Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur)
🇫🇷 France visas · Retirement
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Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur)
Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur)
France · Retirement
What it is
France's standard route for retirees and people of independent means. No work rights, but allows full-time residence. Access to French healthcare after 3 months. Path to 10-year residence card after 5 years.
Key facts
- Category
- Retirement
- Duration
- Valid for up to 1 year, renewable.
- Processing time
- 8 weeks
- Maximum validity
- 1 year
- Extendable
- Yes
- Work allowance
- 0 hours per week
- How to apply
- Mixed
- Health insurance
- Required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (long-stay visa 'visiteur' application fee (consulate))
- EUR 99
- Application fee (carte de séjour visiteur, taxe 300 EUR + droit de timbre 50)
- EUR 350
- Application fee (renewal of the carte visiteur)
- EUR 250
- Application fee (late filing only (droit de visa de régularisation), on top o)
- EUR 180
Key requirements
- Proof of sufficient financial resources to live without working (minimum EUR 1,200 to 1,500 per month)
- Proof of accommodation in France (rental contract, property deed, or host letter)
- Health insurance covering France (until entitled to French state healthcare)
- No intention to work in France
- No criminal record
Working on this visa
No work of any kind; a handwritten sworn statement not to work is a required document, and the visa side requires a formal commitment not to exercise any professional activity.
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 3 August 2026.