Dabbling in Jet Lag
Applying for a long-stay French visa (or Visa de Long Séjour) can be a long and tedious process. It seems like the paperwork is never-ending, and just when you think you’ve finished it’s time to renew your visa.
I have a lot of experience applying for long-term French visas. In fact, I am, currently, applying for French citizenship.
This step-by-step guide will focus on applying for the long-stay (spouse of a French citizen) visa. I will take you through the entire process, and provide you with all the information you need.
Table of Contents
- Types of Long Stay French Visas (for Americans)
- How to Apply for a Long Stay French Visa (Spouse of a French Citizen)
- Renewing Your Visa
Types of Long-Stay French Visas (for Americans)
The type of visa required for U.S citizens to enter France depends both on the duration and the purpose. There are different visas depending on if you are a tourist, a student, married to a French citizen, or have a job.
If you are traveling to France and plan on staying for 90 days or less, then, as a US citizen, you don’t need a visa.
If you plan on moving abroad to France and staying longer than 90 days, you will need a visa.
There are several long-stay visa categories, including:
- Employed (with at least a year-long contract).
- Temporary worker (with a contract between three months and one year).
- Scientific researcher.
- Student or intern.
- Spouse of a French citizen.
- Spouse of foreign national legally living in France.
- Visitor with accommodation, travel insurance, and sufficient funds.
I have had two types of visas while living in France, a scientific researcher visa and a spouse of a French citizen visa.
This guide will cover how to apply for a long-stay visa – spouse of a French citizen.
How to Apply for a Long-Stay French Visa (Spouse of a French Citizen)
To join a family member in France you will need to apply for a long-stay visa. You must be a legal resident in the country where you submit your application.
Step 1: Brace Yourself
Take a deep breath and get ready for the endless amount of paperwork.
Step 2: Submit Your Application Online
Go to the official French visa website. Create an account and fill out the online application form.
After you submit your online application, you will need to print your submitted application.
You will also get a registration receipt by email. It contains your application number and a list of documents you will need to submit at your in-person appointment.
Important: You can’t apply for this visa more than three months before your arrival date.
Step 3: Schedule Your Appointment
Your country of residence will determine the location of your appointment.
After you submit your application, you will need to schedule your in-person appointment. In most cases, this will be your nearest French consulate. In others, it will be a visa application center, like TLScontact or VFS Global.
Important: There is usually a long wait for appointments. Book an appointment as soon as you have submitted the online application.
Step 4: Gather the Paperwork
Once you have made your appointment, you will need to gather all the necessary documents.
Required Documents:
- 2 Copies of your Long-Stay Visa application form.
- 2 Copies of your passport + original.
- 1 Recent French marriage certificate. The date on the marriage certificate must be within three months. For weddings celebrated outside France, the marriage must be registered in France. Certificates can be ordered here. Be aware that you must select where the marriage was celebrated (in France or outside France). These are two different services and it’s important to select the correct one. You MUST submit an original, copies are not accepted.
- 2 Copies of your “Livret de Famille” (Family Book) + original. (Only the pages containing your and your spouse’s information.)
- Proof of your spouse’s French nationality – This can be either a copy of their passport or identity card + original. (2 Copies)
- 2 Recent photographs (sized to EU specifications). Here are the French visa photograph requirements. The size is important. It’s not the same as the US passport photo.
- 1 Copy of your plane or train ticket. This is proof of your arrival date and your entry location.
- Proof of your current country of residence. (Two Documents are required. Bank statements, electricity bill, etc. all must be dated within three months.)
- Written and signed letter by the French national certifying the transfer of residence to France for the couple. (You should have a handwritten version as well as a typed version).
- 1 Copy of your appointment letter. (This is not for your application, but you will need it to enter the consulate or the visa application center.)
Bring the following additional documents, in case there is a mistake:
- 2 Blank copies of the Long Stay Visa application. If you made a mistake, they will ask you to resubmit the application, and you want to have a backup ready. Blank Long-stay visa application forms can be found here and here.
- An extra copy of each of the above documents.
Important: There is no fee when you submit your application. Free admission is granted to spouses of French citizens. But, you will pay a fee when you enter France (see below), so it’s not free.
Important: Some consulates or visa application centers want all non-French documents to be translated. I applied in the UK and submitted everything in English. This is not always the case, so check carefully!
Step 5: The Appointment
On the day of your appointment, you will be asked to submit all the above paperwork. You will also need to show the originals. So, make sure not to forget anything.
Important: You will turn over your passport and your spouse’s passport/French ID card. So, do not make any travel plans during this time.
Important: If there is a document missing or any mistakes, you will have to make a new appointment. In some cases, you will be allowed to provide everything by the end of the business day. So, make sure you have extra copies. I also had everything stored on my phone, I brought my laptop, and a USB stick.
Step 6: Your Application is Accepted
Your application will be reviewed and, if everything is in order, it will be submitted for a final review. This will take about 15 days depending on your situation.
Once your application is accepted you will receive an email or text stating that you can collect your documents.
Your passport will contain a 1-year visa. You will also receive a document containing instructions for the next steps. Don’t lose this document, it contains the amount you will need to pay to validate your long-stay visa.
Step 7: Validating Your Visa
Once you arrive in France you will need to validate your visa. This is all done online.
First, you will need to create an account on the “foreign nationals in France” website.
Second, you will need to purchase what is called a timbre or a virtual stamp. You can purchase your timbre here. The amount you owe is on the document that was given to you by the consulate. I paid €250.
Third, log back into the “foreign nationals in France” website and validate your visa. This is done by entering the number on your timbre.
Finally, you will receive a validation certificate by email. Do NOT lose this document. It is required to renew your visa.
Step 8: Medical Appointment
Now that you are officially registered you will need to undergo a medical evaluation.
You will receive a letter from the OFII (Office Française De L’Immigration) stating the date, time, and location of your appointment. Don’t miss this appointment, it’s very difficult to reschedule.
At the appointment, you will undergo a full examination. After which, you will receive a certificate stating that you completed the examination. Do NOT lose this document you will be asked to present it over and over.
