What documents do I need for a visa application to travel to France? People from the UK, US and 68 other countries outside of the Schengen area need to apply if they want to stay for more than 90 days
Do all visa-holders need to do an interview when entering France? Many people entering the country are confused by the rules surrounding visas
What happens at an in-person appointment for a French visa? We also look at how much it will cost and what documents and biometric data are required
practical Can I extend my 90-day visa-free period in France in an emergency? Travellers from outside the Schengen area - including people from the US and the UK since Brexit - must adhere to the rules if they want to stay for longer within a 180-day period
Do I need prior French clients to apply for a profession libérale visa? There are a number of conditions that must be fulfilled when applying
How to apply online for a French residency card You can submit applications for some cartes de séjour - including for renewals - via the official website, but Brexit Withdrawal Agreement cards still require a visit to the prefecture
Can I stay in France via the 90/180 day rule if visa has expired? Some nationalities require a visa to re-enter France even as a tourist
What are the various kinds of French residency cards? People from the US and other countries outside the Schengen area - including Britons post-Brexit - can live, work and study in France but need to apply for a carte de séjour
What is the difference between a French carte de séjour and a titre de séjour? The terms are often used interchangeably, we explain why
Will new biometric controls require proof of funds for France visit? Visitors to the EU will be required to answer questions about travel plans within the bloc
Biometric border checks: what questions will be asked to enter France? Queries can already be made by border guards, but digitalisation of border makes it more likely
Cost of short-stay visa to visit Schengen area to rise from June, 2024 Increase is needed due to higher costs and inflation, says European Commission
Tax, visas: Is there an English version of official French websites? We review some of the key information pages used in everyday life in France
Updates: French long-term residency cards and UK life certificates We reply to a reader’s concern about applying for carte de résident de longue-durée and look at a MP’s feedback on life certificates Must I update French residency card due to street name changes? How will French/British couples be affected by UK’s ETA scheme? Visas for France 2024: is there an option for young workers?
Permanent residency cards in France: 2024 renewal rules We also look at the situation with Brexit Withdrawal Agreement cards French residency card: how long does it take prefecture to issue this? How to apply for seasonal work in France as a non-EU citizen Do I have to agree to Republican values to get French residency? Will France's new language rules affect Brexit residency cards? Do I have to wait six months after expiry to renew French VLS-T visa?
How long is the wait for a French Ofii visa interview? Validating your visa means you will be invited to a half-day at the French immigration agency - here is what to expect
Explainer: which self-employment visa to live and work in France? We look at visa applications for the self-employed, business start-ups and talent passports
Can I delay the start date of my one-year French visa? Visas may need to be validated after certain time but this is not linked to the start date
Can I use Airbnb as proof of residence for official French procedures? Many formalities in France call for a ‘justificatif de domicile’
Can I get seasonal work as a non-French person? It is more difficult, but still possible, to work in certain sectors on a short-term basis
UK income threshold plan for British-French families called ‘cruel’ People who left the UK to live in France may not be able to return with their family if British visa minimum income levels double, says campaigner
Explainer: what is France’s ‘talent’ visa and who can get one? It can allow many non-Europeans and their families to stay for up to four years
Rules for visiting UK from France with validated VLS-TS visitor visa A VLS TS visitor visa gives its holder the same rights as a Schengen visa
Will over-70s need Etias travel permission to visit France? New rules for entering the EU are to be implemented, but the exact date is not yet known
Can I travel freely in the EU as the spouse of an EU citizen? Depending on how long you stay in France you may need a residency card
Give second home owners in France a special visa, says senator Five-year visa would allow annual six-month visits
Explainer: The documents needed for French long-stay visa application This is for those wishing to stay in France for more than three months
Visa for British second-home owners in France: How often can we apply? British visitors are starting to make use of visas to spend extended time in France, post-Brexit. We answer a recent reader question on calculating visa and other visiting periods
How long to get a visa for France, what is cost for a courier service? Taking advantage of all services offered can help facilitate the visa process
Explainer: Temporary long-stay visas to visit France Key points on the French VLS-T and step-by-step guidance on how to apply
Explainer: Make sense of six-month visas for France Popular with second-home owners, any non-EU citizen looking to stay longer than three months in France can benefit from a temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T)
Is the French visa process set up to put people off? A French lawyer gives us his opinion on why the visa process remains frustrating unless you can pay
Worry over process to obtain French residency card to prolong a visa We give tips on online carte de séjour applications and what to do if things go wrong
Can Americans stay in France for 90 extra days due to 1949 agreement? We look at whether this old agreement between France and the US is still in force
Do non-EU six-month visitors have to undergo a medical in France? And, if so, what happens if you fail?
Do EU’s post-Brexit passport rules apply if you have a French visa? Tourists are being turned away at the border because of old or near-expired passports - but what if you have a French visa or residence permit?
