How You Legally Get to France

If you’re an American planning to live in France for more than 90 days, you will need a long-stay visa. For retirees, remote workers earning income outside France, and financially independent individuals, the most common path is the VLS-TS Visitor Visa.

This page explains what it is, who it’s for, and what the application process involves. I went through this process myself, from application to first-year validation.

What Is the VLS-TS Visitor Visa?

The VLS-TS (Visa de Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour) allows Americans to live in France for up to one year.

It is designed for people who:

• Do not plan to work for a French employer

• Have independent income or sufficient savings

• Can demonstrate financial stability

• Carry qualifying health insurance

When approved, the visa functions as your residence permit for the first year. If you decide to stay longer, you will later apply for a Carte de Séjour.

Who Should Apply for This Visa?

The Visitor Visa is typically appropriate for:

• Retirees

• Remote workers paid outside France

• Individuals on sabbatical

• Couples relocating with passive income

• Anyone financially independent seeking a lifestyle change

You will sign a sworn statement confirming that you will not take French employment. France welcomes residents. It protects its labor market.

How the Application Process Works

The process runs through two systems:

1. France-Visas (online application portal)

2. TLS Contact (in-person appointment center)

You will:

• Complete the online application

• Assemble supporting documents

• Schedule an appointment

• Provide Biometrics

• Pay the visa fee

• Wait for approval

Biometrics simply means fingerprints and a photo. It is administrative, not invasive. The appointment is structured and procedural. Your documents matter more than your personality.

Core Requirements

The VLS-TS Visitor Visa requires a defined set of documents. These are not optional, and they are consistent across U.S. consulates.

Applicants must provide:

• A valid passport

• Completed long-stay visa application

• Passport-format photographs

• Proof of accommodation in France

• Proof of sufficient financial means

• Schengen-compliant health insurance

• A signed sworn statement confirming you will not work in France

Additional supporting documentation may be required depending on your situation (retired, self-employed, remote worker, etc.), but the core requirements are standardized.

The key is not creativity. It’s organization. The goal is to make your file easy to approve.

Timeline

You can begin the process up to three months before your planned departure date.

Processing time typically ranges from a few weeks to over a month depending on season and consulate volume. Applying early reduces stress.

What Most Applicants Underestimate

The visa process itself is not complicated.

What creates problems is:

• Incomplete documentation

• Poor financial presentation

• Insurance that does not meet requirements

• Waiting too long to start

• Missing post-arrival validation steps

The system is predictable when approached methodically.

After You Arrive in France

Within three months of arrival, you must validate your VLS-TS visa online. This step activates your legal residency status. Failing to validate creates avoidable administrative issues.

Complete it promptly and retain confirmation.

If You Want the Full Roadmap

This page outlines the structure. But the sequencing, document formatting, financial thresholds, provider decisions, appointment strategy, and first-year realities are where most Americans stumble.

That’s why I wrote Get Frenched.

It’s the exact step-by-step roadmap to move to France. It shows you exactly how I moved to France — the order I followed, the documents I used, the decisions I made — so you can follow the same path without learning the hard way.

If you’re going to do this, do it properly.

Start with the book.

[Start with Get Frenched]