Step 9: Civic Training Courses
You will also receive a welcome visit letter from the OFII (Office Française De L’Immigration). This letter should arrive around the same time you receive your medical appointment.
There are four full-day civic training courses required by the OFII. The first of these is called a welcome visit. It involves a language test as well as an interview.
The interview is designed to help you settle in France. You will get information on how to find a job, apply for a medical card (carte vital), etc.
The language test is for A1 level (beginner level). It’s not required to speak French before arriving, but I would recommend having a basic level of understanding. Your life will be much easier. If you don’t pass the language test, you will have the opportunity to enroll in free French courses.
At the end of the first day, you will receive two documents; 1. contrat d’intégration républicaine and 2. a language certificate. Safeguard both documents. You will need to present the originals when you renew your visa.
You will also schedule the next three civic training courses. These courses will cover the history, culture, and social system in France. It’s designed to provide you with all the information you will need to settle in France. They are long and tedious, but informative.
Once you have completed your four days, you will be able to renew your visa. This whole process will take about 6-8 months.
You will need to renew your visa roughly 3-6 months before your 1-year visa expires. (If you live in Paris, apply six months in advance.)
Renewing Your Visa
Congratulations, you’ve made it this far!
The first year goes very quickly. By the time you finish all the above requirements, you will need to renew your long-stay visa.
The process is fairly simple and quick (for the French system).
Step 1: Make an Appointment Online
First, you will need to make an appointment with your local prefecture. This can be done online. (Since I was living in Strasbourg, I applied at the Bas-Rhin Prefecture.)
A full list of prefectures can be found here. (Bas-Rhin Prefecture, Paris Prefecture)
Step 2: Gather the Paperwork
To renew your French visa, you will need the following documents (Originals and copies are required.):
- 2 Copies of your passport + original
- 2 Copies of your visa (+ original) and the validation certificate. This is the validation certificate you received when you arrived in France. Refer to Step 4: Validating your Visa.
- 2 Copies of your Livret de Famaille + original
- 1 Recent French marriage certificate. The date on the marriage certificate must be within three months. For weddings celebrated outside France, the marriage must be registered in France. Certificates can be ordered here. Be aware that you must select where the marriage was celebrated (in France or outside France). These are two different services and it’s important to select the correct one. You must submit an original, copies are not accepted.
- Proof of co-habitation (Two Documents are required.) – You will need to prove that you and your spouse live together. This can be bank statements, an electricity bill, or quittance de loyer (a rent receipt). Each document must be dated within three months.
- 3 Recent photographs (sized to EU specifications).
- 1 Copy of the Contrat d’intégration républicaine (Step 5: Civic Training Courses). You will need to show the original, but do NOT turn it in.
- Convocation letter with your appointment date and time. You would have received this letter either by email or in the mail.
- Déclaration de Communauté de Vie – This example is for Bas-Rhin. You will need to fill out the declaration that corresponds to your department.
Step 3: The Appointment
Both you and your spouse are required to attend the appointment.
At your appointment, you will submit all the above documents, and, you will need to show the originals. If everything is correct, you will be issued a Récépissé.
A récépissé is a temporary permit issued to you while you wait for your Titre de Séjour (resident permit).
Step 4: Collecting Your Titre de Séjour
After a few months, you will receive a letter stating that your Titre de Séjour (resident permit) is ready.
Before you can collect your Titre de Séjour you will have to purchase a timbre (i.e. renewal fee). This is the same website as above and can be found here.
After payment, you will receive a receipt by email. You will need to show this receipt when you pick up your Titre de Séjour.
Now, you can take a break! You have two years before you will need to renew your Titre de Séjour. While it was a long process, there are a lot of advantages to having a long-stay French visa. The most obvious is that you will be eligible to apply for French citizenship. And, I don’t need to state the advantages of having an EU passport.
Bon Courage!
Don’t forget to check out my list of pros and cons of living in France. It’s a great place to get started and it will help answer any questions you have about your new home!
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I hope you enjoyed my step-by-step guide to applying for a long-stay French visa. Here are some more articles about France that I think you might enjoy.
Interesting but I do see certain parts of the process are different at some point … I was surprised you get a letter here we only get a text to let us know is ready to pick up a very basic text reminding you as well to buy the timbre, then you have to try the lottery of online to try to get an appointment , then finally go pick up your titre de sejour,,yes during covid here no titre de sejour mailed .. wow crazy how it changes even within prefectures from same department .. ????????????♀️
Yes! From what I have seen you will either get a text, an email, or a letter. It’s like a game…they don’t want to make it consistent because that would be too easy. 🙂 I found the process of getting an appointment in Strasbourg much easier than in Paris. Even looking at the websites, Strasbourg is way easier than Paris. It’s actually one of the reasons we decided to leave Paris. We knew it was going to be an uphill battle for the 10-year resident card and the passport, so we opted for a smaller city where it’s usually easier. (Well you saw the same thing for the marriage. Everything is much easier outside Paris.)
Hi!
I have applied my French mariage certificate through online for my long stay visa. Once the certificate is ready, i can download it from my account. I read your blog and You have mentioned that we have to submit original certificate. What do you mean by that?
Thanks
Hi Lakshana
So, your marriage certificate is issued by the French government via this website (https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1432). Please make sure you select the correct location of your marriage (whether it was in France or not). It must be less than 3 months old when you go for your long-stay visa appointment. You will receive an original certificate in the mail (usually within a few days of ordering it)…you can’t print this document. So, I meant that you can’t submit a copy of this certificate (i.e., you can’t print it out) it must be the original issued by the government. Does that answer your question? Please let me know.
Hi!
Thank you so much for your reply. If I can’t get the printable version of PDF File. What should I do? How can I submit this document? Is there any other way?
Thank you in advance.
Hi Lakshana
They will send you one in the mail, so I would not worry about that. In my experience, they are pretty efficient. If you are having a problem I would call where you are sending your application or where you have your interview and explain your situation. If you can’t receive mail where you are then I would again call and explain the situation. Or have the certificate delivered maybe to a friend’s place where you can pick it up. I don’t know your specific situation so it’s a bit difficult for me to say exactly what you should do. But if I can provide a better explanation please let me know.
