Type D long-stay visa
"visiteur" for France

This visa (temporary residence permit) allows the holder to stay in France for the entire year and offers the option to extend the residence permit while in France. However, it does not grant the right to work, whether under an employment contract or as an entrepreneur.

This type of residence permit is an excellent choice for financially secure pensioners looking to spend time in France

In many countries, such as Spain, Portugal, and Greece, a residence permit can be obtained by purchasing property above a certain value. In France, however, having rented or owned accommodation is a mandatory requirement when applying for most types of long-stay visas or residence permits. It’s important to note that owning property in France alone does not qualify you for a residence permit; you must also meet other requirements, such as demonstrating sufficient financial resources etc.

The Code of Entry and Residence of Foreigners and Right of Asylum (Code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile - CESEDA) stipulates that, for this type of visa application, financial resources must not be lower than the current French minimum wage (€1,398.70 net per month as of January 1, 2024).

However, it is important to note that even if you can demonstrate sufficient financial resources, the French consulate or prefecture is not obligated to issue the corresponding visa or residence permit. They retain the right to approve or deny the application based on the overall impression of your dossier and your reasons for moving to France.

If you need assistance we offer for you to book a 30-minutes verbal consultation in which we'll examine your situation, answer your questions and come up with an action plan.

The cost of the consultation is 150 euros TVA inclusive.

If you are interested please fill the questionnaire. After receiving your request we'll send you an invoice to pay using your chosen method of payment. We'll propose time slots for the consultation once payment is received.

We provide consultations by phone or Google Meet.

After the consultation you will know:

• major requirements to ensure a positive decision in your situation
• how we can help you
• action plan for your situation
• estimated processing time of you case
• our fees and other expenses for the entire procedure

Depending on whether you have an existing Type D long-stay visa or French residence permit, there are three potential ways to obtain or renew "visiteur" status:

1) Applying to the French consulate in the country of citizenship or where you hold a valid residence permit for a Type D long-stay visa

2) Applying to your local prefecture in France for a residence permit

3) Renewing a "visiteur" residence permit in France

According to the regulations established by the European Union and French law, if you plan to live in France for more than 90 days within a 180-day period, you must first apply for a long-stay national Type D visa at the French consulate in your country of citizenship or in the country where you hold a valid residence permit. When applying, you must provide documentation to confirm your intent.

There are exceptions to the requirement of obtaining a Type D visa from the consulate for spouses and close relatives of French and EU citizens. They may, in theory, apply for a French residence permit without first securing a Type D visa. However, this process can be lengthy and unpredictable. In many cases, returning to your country of permanent residence to obtain a Type D visa may be significantly faster and more cost-effective. If this situation arises, we can assess your circumstances and advise you on the best course of action.

Upon a positive decision, the consulate will issue you a "visiteur" visa for the duration you requested. By law, the visa can be granted for a term of 3 to 12 months, with most applicants requesting the maximum 12-month period.

The visa must be validated within three months of your arrival in France. This involves completing an online declaration and paying an official fee of €200. Failure to complete this procedure will render the visa invalid, necessitating a new visa from the consulate to continue residing in France.

As part of the online application process for visa validation, adults will be required to undergo a mandatory medical examination. You may not be able to extend your residence or receive a residence permit car for the next year without the exam results.

During your first year in France, your visa will be affixed to your passport. The D "visiteur" visa falls under the VLS-TS (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour) category, which is equivalent to a residence permit for your first year in France. If you extend your stay under "visiteur" status, you will receive a plastic residence permit card (carte de séjour) for the second and subsequent years. This card is issued for 12 months and must be renewed annually.

If you already hold a temporary residence permit in France based on a French Type D long-stay visa (for example, under student status), you must apply for a change of status through the ANEF website of the French Ministry of the Interior. Your request will be processed by the prefecture in your place of residence in France.

However, please note that certain types of Type D long-stay visas (such as long séjour temporaire, some student visas, and vacances-travail visas) typically do not allow for a change of status while in France. In such cases, you will need to return to your country of citizenship or the country where you hold a valid residence permit to apply for a Type D long-stay visa at the French consulate.

If your application is approved, you will receive a residence permit card (carte de séjour) "visiteur" for a term of 12 months. A processing fee of €225 is charged for the issuance of this card.

Renewing a "visiteur" residence permit card typically does not have minimum residency requirements in France during the year, nor does it require you to establish French tax residency. This is a notable advantage of the French "visiteur" visa compared to similar programs in Italy or Spain, which do have such requirements.

The renewal application must be submitted through the ANEF website of the French Ministry of the Interior between four and two months before the expiration date of your long-stay visa or current temporary residence permit card (carte de séjour).

Renewal requests are processed by the prefecture in the department where you have your home address in France.

Processing times for residence permit cards can vary significantly, ranging from several months to over a year in some departments. Therefore, we advise applying to the prefecture as early as possible to avoid situations where your current visa or residence permit card expires before a new one is issued. For citizens of countries that require a visa to enter France, this delay may prevent you from re-entering France, as you would need to apply to the consulate for a new visa.

First, sign up for an initial 30-minute consultation, during which we will analyze your situation, provide our advice, and answer your questions.

After receiving your request for a consultation, we will send you an invoice. Once payment is confirmed, we will schedule the date and time using your preferred method of communication.

The consultation can be conducted via telephone or Google Meet. We kindly ask you to fill out a questionnaire regarding your situation and plans for France before the consultation.