For people who want to stay in France long term for private reasons without working.
Route overview
Typical timeline / duration: Long-stay visa duration between 3 months and 1 year; extension beyond validity requires residence permit application.
Important notes
A stay over 90 days requires a long-stay visa; if the visa is a VLS-TS, validate it online within three months of arrival.
Show that you can support yourself for the entire stay. Visitor residence rules generally require a single applicant's resources to reach the current annual net French minimum wage; evidence may include bank attestations, pension, recurring income, or a solvent guarantor's undertaking. Check the current amount and accepted format before filing.
Provide accommodation in France and private medical insurance covering the full stay; visitor status does not authorize employment or self-employment.
The France-Visas wizard generates the concrete document list from nationality, legal residence, purpose, and accommodation; use its result before filing rather than copying a daily amount from a short-stay entry page.
The visitor basis itself requires neither an investment nor a family relationship. If someone else provides accommodation or pays costs, add invitation, accommodation, sponsor-funds, and relationship evidence only when requested by the wizard or consulate.
Preparation checklist
Complete the France-Visas wizard for the country where you legally reside, select the long-stay visitor purpose, and use the generated checklist for that application centre.
Provide the passport, application form, photograph, and any proof of lawful residence or local status requested for your nationality and place of application.
Show means for the entire stay. The visitor-residence standard generally uses the current annual net French minimum wage for one applicant; use recent bank attestations, pension or recurring-income evidence, or a solvent guarantor's undertaking, in the format accepted for your application.
Provide accommodation evidence in France, such as a lease, ownership evidence, or host documentation when accepted by the generated checklist.
Provide private medical insurance covering the full stay, including the medical and hospital expenses and repatriation or death coverage required for entry.
Sign the visitor declaration confirming that you will not work in France. If a third party funds or hosts you, add their evidence only when the wizard or consulate requests it.
If issued a VLS-TS, validate it online within three months of arrival; for a stay beyond the visa validity, apply for the appropriate residence document before expiry.
Save your submitted files and track the next application or renewal date.