EuropeSelect the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for France.
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals (e.g. US, UK, Canada, Japan). Valid 3 years for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. We apply on your behalf end-to-end. Fees illustrative.
Tourist Visa
Short-stay visa for tourism: up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare your forms and documents; you attend the consulate/VFS appointment to submit biometrics. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Transit Visa
Required by some nationalities to pass through the international transit area of a Schengen airport without entering. Whether you need one depends on your nationality. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Business Visitor Visa
Short-stay visa for business trips (meetings, conferences, negotiations): up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare forms and documents; you submit at the consulate/VFS. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Not yet researched
Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
For stays over 90 days to study. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. We guide you; submission is in person. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Student Visa
For non-EU students enrolled in French higher education, generally applying through the Campus France 'Etudes en France' procedure (reduced EUR 50 visa fee for EEF-procedure countries, EUR 99 otherwise). Requires proof of resources of at least EUR 615 per month; the VLS-TS is valid up to 1 year, must be validated online within 3 months of arrival, and is renewable as a student residence card. Holders may work up to 964 hours per year (about 60% of full time).
Internship / Trainee Visa
For foreigners coming for more than 3 months to follow vocational training or do an internship in a French company or hospital under a tripartite internship agreement (convention de stage) between the intern, the foreign training institution and the French host. The internship may not exceed 6 months and the agreement must be validated by the administration about 2 months before it starts; resources of at least EUR 615/month are required. Refusal is implicit if the administration does not validate the agreement within 30 days.
Exchange Program Visa
For young people aged 18-30 hosted by a French family of different nationality (and not related) to improve their French, under a signed au pair placement agreement (CERFA 15973) fixing pocket money of at least EUR 320/month, maximum 25 hours of childcare/light housework per week, and a private room of 9m2+. Initial visa/permit of 1 year, extendable to a maximum total of 2 years; the visa must be validated online within 3 months of arrival.
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Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Digital Nomad Visa
France has never had a digital nomad or golden visa. The informal tolerance of remote work for foreign employers on the long-stay visitor visa was ended/clarified as not permitted in 2025; remote workers must use the entrepreneur/profession liberale or talent routes.
Self-Employment Visa
For self-employed people and freelancers carrying out a commercial, craft, industrial or liberal (professional) activity in France as their main occupation; the activity must be economically viable, match the applicant's qualifications, and generate at least EUR 1,867 gross per month (SMIC). First card valid 1 year (EUR 350 issuance tax, EUR 250 renewal), then a 4-year multi-year card is possible; renewal now requires A2 French and the civic exam (unless over 65). This is the main legal route for freelancers, as France has no digital nomad visa.
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
For entrepreneurs with a Master's-level degree or 5 years' professional experience creating or taking over a business in France with an investment of at least EUR 30,000 and annual resources of at least EUR 22,404 (SMIC level); the business plan needs a favourable ministry opinion. The innovative-project variant (French Tech Visa) requires recognition of the project by a public body or certified incubator instead of the EUR 30,000 investment. Card valid up to 4 years, renewable, with 'talent (famille)' cards for family.
Skilled Work Visa
For stays over 90 days to work. Requires employer sponsorship / a work permit before you can apply, so eligibility is conditional. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Skilled Work Visa
French implementation of the EU Blue Card for highly qualified workers with a 3+ year degree (or 5 years of comparable professional experience) and a gross annual salary of at least EUR 59,373 (1.5x the average reference salary). Issued for the contract length: up to 4 years if the contract is 2+ years, otherwise contract duration plus 3 months (max 2 years); authorities must respond within 90 days (30 days for Blue Card holders moving from another EU state). Counts toward EU long-term residence after only 2 years in France (with 5 years total in the EU).
Seasonal Work Visa
For non-EU nationals with a seasonal employment contract of at least 3 months (typically agriculture, tourism, hospitality) who keep their habitual residence abroad. After entering on a 3-month 'travailleur saisonnier' long-stay visa, holders obtain a multi-year card valid up to 3 years, renewable, allowing seasonal work for a maximum of 6 months in any 12-month period. The card does not allow family reunification.
