Visas and cutting ties

Visas and residency cards: who needs to apply?

Visas and/or residency cards are required for British citizens staying in France for more than a short-term visit or holiday (up to three months maximum).

Having one of these exempts you from EU rules limiting non-EU citizens to 90 days in any 180-day period in France and the wider Schengen Area. This includes France’s immediate land neighbours (or microstates within the area).

It also exempts you from the EU’s Entry/Exit System digital border procedures and the forthcoming ETIAS authorisation-to-enter scheme.

A visa is generally the only way to come to France to work or study if you are not an EU citizen. Short visits of up to three months for tourism, short courses, or certain exempt activities - such as providing a service in someone’s home or participating in cultural, sporting, or scientific events - do not require a visa.

A visa is typically a sticker in your passport showing your right to enter France and stay for a set period. A residency card confirms your right to live in France long term for specific purposes such as work, study, retirement, or leisure.

Once issued, visas allow you to come and go within the stated validity period. Applications from most countries can usually be started via the official French visa website.

Types of visas

The type of visa you need depends on your circumstances and plans. Changing status once in France is possible, but can be complex and time-consuming.

• Temporary long-stay visa (visa de long séjour temporaire): usually issued for four to six months. Not renewable or exchangeable for a residency card. Best for those wanting an extended stay, for example at a second home, without permanently moving.

• Long-stay visa equivalent to a residency card (VLS-TS): usually issued for one year. Must be validated online within the first three months of arrival (fee €200). Once validated, it is treated as equivalent to a residency card. It can later be renewed by applying for a physical residency card two to four months before expiry.

VLS-TS visas can cover students, employees with a French job offer, self-employed workers, and retirees.

• Visitor (visiteur) visa: intended for retirees or those without work or family ties. Applicants must show proof of sufficient funds, generally at least the French minimum wage (€1,443/month per person). Savings, pensions, rental income, or other legitimate income are usually accepted.

• Talent visa (passeport talent): for highly skilled or specialised workers, investors, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, writers, athletes, and those in innovative sectors. Immediate family can accompany the visa holder with the talent – famille card, which includes the right to work.

• Student visa: for studies longer than three months, generally issued as a VLS-TS. Funding proof is required - at least €615/month for living costs.

Pre-Brexit residents

British citizens who were resident in France before December, 31, 2020, are generally covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. 

This means they retained many rights similar to EU citizens, including the ability to live, work, and study in France without a visa.

If you were already living in France before Brexit, you should have applied for a residency card under the Withdrawal Agreement (carte de séjour “accord de retrait”). This card confirms your long-term right to remain and provides access to healthcare, employment, and social benefits.

It is important to keep your card up to date and renew it before expiry, even if your circumstances (job, home address, family situation) have changed. Failure to do so could complicate interactions with authorities or access to public services.

New arrivals from the UK after 1 January 2021 must follow the standard non-EU visa and residency procedures outlined below.

Working in France

• Visitor visas strictly prohibit employment in France, including remote work for a UK employer.

• Employee VLS-TS visas require a job offer and that your employer secures a work permit (autorisation de travail).

• Self-employed VLS-TS visas require evidence of relevant skills, project viability, and income projection at least equivalent to the French minimum wage. Certain regulated professions may require additional certification or courses to practise legally.

Remote work for foreign clients under a self-employment setup is generally possible and avoids many of the compliance issues tied to working for a French employer.

Studying in France

Non-EU students must obtain a student visa for courses over three months (fee €50). For courses over one year, a VLS-TS is typically issued.

Options include standard French courses, joint programmes with UK institutions, or study-abroad arrangements. The Campus France and Études en France websites provide searchable listings. Institutions labelled Bienvenue en France are particularly welcoming to international students.

Applicants must be pre-registered with a French educational institution and provide proof of sufficient funding (€615/month) before applying for a visa.