Visas and residency cards

UK jockey gets French residency card meeting after public complaint

James Reveley tells us about ordeals to obtain a titre de séjour after victory in prestigious ‘president’s race’ in Paris

How to apply for seasonal work in France as a non-EU citizen

Job adverts, work permits and visas - we explain the rules for employees and employers

Visas, French residency cards and other admin updates for April 2024

Plus, a standardised long-term residency status across all EU states stalls under Belgian presidency

Will France's new language rules affect Brexit residency cards?

A number of visas required to live in France have been affected by the new immigration law

Fight continues to ease visa process for long visits to France

Campaigners are lobbying lawmakers about simplifications to the process – and are asking supporters to complete two surveys to gather experiences

Visas for France: how often are they refused and for what reasons?

Nearly 3 million visas were requested in 2023

Do I have to wait six months after expiry to renew French VLS-T visa?

VLS-T visas are separate to Schengen Bloc visa-free access days

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

New tougher French language rules for immigration: who is affected?

The rules for residency cards and nationality are changing but there are exemptions

LIST: what was kept and what was rejected in French immigration law

Conseil constitutionnel rejected a third of items including an ‘automatic visa’ plan for Britons owning second homes - but approved increasing the level of French needed for certain residency cards

French passport is named one of six best for world travel

The ranking counts how many destinations the passport holder can travel to ‘visa-free’

France second-home visas: when is ruling due and when could it start?

The nine ‘sages’ of the Conseil constitutionnel are set to scrutinise the immigration law this week

Second homes – France’s automatic visa plan: the next steps

Easy visits scheme for Britons will take some time so it is advisable not to put off visa applications this year

Visas, residency cards: What changes in France’s new immigration law?

Non-EU citizens, for example Americans or Britons, coming to France to live or work in France will be affected by several changes in the new law passed by parliament

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

Automatic visa for easy second-home visits passed by French parliament

Law will help tens of thousands of Britons to spend longer in France as they could before Brexit

What happens next for law to ease second-home visits to France?

France’s immigration law, including help for British second-home owners, is been voted definitively but a few steps remain

Why are Americans not part of second-home easy visit plan in France?

Many Britons have written to French lawmakers over difficulties after Brexit

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

French immigration bill: What happens now to second-home visits plan?

As the bill moves forward for examination by a ‘mixed commission’ it is possible the ‘automatic visa’ proposal will remain

128,000 identity checks a day in France: what must foreigners show?

Around nine million drivers are stopped each year

MP: I will resubmit a new proposal to ease visits to second homes

The president of the MPs’ France-UK friendship group says helping Britons ‘is essential’

French plan to ease second-home visits rejected: but may return

Several MPs want this restricted to those who purchased their homes pre-Brexit and for all people who live in the UK, not just Britons; independent and centrist MPs demanded its withdrawal

Update on plan to ease second-home visits and sample French MP letter

We look at progress in parliament on the ‘automatic visa’ law and a positive email from a majority party MP. We also provide detailed help for writing to your MP

From bonuses to bikes: Key dates and changes in December in France

Stay up-to-date with what is new - and what is ending

Is Spain calling for easier second-home visits as French senators are?

Several media reports have linked the French ‘automatic visa’ proposal and alleged actions by Spain

America and France ease rules around ‘talent visas’

Investors - and their families - can now stay for an initial four years without having to renew formalities

Foreign non-EU retirees moving to France could face tougher rules

Basic French (for under 65s) and a contract of integration may be required to stay more than five years. This would apply especially to those on so-called ‘visitor’ visas

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

‘Life-changing’: Second-home owners on French Senate’s visa support

Questions still remain despite the positive feedback from Britons who face different visiting rules post-Brexit

Five-year visa plan for second-home owners in France advances

Senator has submitted the proposal via an amendment to a forthcoming immigration bill. It would impact all non-EU nationalities

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

Nationality, residency cards, visas: what French Senate kept in bill

We look at key points which have been voted on so far in the proposed immigration reform

Foreign second-home owners: what are French senators’ three proposals?

We explain the different amendments to the new immigration bill that aim to simplify visits

More French senators and MPs back plan for second-home owner visas

Lawmakers want to ease red tape for six-month stays by non-EU nationals

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

Britons with French second homes ‘should get automatic long-stay visa’

A senator is proposing this as an amendment to an immigration bill which is due to be debated next week

Give second home owners in France a special visa, says senator

Five-year visa would allow annual six-month visits

How does EU's 90/180-day rule work when visiting France?

The 90/180-day rule impacts non-EU citizens visiting France, including Britons, Americans, New Zealanders, and others.

Explainer: The documents needed for French long-stay visa application

This is for those wishing to stay in France for more than three months

Visas, security, driving fines: 5 French practical updates

We look at some practical articles you may have missed in the last week

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

Rail cards, visas: practical updates in France

Our weekly recap of five important topics

Explainer: Temporary long-stay visas to visit France

Key points on the French VLS-T and step-by-step guidance on how to apply

Would this Italian residency visa drama happen in France?

A Brexit-voting couple struggle with visas to move to their dream home in Italy - we look at how the French system differs

Are more or fewer visas being issued for France, what has changed?

Americans are now the most numerous among foreign nationals obtaining new residency cards, apart from people from North Africa

I agree French visa system is too difficult

A Connexion reader says that troubles are not limited to online processes – face-to-face appointments can also be challenging

Concerns over end of six-month visas for France dismissed

After non-EU visitors flag problems getting a VLS-T, we asked the French Interior Ministry to clarify its visa policy

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

France visas, residency cards, French tax: see Connexion help guides

The guides are in English and published in a digital format that can be downloaded as a PDF. Each has an extensive question and answer section

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

UK unveils launch price of new visa waiver: when and who is affected?

It is part of the UK’s new digital border system, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024

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

French visa hassles: An expert gives tips on how to get appointments

Britons are still struggling with holdups in getting French long-stay visas. But there are some workarounds

Connexion reader overcharged by TLS Contact for French visa

Here they share their experience of getting a refund

Bugs continue with French visa appointments system in UK

Readers report problems with accessing or using the website of TLScontact, however, one states that some new appointments have now been freed up

‘Preparing to put house up for sale’: Readers blast French visa woes

Delays are putting people’s plans for a longer-term stay in France over the summer in peril

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

Britons face long wait for French visas as appointments dry up

TLScontact, the private firm used by France for processing visa applications, is also experiencing 'technical issues' on its website

Beware of unofficial Etias visa-waiver websites, warns EU agency

Travellers - including those from the UK, US and Australia - are expected to need a €7 Etias visa waiver to enter the EU from 2024

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

Five questions on how UK’s new border scheme could impact EU tourists

The new ‘contactless border’ could see EU travellers having to obtain paid authorisation to enter the UK within the next couple of years

Visits to second home in France: be prepared for visa wait

A Connexion reader shares his experiences of the French visa application process

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

Why the EU’s new Etias visa-waiver system has been delayed again

The introduction of the €7 online application for permission to enter the EU is now not expected until 2024

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