Preparing for the visa appointment

In-person appointments are held at one of the TLScontact visa application centres in the UK (London, Manchester, or Edinburgh).

You should bring your appointment notification, the completed application form and receipt, supporting documents, and your passport plus photocopies of all these items, including key passport pages. The visa application fee is generally paid online when submitting your application. If it was not paid online, you will be asked to pay it at the appointment.

The TLScontact staff will check your paperwork, scan your fingerprints (children under 12 are exempt), and retain your passport and document copies to forward to the French consulate. The process usually takes around 20 minutes.

It is possible to track your application online. If there are queries or requests for extra documents, these will normally be communicated by email. Once the visa is ready, it will be returned to you either by courier within the UK or for collection at the TLScontact centre.

Another person may be able to collect your passport on your behalf, provided they bring: the original appointment/tracking form, a copy of your ID, the original and copy of their own ID, and a signed letter of proxy. This is subject to TLScontact centre policy.

Required documents

All applicants must provide a recent passport photograph and a passport that:

• Was issued within the last 10 years

• Is valid for at least three months beyond the intended visa expiry date

• Has at least two blank pages

Certain visas, such as work visas, require proof of income. In France, net salary refers to the amount received after social contributions but before income tax; gross salary includes the employee’s social contributions.

For work visas, you must also provide a job offer and, where applicable, proof of a work permit (autorisation de travail), or details of qualifications, experience, and plans to support yourself if self-employed.

You will also need proof of accommodation, such as a rental contract of three months or more, deeds, or a signed letter from a host confirming they live in France and are inviting you to stay at their address. If you own a home, you can supply a copy of the attestation de vente from a notaire.

Applicants not planning to work in France must show evidence of comprehensive private healthcare covering at least the first full year (typically up to €30,000). During this period, you may apply to join the French healthcare system once you can demonstrate three months of residence in France.

People with substantial capital income (over an allowance of €23,550) pay an annual contribution to the French system. The 2026 social security finance law introduces a new healthcare fee for people living in France without employment or social contributions, such as pensioners; further details are pending.

Timing and fees

Visa applications should be submitted up to 180 days before your planned departure, with at least 20 working days recommended for processing. The application fee for a long-stay visa is around €99, payable via France‑Visas, with a TLScontact service fee of approximately £35–£45 depending on the centre and service chosen.