Your France visitor visa from the UK
Table of contents
Do you need a visitor visa for France?
Since Brexit, British nationals can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area without a visa. Beyond this limit, or for any relocation project, a long-stay visa is required. The 90/180-day rule is often misunderstood and miscalculated.
We strongly recommend relying on official tracking tools, as manual calculations frequently lead to costly errors at borders. Precision is essential when managing your legal stay in France.
To remain compliant, you must accurately track:
- Date of entry
- Date of exit
- Number of days spent in Schengen
- Remaining authorised days
We take full responsibility for analysing your situation and immediately defining the correct legal pathway for your project.
Eligibility requirements
We conduct a detailed assessment of your profile to confirm your eligibility for a visitor visa and ensure your relocation project is fully aligned with French immigration requirements.
To obtain a visa allowing you to stay between 6 and 12 months in France, you must demonstrate:
- sufficient financial resources to cover your living expenses for the entire first year
- a stable address in France
- no intention to engage in professional activity in France
- valid health insurance covering medical care and repatriation for the duration of your stay
While the visitor visa itself is not directly renewable, it serves as a gateway to apply for a renewable one-year residence permit. This makes it one of the most reliable pathways for long-term relocation to France.
We transform complexity into clarity by guiding you step by step and building a secure, compliant strategy tailored to your situation.
Supporting documents
Your visa application must demonstrate the consistency, credibility, and financial stability of your relocation project, as well as your ability to reside in France without salaried employment.
The requirements may vary depending on your personal situation. However, you will typically be expected to provide evidence of the following:
- Health insurance fully compliant with French visa requirements.
Your coverage must include medical care and repatriation for the entire duration of your stay in France. - Proof of accommodation in France.
This may include a rental agreement, hotel booking, property ownership, or official accommodation provided by a third party. - Financial self-sufficiency.
You must demonstrate that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your living expenses for at least one year, equivalent to the French minimum annual salary. This can be demonstrated through:- regular non-salaried income (pension, rental income, etc.)
- or bank statements showing sufficient savings
- A structured relocation project statement is also required.
This document is critical: it explains your intent, stability, and compliance with French immigration expectations. When we handle your application, we draft and optimise this statement on your behalf.
We prepare, structure, and optimise your entire file to ensure it is complete, coherent, and fully aligned with consular expectations, maximising your approval chances.
Visa application process
Preparation is the difference between a visa in your hand and a rejection letter in your inbox.
Important: you will be required to submit your passport, which will be retained throughout the processing period. A decision is typically issued within approximately 15 days.
Your passport may then be returned with the visa affixed, including by postal delivery.
Before booking your appointment, you must complete the official France-Visas application form. This generates a barcode and a unique application reference number required for scheduling your appointment with TLScontact. Applicable fees include:
- approximately €100 processing fee (part payable at appointment)
- optional service fees depending on selected services We generally do not recommend premium TLS services, except for passport return by post.
We manage the entire process for you: liaising with TLS, preparing your file in advance, and ensuring submission readiness at least 15 days prior to your appointment. We also handle administrative follow-ups directly with the authorities on your behalf.
Visa validation
Visa validation triggers the creation of your foreign national identification number and a mandatory medical examination conducted by the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII).
We handle the full validation process for you, including payment of fees, administrative submission, appointment scheduling, and communication with OFII.
Optional: French Social Security registration
After visa validation, visitor visa holders may apply for French Social Security coverage and obtain a Carte Vitale, allowing reimbursement of healthcare costs.
Applications can be submitted three months after arrival in France.
Key benefits include:
access to the French public healthcare system
- reimbursement of medical consultations and prescriptions proof of integration into the French system
- removal of the need to renew private health insurance for visa purposes
We manage the entire registration process and follow up until your Carte Vitale is issued, handling all communication with the administration.
