Visitor visa: must you promise not to work?
Attestations sur l’honneur are often requested for various French administrative procedures.
I have seen the requirement for an attestation d’honneur for a visa request. What are the legal rules for this and does it have to be witnessed?
We believe you are referring to the document required for certain visa applications in which you promise not to work during your stay in France.
This is sometimes referred to as an ‘Attestation sur l’honneur’, or an ‘Engagement à n’exercer aucune activité professionnelle en France’ (a promise not to exercise any professional activity in France).
This is notably requested when applying for a visa de long séjour temporaire (VLS-T) – a long-stay visitor visa which is usually valid for up to six months. This visa is often used by non-EU nationality second-home owners who want to spend up to six months at their French property.
Unlike other long-stay visas, you must provide proof of funds showing you can support yourself while in France and that you will not undertake any paid work.
You can check whether the document is required for the type of visa you are applying for by using the Visa wizard.
This document must be dated and signed, but otherwise there are no strict legal requirements. It does not need to be witnessed and the letter may be handwritten although this is not stated as a requirement.
It should say something along the lines of:
I, the undersigned [your name] declare that I will not exercise any professional activity in France.
You should also include your address and the town in which the document was signed.
Attestations sur l’honneur are often requested for various French administrative procedures.
There is a French model that can be filled in and printed, in relation to not working and there is an all-purpose one, to be completed according to your situation.
Government visa information states that the promise not to work may “if applicable [be] accompanied by a letter explaining your plans”.
This could feature details of your professional situation, your plans while in France, and how you intend to support yourself.