France · long-stay visa routes and official sources
7 routes tracked · last reviewed · every route links to its official government source
Long-term visa difficulty for France: Medium (48/100, lower is easier). Most practical route: Long-stay student visa / talent passport.
Common questions
What is the most practical long-term visa route to France?
Based on our July 2026 review, the most practical route is usually: Long-stay student visa / talent passport. Overall difficulty is rated "Medium" (48/100, lower is easier).
Can I move to France without a local job offer?
Yes — 2 of the 7 tracked routes do not require a local employer: Long-stay student visa; Long-stay student visa / VLS-TS étudiant. Each has its own income, funds, or admission requirements.
Good for French, master’s, or business-school routes into France.
Typical timeline / duration: 2-5 months
Must be over 18, have chosen/been accepted for training course or studies; apply via France-Visas/Campus France process as applicable; supporting documents include admission, passport and accommodation/insurance/means evidence depending on case.
Proof of resources required; exact current amount should be verified on France-Visas/Campus France country guidance.
A study-based route requiring admission to an eligible education provider.
Typical timeline / duration: VLS-TS student visa allows studies for 4 months to 1 year and must be validated after arrival.
Must be over 18, have chosen/been accepted for training course or studies; apply via France-Visas/Campus France process as applicable; supporting documents include admission, passport and accommodation/insurance/means evidence depending on case.
Proof of resources required; exact current amount should be verified on France-Visas/Campus France country guidance.
For high-skilled, research, founder, or employer-backed applicants.
Typical timeline / duration: 3-8 months
Fit one of the Talent Passport categories, such as qualified employee, EU Blue Card, researcher, innovative founder, business creator, company representative, or artist.
Provide category-specific evidence: for example, a qualifying French degree and employment contract, a research hosting agreement, or a genuine funded business project.
For the qualified-employee category, the current official page requires a French master-level qualification and a contract over three months paying at least €39,582 gross annually.
For the EU Blue Card category, the current official page requires at least three years of higher education or qualifying experience, a contract of at least six months, and at least €59,373 gross annually.
Requires employer and role approval; French helps a lot.
Typical timeline / duration: 3-8 months
For salaried employment, the visa application generally requires the work permit granted to the employer; supporting documents depend on the personal/professional situation and visa wizard.
Talent Passport is a separate multi-year residence permit for certain international talent/qualified employee categories.
Employer work authorisation is central unless exempt.
Talent Passport categories may have specific qualification and salary thresholds.
An employer-led or qualification-based work route.
Typical timeline / duration: Temporary worker VLS-TS can cover 3-12 months in some cases; Talent Passport up to 4 years depending on category.
For salaried employment, the visa application generally requires the work permit granted to the employer; supporting documents depend on the personal/professional situation and visa wizard.
Talent Passport is a separate multi-year residence permit for certain international talent/qualified employee categories.
Employer work authorisation is central unless exempt.
Talent Passport categories may have specific qualification and salary thresholds.
Generic route can be published only if split into specific French subroutes.
Typical timeline / duration: Entrepreneur/profession libérale VLS-TS: 1 year; Passport Talent: initial up to 4 years.
France-Visas lists a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit bearing 'entrepreneur/profession libérale', valid for one year, with validation after arrival and required professional formalities.
For activities contributing to France's economic attractiveness, a Passport Talent can authorize stay for the project for an initial period up to 4 years.
No single investor threshold on the generic entrepreneur page; business creation/talent criteria should be checked by subtype.
Company director intra-group route may require resources of €65,629.20, but that is a separate legal representative scenario.
Dedicated long-stay visitor route exists; not a work route.
Typical timeline / duration: Long-stay visa duration between 3 months and 1 year; extension beyond validity requires residence permit application.
France-Visas says for tourist stay of more than 3 months you must apply for a long-stay 'visitor' visa and will be issued with a VLS-TS, subject to online validation after arrival.
The visitor visa does not permit work; supporting documents are set by the visa assistant and normally include resources, accommodation and medical insurance.
Needs applicant-country-specific checklist from France-Visas wizard before quoting exact resource level.
Visa rules change frequently. Figures and requirements above were reviewed on the dates shown; always confirm against the linked official source before applying.