I am from Sri Lanka.Thank you so much for your reply. If I get the certificate by email then I can manage my appointment. Can I use the certificate sent by email? Is that so?
It is so kind of you to help me. Once again Thank you so much.
Ah ok, I see. And you are applying as the spouse of a French citizen? Terribly sorry, I just want to sure I completely understand.
For getting the certificate by email, you would have to call (or send them an email) and ask if you can get the certificate by email. As far as I know, you can only get it by mail.
I’ve been in your shoes so I know how hard it can be!
Thank you so much for your reply!
Yes. I am applying for a spouse visa. I understand now. I will try to send them an email and see.
Yes, I think that would be the best option. If you have any more questions or if I can be of any more help just let me know! 🙂
Sure! Thank you so much!😊
Hello! Do you have a template of the letter about the relocation to France as a couple?
Hi Karla,
So, I provided a letter written by my husband that stated I was changing my residency from the UK to France. I didn’t use a specific template, but I can show you what I submitted. I was living in the UK at the time and he was already in France, but it can still work if you are living together outside of France. We made an official letter so that is what I describe below.
In the top left, I had the address and phone number of my husband who had an apartment in Paris. Then one line below that on the right I had the address of the TLSContact (where I was applying for my visa).
The letter continued as follows:
Oject: Attestation sur l’honneur de transfert de résidence principle pour (insert your name)
Je soussigné, NAME, né(e) DATE OF BIRTH à PLACE OF BIRTH, demeurant au INSERT FULL ADDRESS OF YOUR SPOUSE IF THEY HAVE A PLACE IN FRANCE, certifie sur l’honneur qu’à du INSERT DATE OF ARRIVAL, mon épouse, INSERT NAME, né(e) INSERT DATE OF BIRTH à PLACE OF BIRTH actuellement domicilée au INSERT CURRENT ADDRESS, prendra comme résidence principale l’adresse suivante: INSERT FULL FRENCH ADDRESS WHERE YOU WILL BE LIVING.
Fait à INSERT PLACE WHERE YOU WROTE THE LETTER le INSERT DATE
Fait pour servir et valoir ce que de droit
Sign the letter
Hope that helps. Please let me know if you need anything else.
Thank you Jen! This is really helpful.
Great! 🙂 Let me know if I can do anything else to help.
I have a question about this visa.. are you allowed to freely fly in an out of France back to your home country (in my case the USA)? I cannot find any information on this. I know some visas become invalid if you leave or not let you return within a certain number of days.
Thank you so much for any information!
Hi Paola
You can freely fly from France to the US (and back) on this visa. I’ve done this several times and never had any problems. (You will need to show your visa at the time of check-in and at immigration but that’s all.)
Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions.
Hello! I arrived in France last week and I already validated the visa. How long did you receive the letter from OFII after validation? It’s been a week since I validated mine but I haven’t received anything from OFII. Thanks.
Hi Karla,
You will get two letters: one for the medical appointment and the second for the first of the four OFII appointments. I got my visa in May and validated it right away, as you have done, and my appointments were in August. So, it can take some time before the letters arrive. I validated my visa in Paris so that’s why it took a bit long. If you are in a smaller city, it might be faster.
Hope that helps. If you have any more questions, please let me know.
Thank you Jen! Now I know that it might take times for the letters to arrived 😬
Yes, everything related to administration takes time in France. 🙂
Hello, can you help with details for spouse of foreign national legally residing in France or are the requirements the same with french citizens?
Thank you.
Hi Glory,
The process is slightly different. I have not applied for this type of visa myself, but a lot of the advice in my article here can help you (in terms of what you need for each type of document).
I would suggest you go to this website: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/ai-je-besoin-d-un-visa
Fill out your information and they will give you the full details on what you need to do (since I don’t know all of your information I would not be able to tell you exactly what to do). A lot of it depends on your nationality, your spouse’s nationality, and their reason for being in France.
Here is what the French government says about this type of visa:
Person regularly residing in France for at least 18 months:
The “family reunion” procedure, which allows you to join your family in France must be followed by your spouse or parent (if you are under 18 years of age) and be submitted to the Direction Territoriale de l’Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration (OFII ) in your place of residence. You must be able to prove that you have sufficient and regular resources in order to support your family as well as provide adequately-sized accommodation. The local Préfecture (i.e. in the place of residency) will determine whether these conditions have been met.
Once the application has been accepted by the police station, the consular services will contact you to issue your long-stay visa, which is valid for three months. You will then be issued with a residence permit which must be applied for at the police station in the département where you reside.
Refugee status, person benefiting from subsidiary or stateless protection:
If the refugee benefits from subsidiary or stateless protection and is aged over 18, you can apply for a “family reunion” long-stay visa if you are:
His or her spouse/partner (joined by a civil union), aged 18 years or older, provided that the marriage or union is prior to the date the asylum application was submitted.
A child of a couple aged under 19 years of age when the asylum application file was submitted
His/her child under 18 years of age or that of the spouse whose direct line of descent has only been established with respect to the spouse; the other parent is dead or deprived of parental rights
His/her child aged under 18 years of age or that of his/her spouse entrusted to one or the other by virtue of a decision of a foreign court
If the refugee, beneficiary of subsidiary protection or stateless, is an unmarried minor, applications for long-stay family reunification visas may be submitted by his or her parents (direct first-degree ascendant), accompanied where appropriate by their unmarried, minor, dependant children.
If you have any questions about paperwork please let me know. I suspect a lot of it is very similar.
Hope that helps!
Jen
Hi!
I’m married with a french. Its been almost one year that im here in France. Today I had my interview for renewal of my spouse visa. But when they mailed me they did not told me to go there with my husband. I went there alone with all my papers. The madame told me that where is your husband. I can not take your interview without your husband and you have to make a new RDV. My visa has already been expired. Can you tell me how can I have a new RDV and how many time will it take?
Hi Bushra,
I’m really sorry they did not make that clear to you. To make a new appointment you will have to go to the website of your prefecture. They should have an option for you to make another appointment. (In google type: rendez-vous titre de sejour XXX where XXX is the name of the city where you are applying. For the length of time, that will depend. In Paris, it can be a few months but in smaller towns, like Strasbourg, it’s only a few weeks.
