Visas for France
No matter how many berets you own, and regardless of how many times you’ve watched Amélie, sworn love to Juliette Binoche and waxed lyrical about the merits of a Bordeaux blend, you’ll still need to make sure you have secured the proper visa for France prior to arrival.
Tourists and business travellers can take solace in the fact that France is a Schengen member-state, which means that citizens from a number of nations can enter for short-stays without applying for a visa.
That said, when it comes to long-term or permanent stays, if you’re not an EU or EEA national, securing a long-stay visa and a residency permit (carte de séjour) is considerably more of an uphill battle.
Tourist visa (visit visa or short-stay visa) for France
As noted, France falls within the Schengen Area, thus nationals of appointed countries (country list) do not need to apply for a tourist visa or visit visa prior to arrival if only planning to stay for 90 days or less.
This includes citizens of European Union (EU) nations, European Economic Area (EEA) nations, Switzerland, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many others.
This includes citizens of European Union (EU) nations, European Economic Area (EEA) nations, Switzerland, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many others.
Nationals of countries not listed, including Indians, South Africans, and most nationals of the Middle Eastern countries, will need to apply for a Schengen Visa prior to arrival in order to be granted entry to France.
Schengen visa for France
Schengen visas entitle their holders to 90 days of travel within a six month period to any country, including France, within the Schengen Area. If travelling to multiple destinations be sure to submit the Schengen visa application to the consulate of the nation in which you will spend the largest amount of time.
It’s necessary to apply for and secure a Schengen visa prior to arrival; a process that requires nationals to submit a completed visa application and appointed documents to the French consulate or embassy in their home country. Processing time can vary, thus submit your application well before the date of departure (date of submission cannot be more than three months prior to the date of departure).
All documents must be in English or French.
Documents required for Schengen visa application
- Passport with at last two blank pages, valid for 3 months from the last date of travel
- Recent colour, passport-sized photo (maximum of 3)
- Short-stay Schengen visa application
- Evidence of your return to your country of residence (return airline ticket or funds to support this purchase)
- Proof of travel, health or accident insurance
- Evidence relating to reasons for your stay
- Evidence of accommodation (hotel reservations, letters from friends, details of a tour, etc.)
- Application fee
In some cases, applicants may be asked to provide additional documents at the discretion of the French embassy or consulate.
Once granted the Schengen visa, it is still best to bring the documents mentioned above with you on your trip; in some cases the border guards may request these.
Long-stay visa for France
Expats planning on living in France for more than 90 days will need to apply for a long-stay visa for entry. This visa is primarily granted to those going to France to work, study or reunite with their family, and the application requires a number of supporting documents, the specifics of which vary according to your reason for moving to France.
EU citizens do not need to apply for long-stay visas to live in France for more than 90 days; as nationals of an EU member-state they are exempt from this requirement.
Certain long-stay visas can act as residence permits and can allow expats to reside in France for a 12-month period. If granted one of these visas, upon arrival, expats must register with the Office Français d’Immigration et d’Intégration (OFII) within the first three months.
Those expats planning on living in France for more than a year must apply for a formal residence permit (carte de séjour) in addition to the long-stay visa.
Long-stay visas exempt from carte de séjour application
- long stay non-working visa (visiteur)
- long stay visa to work in France (assistants, lecturers, full time and temporary workers)
- long stay visa to study in France (students, au pairs, interns)
- long stay visa for spouses of French nationals
Residence permit (carte de séjour) for France
The elusive and bureaucracy-enshrouded French residency permit is required of all expats, except EU citizens, planning to live in France for more than a year. Expats have two months to apply for this card from their initial entry into France; though, it’s best to start the process no later than one month into your stay.
In order to obtain this card, it’s necessary to have entered France on a long-stay visa (category D).
Expats can apply for their residency permit at the Service des Étrangers section of their local authorities (prefecture). Foreigners have reported that the required documents for application will vary depending on the préfecture. Furthermore, the appointment policies associated with each préfecture vary, some allow you to schedule online and others require you schedule via telephone or in person, if at all. Again, it’s best to make your appointment as early as possible to avoid complication.
General documents required for carte de séjour application
- Passport with long-stay visa
- Birth Certificate (with French translation)
- Work Contract Details (arrêté de nomination) if applicable
- Signed Work Contract (procès-verbal d'installation) if applicable
- Proof of Residence (official bill or lease)
- Proof of sufficient funds (bank statement)
- Fee in the form of ANAEM stamps (340 Euro, but varies according to category), stamps available at any tabac
Once all documents have been appropriately submitted you will be given a receipt (Récipissé de demande) and a date for the required French medical check-up, which includes an X-ray. Once you have passed this, bring the successful confirmation back to the préfecture to complete the last step necessary for the application process.
From this point, you will be notified when your residency permit is ready to be retrieved. Some expats report receiving their permit within days and others have had to wait a number of nail-biting months.
Don’t be afraid to contact your local prefecture to check-up on the status of the permit.
The carte de séjour is valid for one year, and the renewal process can be started two months prior to expiration.
Unfortunately, dealing with the process over and over again is an unfortunate reality of life in France.