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
EU ICT-directive permit for managers and experts seconded to a French entity of their employer's group for a mission of more than 1 year, while remaining employed by the foreign group company; at least 6 months' seniority in the group is required. The card matches the mission length up to a maximum of 3 years (non-renewable beyond that under ICT rules); spouse and children receive 'salarie detache ICT (famille)' cards with full work rights. Shorter intra-group mobility for senior staff can instead use the talent qualified-employee card.
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Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Non-Lucrative / Passive Income Visa
For financially self-sufficient non-EU nationals who commit in writing not to work in France; resources of at least about EUR 1,478 per month (net SMIC level) plus private health insurance are required. The visa is issued for up to 1 year and is renewable in France as a 'visiteur' residence card (EUR 350 card fee, EUR 250 renewal). France has NO dedicated digital nomad visa, and authorities clarified in 2025 that remote work for foreign employers is not permitted on this route.
Business Investor Visa
For foreigners making a direct economic investment in France of at least EUR 300,000 in tangible or intangible fixed assets, personally or via a company they control (10%+ ownership), with a commitment to create or protect jobs. Multi-year 'talent' card issued for up to 4 years, renewable; family obtains 'talent (famille)' cards. This is an active-investment route - France has no passive 'golden visa'.
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Retirement visas and working holiday schemes.
Retirement Visa
France has no dedicated retirement visa; retirees use the long-stay visitor visa (VLS-TS visiteur) showing stable pension or passive income of at least ~EUR 1,478/month (SMIC level) and full health insurance. Issued for 1 year, then renewable in France as a 'visiteur' residence card, with a path to the 10-year resident card after 5 years of regular residence. No work of any kind is permitted.
Working Holiday Visa
One-year, non-extendable long-stay visa allowing young nationals of 16 partner countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Uruguay) to holiday in France while working to supplement funds, without a separate work permit. Age limit is 18-30 at application (up to 35 for Argentina, Australia and Canada). Consulates require about EUR 2,500 in savings plus a return ticket or funds to buy one.
Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Family Reunification Visa
Allows a non-EU foreigner who has resided lawfully in France for at least 18 months (with a 1-year+ permit) to bring their spouse and minor children. The sponsor must show stable resources (2026: EUR 1,823/month for a family of 2-3, EUR 2,005 for 4-5, EUR 2,188 for 6+, excluding most benefits) and adequate housing; OFII must notify a decision within 6 months. Approved family members receive a long-stay visa then a 'vie privee et familiale' residence card with work rights.
Spouse / Partner Visa
Spouses of French citizens receive a free long-stay visa (VLS-TS 'vie privee et familiale') provided the marriage is valid (transcribed if celebrated abroad) and marital life is effective; no income threshold applies. In France they hold a 1-year 'vie privee et familiale' card (EUR 350 tax) with full work rights, can obtain a multi-year card, and after 3 years of marriage may apply for the 10-year resident card; citizenship by declaration is possible after 4 years of marriage.
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Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Talent / Highly Skilled Visa
Multi-year 'talent' residence card for employees holding at least a Master's-level degree (or working for an innovative young company in R&D) with a French employment contract paying at least EUR 39,582 gross per year. Issued for the contract duration up to 4 years, renewable; spouse and minor children get a 'talent (famille)' card with full work rights. Residence-card tax of EUR 350 applies on issuance in France.
Talent / Highly Skilled Visa
For researchers and doctoral/post-doctoral scientists holding at least a Master's degree with a hosting agreement (convention d'accueil) from an approved French research or higher-education institution, with minimum gross monthly pay of about EUR 2,200. Card issued for up to 4 years, renewable; family receives 'talent (famille)' cards with work rights. EUR 350 residence-card tax on issuance.
Long-Term Residence Permit
10-year renewable resident card for non-EU nationals after 5 years of continuous lawful residence in France (only 2 years in France for EU Blue Card holders with 5 years total in the EU). Requires stable resources of at least gross SMIC (~EUR 1,867/month), health insurance, B1 French and passing the civic exam (relaxed for over-65s). Card fee EUR 350 (EUR 250 renewal); it also eases moves to other EU countries.
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