If you have any more questions please let me know. I’m always happy to help.
Jen
My husband is currently in France as a tourist and is going to fill in the application for the long term spouse visa. Do you know the average delay before obtaining the appointment at the consulate? Can we choose the date? In other words, he will have to come back to the States for the appointment but he would like his stay in US to be quick so he can come back asap with his long term visa and not get « stuck » in US for 3 months again.
Hi Cecile,
It depends on the consulate. For me, it took 3 months to get an appointment, and once I submitted my application I had my visa within 10 days. For some consulates or visa centers, if you are willing to pay for an express service you can have an appointment the same week. I didn’t do that, but I remember the price being roughly $100-200. Either way, you can choose your date.
I hope that helps.
If you have any more questions, please let me know.
Jen
Hello, should my US passport and Californoa ID contain my new surname (after marriage) before applying for a long stay visa to join my husband in France? In other words, do my government documents need to state my new name before I can apply for the long stay visa?
Hi Lauren,
If you officially changed your name then your documents (passport and ID) will have to show your new surname before you apply for your visa. If you haven’t changed your name, but are planning to, I would update all your documents before applying for the visa. It’s best if everything matches because it will be a lot of paperwork afterward. Ideally the surname that is on your livret de famille should be the same one that is on your passport.
I hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions. I’m happy to help.
Cheers
Jen
Thank you Jen for your response! The information is much appreciated.
Hi,
I found this article super helpful, so thank you!
My question is regarding the more long term plans of someone marrying a French citizen and planning to stay in France. Visa renewal can’t be very sustainable..?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Lauren,
Glad you found it helpful! 🙂
After you get your first visa, which lasts one year, you get a two-year resident card. Then, you can apply for a 10-year resident card (if you have an A2 level in French and have lived in France for 3 years). Then, when you’ve been married 4 for four years and have lived in France for at least 3 years, you can apply for the nationality (you will need a B1 level in French). If you have been married for 4 years and have been living in France for 3 years, you can apply directly for the nationality and skip the 10-year card. (But sometimes it can take up to a year to process your application, so having the 10-year card is a nice safety net.)
So, in my case, my 2-year resident card just finished and I submitted my application for the 10-year resident card (last week 🙂 ). Then, this November, my husband and I will be married for 4 years so I can apply to get a French passport.
I hope that helps a bit more. If you have any more questions, please let me know. I’m always happy to help.
Jen
Wow okay got it thank you very very much!
Cool! If you have any more questions, just let me know. 🙂
Hi. I’m from Canada and on a Working Holiday visa. I’m in Paris with my french national husband. I was wondering if you know if I can apply for the spouse visa without having to leave France? Do you think I can submit all the paperwork at the Paris embassy? We just had a baby and we don’t want to do long distance for months while waiting.
Hi Ira,
Terribly sorry for the delay in my response. I tried to look up your particular situation, but I wasn’t able to find something that guaranteed you could stay in France and apply. For the holiday working visa that you currently have, do you have the right to work or is it just a visitor’s visa (ie 90 days)? If you are on a working visa, you can change your status without having to leave the country. If you are on just a holiday visa, I think you might have to go home or apply from the country where you claim residence. However, if you can apply for fast processing. It’s a bit more expensive, but it will allow you to get an appointment right away.
If you have any more questions or need any additional help please let me know.
Again, I’m really sorry for my delayed response.
Jen
Hi,
Do I need to submit my original passport for visa renewal? Can I leave France during the renewal period?
Thx
Hi Chole,
You don’t need to submit your passport. At your appointment, you’ll need to show your original passport and submit a photocopy of your passport. You can leave France during the renewal period. You will be issued what is called a récépissé that you will need to have with you to re-enter the country. Your récépissé is only valid when shown with your expired titre de sejour, so always make sure to have both. As an example, at the airport, you’ll need to show your récépissé, your expired titre de sejour, and your passport before re-entering France.
I hope that makes sense. Just let me know if you have any more questions. 🙂
Jen
Thx, Jen! It’s very helpful. This is my 1st year here and I haven’t obtain my titre de sejour yet and the appointment with OFII is next week.
May I know when they will issue me the titre the sejour?
Thx
Hi Chloe,
Ah ok I see. So, then the same thing applies. You will still be issued a récépissé, but then you will need to have your expired visa with you (but that is just in your passport so that is not something extra you need to carry around.). You will get your titre de sejour when your visa renewal is due. So, you will have a visa for the first year, then a titre de sejour for two years, then you can apply for a 10 year resident card and/or nationality (depending on your personal situation).
I hope that helps. Just feel free to send me a message anytime with any questions. I know it can be stressful and the process can get a bit frustrating at times.
Jen
Thanks so much, Jen!
Dear Jen,
I have attended the meeting with OFII last week and at the same time, the appointment for 3 days formations is done. However, until now I still not ywt receive letter for medical examination. I am just wondering why it takes so long or it is normal?
Thanks!
Hi Chloe,
Yes, this is normal. My medical appointment was about 4 weeks after my first OFII meeting. You will get notified, so don’t worry about this. I know everything seems a bit all over the place, but it all gets sorted.
If you have any more questions please let me know. 🙂
Jen
Thx, Jen!
Thank you so much for this helpful post. I am a US citizen. I have filled out the application and booked my appointment for the VLS for a spouse of a french citizen.
However, the required documents list on my application does not contain three items you list:
1. Copy of your plane or train ticket.
2. Proof of your current country of residence. (2 Documents are required. Bank statements, electricity bill, etc. all must be dated within 3 months.)
3. Written and signed letter by the French national certifying the transfer of residence to France for the couple. (You should have a handwritten version as well as a typed version).
Where did you learn that these documents are required? Were they listed on your application as required documents? Were they checked at your appointment? Thank you again!
