Guide to Obtaining a Long-Stay Visa for France: Steps & Requirements

Table of Contents

Description

What is it?

A process by which an individual gets official permission to enter and stay in France for a specific period and reason.

Who needs it?

Any individual i) not holding French citizenship, ii) residing outside the European Union, and iii) wishing to work, study, or visit France for over 90 days.

Procedure

  1. Obtain employment, study, or other relevant contract from a French entity.
  2. Fill out a visa application form available at https://france-visas.gouv.fr/ .
  3. Collect all required documents.
  4. Book an appointment with the nearest France visa application center in your country. This can typically be done through the center’s official website.
  5. Attend the appointment, and submit your application and documents. You may also need to provide biometric data.
  6. Pay the visa application fees.
  7. Wait for your visa processing to complete. The processing times can vary.
  8. Collect your visa by visiting the visa application center or by mail, as available.

Required Documents

  • Valid passport
  • Job, study, or other relevant contract from a French entity
  • Proof of accommodation in France
  • Round trip flight booking
  • Travel insurance
  • Proof of sufficient financial means
  • Passport-sized photographs

Note: Always cross-check the document list with the official website as requirements can change.

Providers that can do it for you

(We are currently curating the best providers. If you are or know a provider, please contact us or edit the page directly)

ProviderWebsiteTimelinesCost

Additional details

  • Be careful while filling out the application as mistakes can potentially lead to refusal.
  • Some people reported issues with the OTP system (one time password) used by TLS for appointments, hence keep your contact details updated and reachable.
  • The lunar month reference often found on visa-related discussions denotes the duration of a visa (one lunar month equals 28 days).

Contribute

Improve this article by using the contact form or editing it through our open-source GitHub repository: tramitit/guides