Formalities after arrival in France

Once you have arrived in France with your long-stay visa, you must validate a VLS-TS within the first three months. This applies to most visa types, including the talent passport if staying more than a year, and is done online at the official site by clicking “Je valide mon VLS-TS”.

This site, sometimes called ANEF (Administration numérique pour les étrangers en France), offers partial translation to English. You will need to enter your visa number, found at the top right of the visa, along with other details such as validity dates and the purpose of the visa. 

A fee is payable at this stage (for example, €200 for a visitor or €50 for a student or stagiaire), using timbres fiscaux obtainable at a tabac shop or online. 

Once validated, the VLS-TS is considered equivalent to a residency card. An attestation de validation will be issued with a reference number to be kept for any future correspondence relating to residency.

For visas that require a residency card in the first few months, the application can also be completed via the same site. 

First-issue cards are usually valid for one year but can be renewed. Some can later be converted to multi-year cards (two to four years), and after at least five years of residency, you may apply for a 10-year carte de résident, which allows all types of work.

All applicants for French residency cards must sign a contract agreeing to certain “Republican values”, such as gender equality and freedom of speech and belief.

OFII formalities: medical check and welcome visit 

Many new residents are required to complete a medical check and a visite d’accueil (welcome visit), both organised by OFII, the French agency for new immigrants. Invitations are usually sent after validating your VLS-TS or applying for a first residency card.

The visite d’accueil includes a short language assessment (aligned with European language levels A1–C2) and a meeting with an OFII agent. You will be presented with the Contrat d’Intégration Républicaine (CIR), which outlines integration training on French institutions, health and social systems, work, housing, and culture. 

The CIR usually lasts one year and may be renewed once. Six to nine months later, OFII may invite you back to review progress and provide guidance on local services.

A medical check may be carried out at the same time as the visite d’accueil, covering a lung X-ray, a general medical examination, vaccination status, and, in some cases, blood glucose measurement and urine analysis. The doctors may also provide information about the French healthcare system. If the visit reveals that a certain treatment or vaccination is necessary, the certificate will note this, and the individual should follow up with a doctor.

This check is not a barrier to residency, but ensures appropriate follow-up and public health compliance.

Returning or pre-Brexit UK residents

If you were already living in France before 31 December 2020 under the EU system and registered under the UK Withdrawal Agreement, you may retain residency rights without the full OFII requirements.

UK nationals moving to France post-Brexit must follow the standard VLS-TS validation, CIR, and OFII procedures, as described above.