Hi Cecily,
These documents were asked of me at my appointment, but I had them ready. When I applied for my spousal visa, it was my second time moving to France and I was used to them asking for documents that were not on the list (seems to be a specialty of the administration in France ;)). The first one I brought because I knew I couldn’t apply for a visa more than three months in advance of my departure so I assumed they would check. The second one I brought because at every visa or visa renewal appointment they asked me for proof of residence, so I was ready for that. I was also living in the UK at the time, so I wanted proof that I was living there and hadn’t moved. Then for the last one, my husband had done some research and made some calls and found that they can ask for this letter so we added it just in case. They might not ask you for any of these, but if they do and you don’t have them you’ll have to come back (which can be annoying). I always like to be ultra prepared. 🙂
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any more questions or if I can clarify something.
Jen
Hi Jen,
I have the same concern that Cecily brought up. I’m an American who just married my French spouse in France last week, and I’ve returned to the US just to complete the visa process. I had my appointment at the VFS in D.C. two days ago and am waiting to receive my passport back so that I can return to France. I gave them only the paperwork listed on the French visa website, and they didn’t ask for anything else. I have a flight back to France next week and really cannot afford to have my visa denied! I can change my flight a few days if need be, but I really cannot be stuck in D.C. for months. I am just a bit worried because I did not have the supplemental documents you listed. I’m wondering if you have any experience with or know anyone who was denied this type of visa? Of course I am sitting around in D.C. stressed about receiving my passport back, and now I am doubly worried after reading your post! Haha. Not sure that I really asked a question, but mostly I’m just wondering what you think about it. I didn’t really know that they could deny a spouse visa.
I am also curious about they medical appointment, etc. that accompanies “validating” the visa once back in France. I also didn’t see any of that discussed on the French visa website. The officer at VFS also did not mention this to me. Do they communicate this information once they return your passport?
Sorry for being all over the place!
Thank you,
Sanibel
Hi Sanibel,
No worries! I was once in the same position. If they didn’t ask you at your appointment, you won’t or don’t have to turn it in. As with all French administration processes, they request different paperwork at different offices. This post contains everything to cover the worst-case scenario so that you can be ready. And these were the documents I (and a few other expats) had to submit. (But if they didn’t ask you then you don’t have to submit them.) Also, don’t worry about being denied. If they took your paperwork then that means all is ok. If there is something missing they will contact you so you can turn it in. From my personal experience…they wanted to see my husband’s passport and not only a copy of it. I received an email with the dates I could come back (they were super flexible) and went to in to show his passport. They then handed me my passport with my visa inside right then and there (this was not even 10 days after I submitted my application.). So, don’t worry they won’t deny you…they might ask for another document, but, again, very unlikely.
For the validation, you will get this information with visa. Either they will hand you a document with your passport or you will get an email. I had a piece of paper handed to me with my passport. But in case you need here is a link: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/web/france-visas/your-arrival-in-france
Click on “Long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS)” and you will have instructions for validating your visa. I would do this as soon as you arrive so you can get the process started.
The medical appointment is standard and you will get something in mail about it. It usually comes after you get your dates for your first integration course. Mine took about two or three months to arrive.
If you have any more questions don’t hesitate to send me a message. I know the process is confusing and a bit frustrating sometimes..but don’t worry it does all work out and things get sorted.
Jen
I am married to a French wife. I have a Carte de Sejour Plurrianelle (spelling?) valid for three years. I want to apply for ten year Resident Card. I got my A1 certificate. Do I need A2 or am I exempt as I am 68 years old? Also any talk about new proposed language requirements impacting my situation.?
Merci Jen
North S.
Hi North,
I would check the 10-year resident card requirements that are with your prefecture. My guess is that you don’t, given your age.
I checked at my prefecture (Bas-Rhin) and this is what they said: tout document de nature à attester de votre niveau suffisant de connaissance de la langue française, par exemple le diplôme initial de langue française (DILF) (sauf si vous êtes est âgé(e) de plus de 65 ans).
I haven’t heard anything that would impact you, but, again, I would check with your prefecture.
I hope that helps.
Jen
Hi! my mother-in-law has a long stay visa she is married to a French citizen. Whithout knowing she spent more than 90 days, (95 days) outside of France while she was in Miami Florida. She just found out she has to go back because of this rule, she understands now that she cannot spend more than 90 days outside of France with her long stay visa. She is planning to leave in 3 days, do you know anything about this?, what are the consequences if any?, I have been reading online and haven’t found anything, please help! thank you!!!
Hi Carolina,
I have never heard of that rule before. I also tried to look it up and I couldn’t find anything. I have a long-stay visa (spouse of a french citizen) and I’ve been outside Frace for 4 months at a time (twice in the last four years, in fact). I didn’t have any problems upon returning either. If she has a long-stay visa (spouse of a french citizen), a resident permit, or an expired resident permit with a récépissé then she shouldn’t have an issue.
I hope that helps, and please let me know if you have any more questions.
Jen
Thank you for your answer! I really appreciate it. Love your blog!
Thank you! If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to send me a message. 🙂
Jen
Jen when you said you traveled for 4 months at a time, did you leave the Schengen area by any chance? we are not sure if this might be the issue, because she left the Schengen area, she is in USA going back next week to France. thank you for your help!
Hi Carolina,
So, both times I was outside the Schengen area. The first time I was traveling in South America for four months and the other time I was in the US. And I hadn’t thought of it but there was also a third time and I was 3.5 months outside France. I was in the UK after they left the EU. I’ve been able to cross the border every time without an issue.
I hope that helps…I know how stressful it can be so don’t hesitate to ask me any questions if you need.
Jen
Hi Jen, sorry to bother you again, i posted a reply yesterday but i am not sure of you received it and its not showing so maybe it didn’t go through. I was asking you about the trips you told me you took for 4 months outside of France, I was wondering if they were outside of the Schengen area, since my mother-in-law has been in USA for more than 90 days (outside the Schengen area). She is married to a French citizen and has the long stay visa. Thank you again!
Hi Carolina,
No worries. I have to approve every comment and it took me just a tad bit of time this time. Terribly sorry about that. I just answered your previous comment. Please let me know if you got my answer or if you need any further explanation. 🙂
Jen
Thanks for the informations you have shared. Its a big help.
Anyway, are we allowed to leave the country after receiving the certificate of validation? Or have to wait after the appointments for integration and language etc.?
Thanks for the informations you have shared. Its a big help.
Anyway, are we allowed to leave the country after receiving the certificate of validation? Or have to wait after the appointments for integration and language etc.?