Residence permit application (Prefecture)
Four months before your visa expires, you may initiate your residence permit application. It must be completed at least two months before expiry. Successful applicants receive a renewable one-year residence permit and obtain official French resident status.
Our team provides full end-to-end support, ensuring every deadline is anticipated and every requirement is met. You receive structured reminders and continuous monitoring of your administrative timeline.
We manage everything on your behalf: preparation, submission, compliance checks, and direct communication with the Prefecture.
What are the requirements for a long-stay visitor visa?
To obtain a long-stay visitor visa for France, applicants must demonstrate that they can live in the country without working, by providing evidence of sufficient financial means to support themselves throughout their stay, such as bank statements, proof of income, pensions, or savings.
Applicants must also have health insurance covering the entire period of their stay, a valid passport, and proof of accommodation, such as a rental agreement or a letter from a host.
It is mandatory to include a cover letter explaining the purpose of the stay in France. This document allows the authorities to assess the intentions of the applicant and ensures the best chance of receiving the full residence permit. If the purpose is unclear, the authorities may issue a shorter permit, often six months instead of the standard one year.
We can handle the entire visitor visa application for you, from gathering financial documents to preparing your mandatory cover letter, ensuring your application is complete and maximising your chances of receiving the full one-year residence permit.
What type of health insurance is required for a visitor long-stay visa?
For a long-stay visitor visa for France, you must provide comprehensive health insurance that is valid in France for the entire duration of your stay, not just a short-term travel policy. Standard travel insurance usually does not meet the requirements for a long-stay visa.
The insurance policy must:
Be a private health insurance policy for residents, not a holiday or travel plan. Be valid for the full length of the visa (typically one year).
Cover medical expenses and hospitalisation.
Include repatriation for medical reasons.
Provide a minimum coverage of €30,000.
Be valid in France (and ideally the wider Schengen area).
Once a visitor has been in France for some months, they can register for the French public health insurance system under PUMA (Protection Universelle Maladie). In practice, this is managed through the CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie), which handles registration, reimbursements, and the health card. After registration, the resident no longer needs the private insurance required for the visa, as they can access the French public healthcare system from the second year of stay onward.
For visas that allow employment, this private health insurance requirement is generally not relevant, because holders of work-authorised visas are typically eligible to register with the
CPAM immediately upon arrival, giving them access to the French public healthcare system without needing to maintain a separate private policy.
We can take care of all your health insurance requirements for your French visa, handling the paperwork so you can focus on your move without any administrative hassle.
How far in advance should I submit my visa application?
For a French long-stay visa, you cannot officially submit your application more than three months (180 days) before your intended date of arrival in France. This applies whether you are applying directly through a consulate or via an external service provider such as TLScontact or VFS; the submission of your complete application (including in-person appointment with documents) needs to fall within that three-month window.
In practice, many applicants start preparing their documentation even earlier-sometimes three to six months before travel-so that they can secure an appointment at a visa application centre as soon as the three-month window opens. Appointment availability at TLS or VFS can be limited, especially in peak seasons, and it may take time to find a suitable slot. Consulates and centres generally recommend allowing at least several weeks
between booking your appointment and your planned departure to ensure there is time for processing and any unforeseen clarification requests.
Starting early also gives you time to gather essential documents such as certified translations, accommodation proof, financial records, insurance, and a strong cover letter. Adequate preparation helps avoid delays and increases the likelihood of a smooth process.
We can help you plan the timeline and prepare your application correctly, including advising when to begin the process, so you can secure your appointment and submit your visa with confidence.
Can I work in France with a long-stay visitor visa?
No, a long-stay visitor visa does not permit paid employment in France. It is intended for individuals who can support themselves financially without working, such as retirees or financially independent residents. Engaging in any paid activity-whether as an employee, freelancer, or entrepreneur-while on a visitor visa is not allowed and could cause issues with future visa or residence applications.
