France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur)
France FRA
France's Long-Stay Visitor visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) is a one-year, annually renewable permit for financially independent people, often retirees, who want to live in France without working. Applicants demonstrate stable passive income of roughly EUR 1,500/month (~USD 1,640) from pensions, investments or rent (assessed case-by-case by consular officers, not a fixed statutory figure; couples show proportionally more), plus health insurance and accommodation.
Crucially, no professional activity of any kind is permitted, including remote work for foreign clients, a grey zone occasionally enforced against digital nomads. The visa doubles as a residence permit and must be validated within 3 months of arrival via the ANEF portal; holders must reside primarily in France and become French tax residents on worldwide income (typically after 183 days).
Each accompanying family member files their own permit. First-year costs run about USD 5,500-12,000. After 5 years of continuous residence, holders can pursue a long-term card and, with B1 French and a civics test, citizenship; dual nationality is allowed.
Program Details
- Category
- Passive Income
- Processing Time
- 3 months
- Application Fee
- $99
- Minimum Income
- $1,640/mo
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- Accompanying family members must each apply for their own VLS-TS Visiteur permit and demonstrate sufficient resources
- Path to PR
- Yes — 5 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 5 years
- Physical Presence
- Holder must reside primarily in France; the visa is a long-stay visa (visa long séjour valant titre de séjour) valid for 1 year, renewable annually. Must validate the visa within 3 months of arrival via ANEF portal.
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Holders residing in France become French tax residents subject to income tax on worldwide income. Work of any kind — including remote work for foreign employers — is strictly prohibited under this visa category.
- Renewal Cost
- $245
Approximately €1,500/month in demonstrated stable resources (bank statements, pension letters, investment income). The amount is assessed by consular officers and is not a fixed statutory threshold; couples may need to demonstrate proportionally more.
Application Timeline
Apply
3mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 5 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Proof of stable passive income sufficient to cover living costs without working (typically ≥€1,500/month)
- ✓No professional activity of any kind permitted during the stay
- ✓Proof of health insurance valid in France (or enrollment in French social security where eligible)
- ✓Proof of accommodation in France (lease, property deed, or host attestation)
- ✓Valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond the intended stay
- ✓Completed application submitted to the French consulate in the country of residence
Am I eligible for France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur)?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Nationality eligibility
Select your nationality to check.
Minimum monthly income
Programme requires $1,640/month.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Nationality Restrictions
This program restricts applications from nationals of: EU/EEA and Swiss nationals have free movement rights and do not require this visa
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Gather financial proof (SMIC equivalent)
home countryMust show €1,800+/mo net (indexed to SMIC) for 12 months. Pension statement, savings, rental-income proof, or combination.
Typical duration: 2-4 weekssource ↗
- 02
Attestation sur l'honneur: no paid activity
home countryMandatory sworn statement that you will NOT undertake any paid professional activity in France. This is strictly enforced — remote work for foreign clients sits in a grey zone and is contested.
Typical duration: 1 day
- 03
Apply via France-Visas + in-person at VFS Global
home countrySubmit application, fingerprints, visa fee. Usually decided 2-8 weeks.
Typical duration: 2-8 weekssource ↗
- 04
Arrive + validate VLS-TS online within 3 months
destinationVLS-TS acts as a residence permit for first year once validated on the OFII portal (€200 tax fee).
Typical duration: 1 week
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| Proof of income €1,800+/mo for 12 months | Bank / pension | No | fr | 90 |
| Attestation sur l'honneur (no paid work) | Self (notarised) | No | fr | 90 |
| Proof of accommodation (lease or host attestation) | Landlord | No | fr | 90 |
| Private health insurance covering France €30k+ | Insurer | No | fr | 90 |
| Criminal record check | Home country | Yes | fr | 90 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_high.
OFII tax €200 on arrival. Subsequent-year Titre de séjour fees €225.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait2–10 weeks
- Decision → arrival2 weeks
- Residence card issuance0 weeks
- Total to residence card6–14 weeks
VLS-TS acts as its own residence permit — no card needed in year 1. Renewal as Titre de séjour visiteur 4-8 months processing.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 12 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 12 months
- Renewal fee
- $225
- Requirements
- Continued income proof, proof of residence, health insurance, continued no-work attestation.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Language test
- Required
- Integration test
- Required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Language test
- Yes (B1)
- Civic test
- Required
- Oath
- Not required
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- No
Special regimes
- Impatriate regime (régime des impatriés)source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- No
Banking Setup
- Open account before arrival
- Not typically possible before arrival
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Child school enrolment
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Explicitly prohibits professional activity — remote-work-for-foreign-clients grey zone occasionally enforced against "digital nomads"
- ⚠Must pay French income tax on worldwide income once tax-resident (usually after 183 days)
- ⚠Does NOT qualify for PUMA healthcare until 3 months of stable residence
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Any professional activity, including remote work for foreign employers or clients
- ×Operating or running a business in France
Before You Arrive — Checklist
- SMIC-level income verification
- Private health policy covering France
- French-speaking accommodation sorted
After You Arrive — Checklist
- OFII portal validation within 3 months
- Optional: open French bank account
- Optional: OFII civic-integration contract
Common Rejection Reasons
- •Financial means below SMIC threshold
- •Intent-to-work suspicion (digital-nomad profile)
- •Incomplete accommodation proof
Recent Legislative Changes
2024-01-26
France's Loi Immigration enacted — tightened family-reunification rules and language requirements for PR/citizenship; VLS-TS visitor visa itself unchanged.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally work remotely on this visa?+
Technically prohibited. The attestation sur l'honneur commits you to "no professional activity". Remote work for foreign clients has been a grey zone historically, but the 2023 Loi Immigration explicitly clarified that remote work undertaken from French soil constitutes economic activity. Use a talent/freelance visa instead if you need to work.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Fastest paths to an EU passport in 2025
A sourced comparison of the shortest EU naturalisation timelines, from 2-year descent fast-tracks to 5-year residency routes — plus the hidden requirements that extend them in practice.
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Same country
Sibling programmes
Sources & last verified
- Official source
- Last verified
Comparable Programs
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
spain · passive income
Compare France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) vs Spain Non-Lucrative Visa →Italy Elective Residence Visa
italy · passive income
Compare France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur) vs Italy Elective Residence Visa →