Thank you
Hi Joy
Yes, you are allowed to leave the country. These other appointments will take some time, but they are not required to leave the country. In some departments, they are required before you renew your visa.
I hope that helps! If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
Cheers
Jen
Hello,
Thanks for this info! When first coming to France on the Visa Long Stay, are you immediately eligible to work in the first year?
Thanks!
Steve
Hi Steve,
Yes, you are eligible to work in the first year.
Cheers
Jen
Thanks Jen! I’m also planning on moving to Strasbourg with my French spouse (her hometown) from the US. These steps have been really helpful. Did you have a job in France already while going through this process? Or did you have to wait until completing all the steps (validating visa, medical exam, civics course, etc) before applying? Also, given your experience with Switzerland, do you know if you can work remotely in France with this visa for a company based in Switzerland?
Thanks again!
-Steve
Hi Steve,
Glad you found it useful. I didn’t have a job before going through this process. Once I got my visa, I started applying for positions. This is because nobody can hire you until they can verify that you have the ‘right to work’ in France. You don’t need to go through the medical exam and the civic courses before applying for a job. As for the visa validation, you’ll do that right when you arrive and no job will ask you for that. It’s just to let the government know you’ve successfully arrived and you’re in France. But do this right away…I did this within minutes of walking into my apartment.
The only way you can have a job before arriving is if you’re on a work visa (i.e. a company hires you for a specific role and they help you apply for the visa). But this is a pain. You’re current spouse visa (or the one you will get) is much better and gives you far more rights. So, even if you have to wait until you get you’re visa it’s worth it.
When I was in Switzerland I was on a work visa and wasn’t married at the time. But when we moved to Strasbourg, I had some offers from Switzerland and this became a real question. Sadly, the visa that you have only gives you the right to work in France. Your spouse will have to move to Switzerland and then you can apply for a job. Then you would need a work permit for Switzerland. (I know for some countries you can’t work until your spouse has been working and earning a certain amount for a few years…I’m not sure if that applies to Switzerland or not..but if it’s something you’re considering be sure to double check.) You could apply for job in Switzerland then move there on a work permit and your spouse could move with you. But this is risky because if you loose your job you’ll have to leave and you won’t have a ton of rights (like unemployment, social security, etc…)
I hope that helps some. If you have any more questions just let me know.
Jen
Thanks Jen for the very detailed response, super helpful!
So it sounds like once you’ve got the 1-year visa in your passport (Step 6) you have the ‘right to work’ in France, correct?
To add more context, I currently work for a Swiss based company in the US and they have offices in France. I’m currently in talks to see if my role can be moved to one of the French offices so showing them I have a ‘right to work’ upon arrival in France helps my case as the company wouldn’t have to go through any additional visa/work permit processes.
Hi Steve
Yes, that is correct.
Ah ok I see…yeah they wouldn’t have to pay for your visa and they could ‘hire’ you without having to go through the process of proving they couldn’t find an EU citizen to do the same job (because you have this right to work). Additionally, it’s better for you if they don’t pay for your visa. In my experience when a company does that you are often bound to them for several years. This happened to me in the UK. Not only was I bound to them but I also couldn’t apply for another job. It was a bit stressful at one moment and I was happy when I was in France on a spouse visa.
You’ll also be on the fast track to the French nationality. So, if you learn French, in four years you can have a French passport…and then you live and work wherever you want in the EU. 🙂
Ah yes! Welcome to Strasbourg…it’s a lovely city. And Alsace is great (tons of extra cool things if you live in this part of France…2 extra vacation days and extra healthcare benefits)!
Hope that helps. Any more questions just let me know.
Jen
Definitely helps, thanks for sharing your insights! We are very excited to move and experience everything Alsace & Strasbourg have to offer 🙂
What was your experience with the the French language before and after living in France? How long did it take you to be conversational and are you fluent now?
I’ve been studying French for the last 2 years with a tutor and I would say I’m probably around the A2-B1 range. I’ve been told that within 3 months of being fully immersed, I should be very strong/confident in my conversational skills, but I’m still doubting this given all the complexities of the French language.
Thanks!
-Steve
Hi Steve,
I studied a bit in high school, but I couldn’t speak at all. I would say I arrived with no skills whatsoever. 🙂
I started classes right away, but these were not that useful. Once I got a French tutor and started watching French TV/movies, my French improved dramatically. At work nobody spoke English…so that was also a huge motivation.
I would say I was conversationally fluent after about six months. It took a lot of hard work, but if you’re coming in with A2-B1 range you’ll be fine. I would agree with the three months timeline….if you fully immerse yourself. There are more people who speak English here in Alsace because it’s very international so it can be easy to fall into a trap. I recommend just forcing yourself to speak French all the time. It might be difficult (and tiring) at first, but it will really make a difference….especially when it comes time to deal with the administration.
Hope that helps.
Jen
Hello,
I arrived in France June 15th of this year on my first VLT-S spouse visa. I validated my visa online shortly after and received confirmation that it had been validated. Its been over three months and I still have not received anything from the OFII…is this normal?
Thank you so much,
Hannah
Hi Hannah,
Yes, that is normal. They are really slow and sometimes it can take quite a few months (especially if you are in Paris). (Most things that have to do with the administration are closed in July and August so I suspect they are super behind and it will take some time to catch up.)
I hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions.
Jen
Thank you so much for this information and your quick response 🙂
I do have one other question – I’ve just changed my address on the administration-etrangers website as I’ve moved from the temporary address I had when I first arrived in France. Do you have experience with this process? I’m hoping I won’t be convoked by OFII in Portiers and have to travel across France.
Hannah
Hi Hannah,
I did have this same problem. I moved from Paris to Strasbourg and had to transfer everything. I changed my address and didn’t have to go back to Paris….however. They did send several documents to my Paris address, which made things complicated because they were the originals. But I just told them that I never received them and they sent me new documents. So, just make sure you also forward all your mail to you new address, in case you run into this problem. If you don’t get your documents from the OFII then I would contact them again saying that you haven’t received anything and remind them that you moved. (When I reminded them that I moved, I attached an electricity bill and proof from my landlord, just in case they asked.)
