The applicant must make, or commit to making, a direct economic investment of at least €300,000, either personally or through a company they control or in which they hold at least a 30% shareholding. They must also commit to creating or safeguarding employment in France within 4 years.

Page Contents

• How can Americans Retire in France?
• Requirements To Retire In France From USA
• Documents Needed To Retire In France From The USA
• Obtaining Residency In France For Retirement
• Taking Family With You In France
• French Permanent Residency & Citizenship
• US Tax Obligations While Retired in France
• Total Law Can Help You Retire In France
• FAQS

US citizens who plan to retire in France can apply for a long-stay visitor visa, also called a visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS Visiteur). The required documents depend on whether you are applying for an initial visa, validating it upon arrival, or renewing your permission to stay.

France-Visas confirms the required supporting documents through its online visa wizard. Applicants should follow the checklist produced for their individual circumstances.

Documents for a Long-Stay Visitor Visa

Documents requested for a VLS-TS Visiteur application can include:

• A completed French long-stay visa application form, Cerfa 14571*05
• A valid US passport
• Recent passport photographs that meet the required specifications
• Evidence of sufficient financial resources, such as pension statements, bank certificates, savings evidence, investment income, or property income
• Proof of medical insurance covering medical and hospital costs for the full period of stay
• Proof of accommodation in France, such as a lease, property deed, hotel booking, or hosting evidence
• Evidence of your personal and socio-economic situation, including retirement evidence where relevant

France-Visas advises people traveling to France for a tourist or private stay of more than 3 months to provide evidence of their resources, accommodation, and medical cover in France.

After Arriving in France

VLS-TS holders must complete the required online validation process after arrival in France. Keep copies of your passport, visa, proof of address, and accommodation documents, as these may be needed during the process or for a later renewal.

Documents for Renewal

A VLS-TS Visiteur is issued for a limited period. If you want to stay in France after it expires, apply online to renew your visitor status no earlier than four months and no later than two months before the current visa or residence permit expires.

Documents for a visitor residence-permit application or renewal can include:

• A valid long-stay visa or current residence permit
• A full birth certificate, unless you already hold a residence card
• A valid passport and copies of relevant pages
• Proof of address dated within the past six months
• Evidence of sufficient financial resources
• A handwritten declaration on honor confirming that you will not work in France
• Evidence of medical insurance covering the period of stay
• An OFII medical certificate, where requested
• A compliant digital photo code
• Proof of payment of the residence permit tax is provided when the permit is issued
• A signed commitment to respect the principles of the French Republic

The visitor residence permit is valid for one year and may be renewed if the applicant continues to meet the requirements.

US citizens who plan to retire in France for more than 90 days must apply for an appropriate French long-stay visa before traveling. Retirees who do not plan to work in France may apply for a long-stay visitor visa, known as a visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS Visiteur).

A VLS-TS is valid for four to 12 months. The visa may allow its holder to live in France for the duration of its validity, provided they meet the visa’s conditions.

The visitor route may be suitable for retirees who can support themselves without working in France. Applicants must show that they have sufficient financial resources, medical insurance for their stay, and suitable accommodation in France. Visitor status does not authorize paid employment or self-employment in France.

US citizens who want to work, run a business, or engage in self-employment in France must apply for a visa or a residence permit that authorizes their intended activity.

Validating Your VLS-TS

After arriving in France, VLS-TS holders must validate their visa online within 3 months. The validation process requires payment of the applicable tax and confirms the visa holder’s right to remain in France for the visa’s validity period.

Do not state that every visitor visa holder will attend an OFII medical examination or sign a Contrat d’intégration républicaine (CIR). Requirements can depend on the person’s route and the instructions issued for their case.

Renewing Visitor Status

A VLS-TS Visiteur is granted for a limited period. Retirees who want to remain in France after their visa expires must apply online to renew their visitor status or obtain the appropriate visitor residence permit.

Submit the renewal application no earlier than four months and no later than 2 months before the current VLS-TS or residence permit expires.

The carte de séjour temporaire visiteur is valid for up to 1 year and can be renewed where the holder continues to meet the financial resources, insurance, and no-work requirements.

Fees may change and differ depending on the application type and the person’s immigration history.

Long-Term Residence Options

After 5 years of lawful, continuous residence in France, a retired US citizen may be eligible to apply for a longer-term residence status, such as a 10-year resident card or EU long-term resident card.

Eligibility is not automatic. Applicants must satisfy the conditions for the relevant card, which can include proof of lawful residence, stable resources, and integration requirements. The EU long-term resident card is valid for 10 years and is renewable.

A US citizen retiring in France may be able to bring a spouse and qualifying dependent children. The appropriate visa route depends on the family member’s relationship to the main applicant, the main applicant’s French residence status, and whether the family member plans to work in France.

A spouse or child should not assume they can automatically obtain a long-stay visa marked “vie privée et familiale”. This residence status may be available through the French family reunification procedure, but applicants must meet the requirements of that process.

Under the standard family-reunification rules, an eligible sponsor can apply for:

• A spouse who is at least 18 years old
• Qualifying children under 18 years old

Grandchildren are not included in the standard family-reunification procedure. They may need to apply under a different immigration route, depending on their circumstances.

For standard family reunification, the sponsor must have lived lawfully in France for at least 18 months and hold an eligible residence document. They must also show that they have suitable accommodation and stable, sufficient financial resources to support their family. Family members must be living outside France when the application is made.

A spouse or child who plans to move to France at the same time as the retired applicant may need to apply for their own long-stay visa, such as a visitor visa, if they do not qualify for family reunification at that stage.

The France-Visas visa wizard can identify the documents and visa category that apply to each family member’s circumstances.

For more information on whether your loved ones can travel from the US to France, reach out to our Total Law team.

US citizens who retire in France may be able to apply for longer-term residence after meeting the requirements for the relevant French residence status.

A 10-year resident card or EU long-term resident card may be available after five years of lawful and continuous residence, provided the applicant meets the applicable conditions.

French citizenship is separate from permanent residence. A foreign national may be eligible to apply for naturalization by decree after at least 5 years of residence in France. The 5-year period does not guarantee that an application will be approved.

Applicants must also meet other requirements, including showing that France is the center of their material interests and family ties at the time the naturalization decree is signed.

French citizenship allows a person to apply for a French passport and to participate in French elections. France permits multiple nationalities, and the US recognizes that its citizens may hold another nationality. Applicants should consider the rights and obligations associated with holding both nationalities before applying.

French Tax Residence

Moving to France does not automatically make a person a French tax resident. Under French domestic rules, a person may be treated as resident for tax purposes if any of the following apply:

• Their household or main abode is in France
• They carry out their principal professional activity in France
• France is the center of their economic interests

International tax treaties, including the France-US tax treaty, can affect the final position where both countries could treat a person as a tax resident.

French tax residents are ordinarily taxable in France on income from French and foreign sources, subject to applicable tax treaties. They may also need to report qualifying bank accounts held outside France. A person’s filing and reporting obligations depend on their individual facts.

Moving to France does not end a US citizen’s US tax obligations. US citizens living abroad may still need to file a US federal tax return and report worldwide income to the IRS, depending on their income and filing circumstances.

US citizens with foreign financial accounts, including French bank accounts, may need to file an FBAR if the combined value of those accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point during the calendar year. FATCA reporting on Form 8938 may also apply where foreign financial assets exceed the relevant threshold.

France and the US have a tax treaty. The treaty and available tax credits can help reduce double taxation, but the treatment of pensions, Social Security, investments, and other income depends on the type of income and the person’s tax position.