France Visitor Visa

France issues the Visiteur Visa to financially independent persons with a monthly income of at least €1,800. Applicants must buy or rent property in France, show savings of at least €30,000, obtain health insurance, and enrol their children in a local school.

Applications are submitted through a French visa centre or consulate in the applicant’s country of citizenship or residence. After arriving in France, the visa must be registered online.

The entire process takes an average of five months. The French consulate typically reviews applications quickly — within two to three weeks.

The visa is issued for a period from three to twelve months and can be renewed indefinitely.

Visa-related expenses include the applicant’s income, government fees, and property rental or purchase:

• monthly income — €1,800+;
• application fee — €200 per applicant;
• stamp duty — €25;
• health insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 per person — €50+;
• property rent or purchase without minimum amount required.

Yes. The French Visiteur Visa is equivalent to a temporary residence permit. It allows visa‑free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180‑day period.

Holders of the France Visitor Visa receive a residence permit card after the first renewal. The status can then be renewed annually.

After five years of living in France, at least 183 days per year, foreigners can apply for permanent residence or citizenship. To do so, they must pass exams on French language, history, and culture.

Most visas allow entry into a country, while a residence permit confirms the right to live there. That is the key difference. A residence permit grants broader rights, such as the ability to work, use international banking and healthcare services, and enrol children in local schools and universities.

The French Visitor Visa is considered equivalent to a residence permit and allows living in France for up to one year. Upon the first renewal, the holder receives a residence permit card.

France does not grant residence permits directly for property purchases, but ownership increases the likelihood of approval. When reviewing an application, the French immigration authority recognises a property purchase agreement as proof of an applicant’s intent to ive in the country.

For certain residence types, such as for financially independent individuals, proof of registration in France is required, and owning property is the best evidence.

The immigration authority usually specifies the reason for refusal. Most often, it is due to missing documents, errors, or inaccurate information. Applicants with criminal records may also be refused.

If the applicant disagrees with the decision, they have the right to appeal.

The Visiteur Visa is valid for one year. It can be renewed or converted into another type of residence permit. After the first renewal, the applicant receives a plastic residence card.

Renewal is done online on the website of the General Directorate for Foreign Nationals. The application must be submitted at least two months before the document expires. The renewal fee is €200, plus a €25 stamp duty.

Residents of France who have lived in the country for more than five years can apply for citizenship by naturalisation. To qualify, they must:

• have lived in France for at least 183 days per year;
• have paid taxes;
• speak French at a B1 level;
• demonstrate knowledge of French history, culture, and society;
• have no criminal record.

A French passport allows visa‑free travel to the Schengen countries, the UK, the UAE, and Japan — 172 destinations in total.

Applicants must show savings in a bank account, but it is not necessary to open one in France. A statement from a foreign bank is sufficient.

Holding a visa does not automatically make a person a tax resident. Taxes are due only if the holder spends more than 183 days per year in France.

Income tax in France is progressive — from 0 to 45%, while the corporate tax rate is 25%.