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Jen
Hey Jen thank you so much this helps a lot.
No problem! If you have any more questions just let me know.
Your the best, thank you! How did you contact OFII to remind them of this? I’ve tried calling the office in Portiers many times and I literally always get a busy signal.
I sent an email. There is/was no way to call the OFII in Paris. I just checked on the website for Portiers and I could not find an email address. You could contact the OFII where you are currently located and explain to them the situation and that you are still waiting for your documents.
Hello Jen,
I’m following up on my last comments. I changed my address online a month ago and submitted proof of residence documents (or attempted too, it hasn’t actually changed yet and says its still processing.) I also notified OFII here in Grenoble that I have moved here and am waiting convocation.
My friend who lives at my prior address just received my convocation for OFII in Portiers in two weeks. I am struggling to get in touch with OFII Portiers now to tell them I have moved as the phone line doesn’t seem to work.
I’m not sure what to do as going to Portiers for these appointments is quite a hassle and disruptive to my work. Any advice?
Thank you again!
Hannah
Hi Hannah,
In this convocation, do they say how to contact them if you can’t make it? I remember having something in my letter…I guess it’s just the phone number that doesn’t work? They can’t expect you to go to this all the way from Grenoble, so I wouldn’t worry about it. As long as Grenoble knows you are there and you have transferred that is the most important. I would, however, be sure to have your friend send you this convocation so you have the original for your files. Then, I would try to send a letter recommandée to Portiers, explaining the situation. This way you have proof that you notified them and they officially received your notification. (If they have an address where you can send documents. If they don’t, I’m not sure there is anything you can do.)
Then, for Grenoble, I would be sure to tell you are only available on the weekends so you don’t have to miss work. I was able to put everything on Saturday, except for the first integration course and my medical appointment.
I hope that helps somewhat. If you have any more questions, just let me know.
Jen
Hi Jen,
Thank you so much for your super informative article. It’s really helpful.
I hope you can help with my coming question. My partner is French and we are not married yet. I’m Vietnamese. We are planning to get married in France next year. Due to the process of obtaining different papers before we can actually do a civil ceremony at the city hall, I guess I will need to stay in France for at least a few months and I’m planning to apply for a Tourist Long Stay Visa. I know this doesn’t match much with the one you were sharing but I was hoping that you might have some insight to share with me.
I’ve been trying to find some information about this type of visa but there aren’t many clues so far and the website of France consulate in Vietnam is quite vague to be honest.
Hope to hear from you and hope you are living your best life in France <3
Hi Jane,
I’m glad you found it useful.
I’m not entirely familiar with the procedures for Vietnamese citizens, but I think this website (https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/ma-demande-en-ligne) can help you.
Click on access visa application and it will allow you to put in your situation. From there it will tell you how to apply for the visa you need/want. I think it depends if you want to stay longer than 90 days.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Cheers
Jen
Hi Jen,
Thanks for your reply.
I did check on that link before I asked you actually. While it says that I can apply for a long stay visa under “tourist” purpose, I’m somehow anxious if they will indeed issue a long stay visa for tourist type. I did have a few multiple-entrance short stay visas in the past couple of years, fortunately. But not able to find any articles talking about the tourist long stay one online does make me wonder.
Anyway thank you for your help and again for the helpful article. If you happen to stumble on any post about a tourist long stay visa for France, I would greatly appreciate if you could drop me the link. Have a great rest of your day 😉
Hello Jen, I am Annaly, Ann for short, a Filipino citizen. Thank you for this articles of yours. I got an answer that has on my mind. However I still have some question that I need an answer from an experienced person like you.
My French national partner and I are planning to get married in France probably next year. I am currently residing and working in other country. After getting married in France, and will go back to my current location –
1) Do I need to change my Passports to carry my husband surname on it before I can apply for a Spouse Visa or Can I use my current valid passport with my old surname to apply for spousal visa?
2) If I can use my current passport with my old surname – when I can change my passport in France to carry the name of my husband?
3) Do you think Immigration lawyer expert is recommend to help us on this process or no need? Just DIY?
Looking forward to your response. Merci beauocup in Advance!
Hi Annaly,
The last name that you use for your visa should be the same last name that appears in your livret de famaille. So, I’m not sure how you go about doing that for the Philippines or where you can change your name, but you should check how that works specifically for your nationality.
So to answer your questions more specifically:
1. You will have to change your passport, if your livret de famaille has your husbands last name. It all needs to match, otherwise it will just creat complications later on (especially for your visa an the renewal).
2. I’m not sure when you can change your passport in France, if you change your surname before arriving. I think that would make things very complicated. I would, personally, change everything before if that’s what you want to do. That way everything matches.
3. If you feel more confident with a lawyer then that might be the way to go. I never got a lawyer for this process and did it myself. But I also never changed my last name because it was too much extra paperwork and far too complicated. I don’t want to tell you to get a lawyer and then it doesn’t work out or something. I’ve heard of people getting immigration lawyers and it being quite expensive.
I hope that helps. Please let me know if I can be of any more help.
Have a great rest of the weekend.
Jen
Thank you so much Jen for your response. I really appreciate. It helps me a lot to be more aware and understand what needs to be done for my future plan with my partner. 🙂
Hello Jen. Thank you for your response to my questions. I really appreciate and it helps me to understand more things about my future plan to move to France.
I have another question regarding the type of visa you need to select on their visa application form. I understand you have to apply for visa long de sejour/spouse visa. However, please advise what to select in the Visa application Form-
1. Under “Your plans?” – Is it “Entry Visa for beneficiary of the withdrawal agreement”?
2. Under “Main purpose of Stay”? Is it “Married Spouse”?
Thank you very much in advance again for your response.
Best Regard,
Annaly
Hi Annaly,
Unfortunately, since we are not of the same nationality, I can’t exactly tell you how to fill out your specific visa application form. For me, when I look online I don’t see these options you mention. I can only see family or private settlement “under you plans” (there are other options but this is the only one that applies to a spouse of a French citizen visa…from what I can see.)
I’m not sure if that helps or not. Please let me know if you have any more questions.
