Applying for a French visa can be a stressful time. And unless you’re a citizen of an EU country, if you want to stay longer than 90 days out of 180, or to live in France on a permanent or long-time basis, then you will need a visa.
We’ve received several emails from people who applied for a visa only to receive a rejection at the end of their nerve-wracking wait (and you don’t get told why). It’s an extremely frustrating moment when your plans to move to France start to fall apart.
We get many requests from people asking for help. They’re unsure which of the many types of visas to apply for. Not sure they have the right paperwork, insurance etc. And we get it, it can be very confusing, and cause huge anxiety while you wait for an answer.
We asked Eric Donjon of The European Concierge, who has a 100% success rate when applying for visas for their clients from around the world, what people can do to help themselves when they apply for a French visa.
Here are his top tips for applying for a visa for France:
Applying for a Visa for France
Eric advises that it helps to show that you are going above and beyond to embrace the French life when you’re applying for a visa. You should try to put yourself in the shoes of the consulate staff whose job it is to administer residency permits. If you try to help them by getting everything right, that will help you too. Double check that you have all the paperwork and the requirements (including healthcare insurance) correct.
Applying for a French residency visa
Getting a residency visa isn’t just a tick box thing. Local administrators are inundated with applications from citizens of America, Great Britain, Australia and Canada and other countries around the world – help them, and you’ll help yourself.
There are three basic requirements you need to keep in mind:
- The administrators are looking for reassurance that you have sufficient funds to cover yourself. In real terms, this amounts to a minimum income of €16,784.32 net per annum (€1,398.69 net per month), per person, after tax (correct on 20/08/2024. Note, this figure is subject to increase by the French government due to inflation). That amount is based on the SMIC (Salaire Minimum de Croissance) – the minimum wage in France (01/01/2024).
- You need to provide proof that you have somewhere to live – whether it’s a permanent home or rental. If you’re in the process of buying a property, a ‘Compromis de vente‘ – a document that shows you are in the process of buying will be accepted for most visas. And if you’re renting, a French rental contract is required.
Insurance is critical
- Evidence of private medical insurance. If you’re British and in receipt of a state pension, you can come to France with an S1 form and that will enable you to apply without private medical insurance (contact NHS S1 on 0191 218 1999) and discuss your situation with the agent. But, that’s not always the best move. An S1 effectively signs you out of the NHS and there is no easy way back. If you’re not 100% certain that you wish to remain in France, you should consider keeping the NHS option open while you ‘test drive’ your new home. If you don’t have the correct private medical insurance – you’re pretty much guaranteeing a failure in your visa application.
If you’re from a country that doesn’t have a reciprocal health service arrangement such as the US, Australia etc, you will need private healthcare insurance.
The stages of applying for a visa
When it comes to applying for a French long-term visa, fail to provide the correct paperwork, give vague or incomplete answers which raise questions – and you are highly unlikely to get your visa approved. If you want to make sure you don’t fail, The European Concierge (TEC) can help:
- Your long stay visitor visa. The European Concierge will help you gather the required documents (proof of address, photos, etc) and check their validity. They will submit the application on your behalf, book an appointment for you at the visa centre and follow up with the authorities. They’ll monitor and ‘hand hold’ until your visa is successfully delivered.
- Visa validation. Once you arrive in France, it is a requirement that you validate your visa to make it official. TEC will complete this procedure for you, including processing the visa validation fee payable to the French authorities.
- Residency application or renewal of carte de séjour (the residency permit). TEC will assist you in preparing all the relevant documents, checking their validity, and submitting your application. They’ll also provide over-the-phone translation assistance if you are required to attend the prefecture in person, and help to prepare you for your obligatory face-to-face appointment.
“We are” says Eric “your one-stop-shop for all your needs to ensure your move to France is as simple as saying et voilà”.
Find out more, book a consultation and apply for your visa with Eric Donjon at: theeuropeanconcierge.com