As regular visitors to France, do we have correct residency card? We look at who does and does not have the right to a French carte de séjour
Five reader tips on how to avoid French visa delays Advice and tricks on how best to deal with TLScontact, the firm that manages the French visa application process in the UK
France visitor visa: Must you promise not to work? What are the rules? For long-stay visas, you have to pledge not to ‘engage in any professional activity’. We explain how it works
Explainer: Common visa options for visiting and moving to France We look at the main visas available and the formalites associated with them
What are moves to change 90-day visitor rule in France for Britons? Some UK nationals who bought a holiday home before 2021 believe they should be allowed more flexibility when visiting
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
Visas to stay in France for six months: Q&As on appointment process We look at visa fees, waiting times, documents - and income levels - required, whether you always have to visit in person and more
Post Brexit do I need a visa when leaving France for an EU holiday? Are British EU residents, including those on Brexit Withdrawal Agreement cards, going to be affected by this year’s new border systems
Can we still retire to France? Are certain income levels now required? We explain how visas and cartes de sejour work for non-EU citizens moving here
Foreign retirees in France get clarification on income requirements An Interior Ministry spokesman has clarified the level of income retirees need to convert a visitor visa to a 10-year 'carte de résident'
How will Etias EU visa-waiver scheme affect residents of France? We look at what the scheme involves and who it will impact
Can I get help with French visa application? Which type do I need? We look at the resources available to applicants and how to know which visa to apply for
Can I return to UK after French visa then come back for short stay? We look at whether being in France on a long-stay visa affects the 90-day visa-free allowance
Can we use the 90-day rule to extend stay after French visa runs out? Second-home owners should avoid spending too long in France in a given year if they do not want to be tax residents
How do we move from a visa to having a French carte de séjour? We look at how to apply for a French residency permit as opposed to renewing a visa
Can I go back to the UK for visits while on a long-stay French visa? We look at the rules surrounding movement between the two countries for people with a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS)
Can Americans extend stay in France 90 days due to 1949 Agreement? Several blog posts suggest that US citizens can stay in France for an extra three months after their 90 days of visa-free travel in the Schengen area is used up. We explain
Are there Schengen rule exemptions to help care for elderly relatives? There is no separate visa category for family carers, but there are ways to extend your stay in France. We explain.
Explainer: Long-stay French visas serving as residence permits Some visas are equivalent to a residence permit and others come with an obligation to apply for such a permit. We look at the difference
France 90-day stay: is the 180-day period rolling or fixed at entry? Third country nationals are allowed to stay in Schengen countries for up to 90 days in every 180. We look at this rule in detail
Under what circumstances do you need to validate a French visa? There is one type of French visa which comes with this requirement. We explain
What happens if I cannot help but overstay my 90 days in France? We ask whether delays relating to illness or transport disruption will be taken into account by border control authorities for non EU visitors
Is a second French visa application process easier than the first? A reader asks whether applicants who have already been granted a visa in the past can take any shortcuts the second time round
Does the day of entry/exit count towards EU’s 90-day visit limit? The EU allows third-country nationals entitled to visa-free travel to stay for 90 days in every 180
Do UK-based (adult) children of French residents still need a visa? We explain what rights a British citizen may have for visiting France if their parents are residents there
France travel: Can spouses of EU citizens stay beyond 90 days? Non-EU citizens without visas or residency permits can normally only be in the Schengen Area countries like France for 90 days in every 180
How can I prove I have necessary funds for a French long-stay visa? You must show your socio-economic status to obtain a visa. We explain what documents you can provide and how much income or funds are required
France lovers group calls for action on 90-day visitor rule Members are writing to French politicians to ask that all British people be allowed up to 180 consecutive days in the country - as French people are allowed in the UK in reverse
Can you start a French visa while already in the country? Reader asks if 90 visa-free days allowed in France can be added in advance to their six-month visa, allowing them effectively up to nine months in the country
What health insurance do I need for a long-stay French visitor visa? People applying for such visas need to show proof that they can cover any medical costs which arise while they are in the country
How do French long-stay visas work with the 90-day allowance? A British reader asks whether they can return to France with a visa shortly after spending 90 days in the country
How do I apply for a French visa if I live in Northern Ireland? UK citizens hoping to obtain a French visa can submit their application at three different centres, none of which are in Northern Ireland
What is the minimum income requirement for a French long-stay visa? France requires that people coming from outside the European Economic Area with the intention of staying for more than three months obtain a long-stay visa
How often can British long-stay visa holders in France return to UK? Is there a maximum length of time you can remain outside France? We explain the rules about entering and exiting with a visa de long-séjour
Coming to France from UK: Temporary visitor visas and passport stamps Many second-home owners are looking at this visa option so as to be able to spend more time in France. We look at how passport stamps work with regard to this
Brexit: when will the 90/180 day rule start? From January 1, British people travelling to France will face new travel restrictions related to Brexit. We explain when those rules will apply and how it will affect British people travelling to France around the New Year.
Visitor visa for France: How do we prove we own our second home? Part of the paperwork required for a temporary long-stay visa is documentation showing where you will be living. If you own the property it will affect the income amount you must show
Would six-month visa plus 90-day visit make us French tax residents? Length of stay in France is not the only element in deciding fiscal residency
Second-home owners: Can we apply for a long-stay visa while in France? After applying online for a long-stay visa, you must visit a visa office in person – in London, Edinburgh or Manchester