Jen
Hey,
Can you clarify what this step means?:
Written and signed letter by the French national certifying the transfer of residence to France for the couple. (You should have a handwritten version as well as a typed version).
Hi Lauren,
So, I provided a letter written by my husband that stated I was changing my residency from the UK to France. I didn’t use a specific template, but I can show you what I submitted. I was living in the UK at the time and he was already in France, but it can still work if you are living together outside of France. (It was not listed on the paper they gave me of things to bring but we found that other people had don’t it, so I brought it just in case they asked. I’m very meticulous about my paperwork…I’ve had so much experience with the French administration that I don’t leave anything to chance anymore. 🙂 )
So, we made an official letter and I put that below.
In the top left, I had the address and phone number of my husband who had an apartment in Paris. Then one line below that on the right I had the address of the TLSContact (where I was applying for my visa).
The letter continued as follows:
Oject: Attestation sur l’honneur de transfert de résidence principle pour (insert your name)
Je soussigné, NAME, né(e) DATE OF BIRTH à PLACE OF BIRTH, demeurant au INSERT FULL ADDRESS OF YOUR SPOUSE IF THEY HAVE A PLACE IN FRANCE, certifie sur l’honneur qu’à du INSERT DATE OF ARRIVAL, mon épouse, INSERT NAME, né(e) INSERT DATE OF BIRTH à PLACE OF BIRTH actuellement domicilée au INSERT CURRENT ADDRESS, prendra comme résidence principale l’adresse suivante: INSERT FULL FRENCH ADDRESS WHERE YOU WILL BE LIVING.
Fait à INSERT PLACE WHERE YOU WROTE THE LETTER le INSERT DATE
Fait pour servir et valoir ce que de droit
Sign the letter
Hope that helps. Please let me know if you need anything else.
Jen
Hello Jen, I hope you are doing well I must admit this blog has really helped me .. I am a Nigerian passport holder married to a French for nearly 4 years and we have been living in Indonesia but this year I applied for the vie privée/ famille long stay, I got my passport back in post in less than 1 week and now we are in Paris .. I arrived 10 December and 11 December I validated my visa online and got the validation letter , right now I am waiting for the medical appointment and civil training letter , the problem I have is we plan on living between Indonesia and france during the years.. can I leave france while I am still waiting for my OFII appointment and come back once I receive in the mail or email ..
Hi,
Glad you found it useful. Yes, you can leave France and come back. That’s what I did and I didn’t have any issues. Just be aware that the letter might arrive by post and not by email, so you want to be sure that you get the letter and are back in France on time.
Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions.
Hello Jen,
Im a spouse of a french national with two minor children, they are from my previous marriage. Now I decided to settle in France with my two children. How can I apply visa for my two children ? ( I already applied visa for myself under the catagory of long stay visa for spouse of french national.)
thanks
Hi Mike,
I, personally, don’t have any experience with visas for minors. But I suspect they would fall under family reunification. I don’t know if your spouse adopted them or if that could play a role or not. I did found this article (https://france-visas.gouv.fr/web/france-visas/family-of-foreign-national-residing-in-france). I’m not entirely sure about having to reside in France for 18 months first as they are minors…somehow that can’t right.
When I checked the long-stay visa application there was a section for minors. Did you add them there? I’m wondering if during your interview they could clarify this?
I’m not sure if that was helpful or not. Please let me know if you have any more questions.
Cheers
Jen
Thank you so much Jen for your response. I really appreciate ur service.
Yes actually I added my two children’s details there in my long stay visa application. I ll go through the link u shared and let u know. In the meantime if u come across any thing about this issue pls mention here.
thanks
Sure thing! Have a good weekend! 🙂
Hi! Thank you for sharing some great tips. I have a VLS-TS that’s expiring in six months, but my first OFII appointment will still be in March! There’s been a bit of a delay since I started using the visa only two months ago.
I’ve got a few questions:
1.) Are you required to live in France for a minimum number of days to be able to renew your visa? What if you’ve only actually lived in France for three months prior to visa renewal, will that be a ground for the French authorities to reject your application?
2.) With my trainings and language classes most likely to start around April and my visa expiring in August, how am I supposed to apply for a visa renewal six months prior to the expiry? Can you submit an application while still completing the prescribed classes/trainings? (I will most definitely be required to take at least 200 hours of classes, considering my limited knowledge of the French language).
Hi Lea,
Do you mean that for the one-year visa you received you only lived in France for 3 months out of the 12? I don’t think it would be grounds to reject you, especially if you’re have a Spouse of a French citizen visa. But I’ve never experienced that myself. I had to give my entry date so I just entered when I had my ticket.
My classes were late as well…so don’t worry about that. As long as you are doing them it will be fine. And for the French language, it depends on your level of French. If you’re doing the courses, it still should be fine. They really only check for the 10-year resident card, but, again, depends on your level. I passed the A1 test so I didn’t have any issues.
For applying six months in advance – I mean you should start gathering paperwork and look for an appointment. My department allows me to get an appointment 3 months in advance but I start looking for my paperwork ahead of time. Sometimes getting your name on the electricity bill takes time. So it’s a good idea to try and do that in advance so that when it comes time for your appointment you have proof of residence.
I hope that helps.
Jen
Thank you for this Jen, one of the most helpful forums I’ve found as I venture on this journey from the U.S. to France!
You mentioned you had to turn in your spouse’s French nationality card, original copy. My husband will already be in France, do you have details on if this is mandatory or workarounds?
Also we have a Livret de Famille, do you know if that would imply that our marriage is registered with the civil status registers of the consulate?
Thank you again for this! Way more detailed and helpful than the French consulate’s site. – Morgan
Hi Morgan,
I’m glad you found it useful. Unfortunately, there are no workarounds. I, actually, submitted my application without my husband’s ID. I explained he was already in France, so they let me submit my application. About three days later I got an email later saying he needed to come back and turn in his ID. You can try, as I did, but I have a feeling they won’t accept it.
For you next question, I’m not sure I understand. If you have a Livret de Famille that does mean your marriage is registered in France…I’m just not sure which consulate you are referring to. And you should be able to get a French marriage certificate without any problems.
I hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions. 🙂
Jen