However, there are some nuances. Technically, if you have a business project, you can work on it while on a visitor visa as long as you do not receive any income from it. You are also allowed to look for employment, which can later enable you to change your visa status to a work-authorised permit. For companies with foreign headquarters that have a subsidiary in France, there are specific residence permits designed to facilitate intra-company mobility, allowing employees to move to France for professional purposes under more flexible conditions.
We can guide you through these options, helping you understand what activities are permitted, how to plan a status change if needed, and which permits best suit your professional and business goals in France.
Must I validate my long-stay visa after arriving in France?
For holders of a long-stay visitor visa, visa validation is only necessary if you plan to remain in France beyond your first year. Many residents overlook this step, but it is easy to miss and can have serious consequences: without completing it, you may be unable to request a residence permit renewal and could be required to leave France and restart the entire visa process from your home country.
The procedure involves two separate steps. First, you must complete the validation on the dedicated visa platform, which records your arrival, confirms your intention to stay, and requires payment of the €200 tax stamp fee. This step must be completed within three months of your visa being issued, and we strongly recommend doing it as early as possible, ideally immediately upon arrival in France.
Following this, the OFII will contact you to schedule an in-person appointment, including a medical examination. At this appointment, you will receive official attestations, which are mandatory for applying for a first residence permit and legally remaining in France beyond the initial year. Skipping or mishandling these steps can create major administrative obstacles and jeopardise your ability to stay.
We can guide you through the entire process—from completing the online validation and paying the tax stamp to preparing for your OFII appointment and obtaining all necessary attestations-so you can secure your legal status in France confidently and avoid the risk of having to start over.
Does a visitor long-stay visa make me eligible for French Health Care?
Yes, a long-stay visitor visa can give you access to the French public health system, but not immediately upon arrival.
- Private health insurance is mandatory from the start.
All visitors must have private health insurance covering their entire stay in France. This is a strict visa requirement. The insurance must cover medical expenses, hospitalisation, and repatriation, and it must be valid in France-not just a standard travel policy.
- Public health care begins after three months.
After three months of residence, visitors can register with the Universal Health Protection (PUMA) through the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM). Once registered, they receive a health card (Carte Vitale), which gives access to doctors, hospitals, and specialists, with most medical costs reimbursed automatically. This ensures long-term residents are fully covered by the French health system.
- Arrival date is critical.
Your eligibility for public health care is calculated from your actual date of arrival in France. With biometric passports and the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES), entries are recorded electronically, so it is essential to retain and communicate your exact arrival date to ensure smooth registration and avoid delays.
We can handle the entire process for you: ensuring your private insurance meets visa requirements, assisting with the CPAM registration, and securing your health card so you have guaranteed access to French healthcare without administrative complications.
What happens if my application is rejected?
If a French visa application is rejected, the applicant will receive a formal refusal notice explaining the reason for the decision. This document is important because it identifies the legal grounds on which the consular authorities refused the visa and determines the options available to the applicant.
- Filing an appeal against the refusal
It is possible to challenge a visa refusal by filing an administrative appeal before the Visa Refusal Appeals Commission, the authority responsible for reviewing visa refusals. This appeal must generally be submitted within two months of receiving the refusal decision. The commission reviews the application and may either confirm the refusal or recommend that the visa be granted.
In practice, however, appeals are often unsuccessful unless the refusal was clearly based on a misunderstanding or a procedural error. The review process can also take several months, which may significantly delay travel plans.
- Submitting a new visa application
For this reason, the most common approach is to submit a new visa application rather than pursuing an appeal. A new application allows the applicant to correct the issues identified in the refusal notice-for example by providing stronger financial evidence, clearer documentation, more complete certified translations, or a more detailed explanation of the purpose of the stay. When the concerns raised by the authorities are properly addressed, a new application often has a much better chance of success.
We can review the refusal notice, identify the weaknesses in the original file, and help prepare a stronger new application that directly addresses the concerns raised by the immigration authorities.