-
How accurate are time estimates for French hiking paths?
Mathematical formula is basis for sign figures
-
French visas, cartes de séjour and removals of foreign nationals in 2025
The number of foreigners in France hits its highest level ever
-
11% more first French residency cards issued in 2025 than in 2024
Some 15,000 first-issue permits were granted to Americans and 7,870 to Britons, provisional figures show
How do you validate a VLS-TS visa when coming to France?
We look at what you must do if you intend to stay permanently in France
If you come to France on a VLS-TS visa and intend to stay permanently, you must remember to ‘validate’ the visa in the first three months.
This is carried out online at administrationetrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers by clicking Je valide mon VLS-TS.
Insert the visa number in the box. This can be found at the top of the visa in your passport.
When completing this process, frais de séjour (residency costs) are due, eg. €225 for a ‘visitor’ or a spouse of a French person or €50 for a student or stagiaire.
The fees are payable with timbres fiscaux obtained from a tabac shop or online at timbres.impots.gouv.fr.
While you have three months to do this it is preferable to do it as soon as possible. People arriving on visas requiring them to apply for a residency permit in the first two months, apply via this same website.
Advertisement
People coming for a temporary stay of up to six months (usually) do not need to go through this ‘validation’ process.
Related articles
Visas to stay in France for six months: Q&As on appointment process
Explainer: Make sense of six-month visas for France
Explainer: Long-stay French visas serving as residence permits
