Long stay visa (stay of more than 3 months to 1 year)

Verified 09 octobre 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Your situation

  • You're French
  • You reside in France
  • You want to bring your children up to and including 21 years
  • Your children are of another nationality
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Please note

The visa shall not be issued in the following cases:

  • Foreigner who has been under an obligation to leave France for less than 5 years and who does not provide proof that he left France within the time limit granted to him, except in humanitarian circumstances
  • Nationals of States insufficiently cooperating on readmission, except for spouses of French nationals
  • Foreigner who has been the subject of a judicial ban on the territory, an expulsion decision, a ban on return to the territory of France, a ban on movement within the territory of France or an administrative ban on the territory.

In some cases, you may be exempt from a long-stay visa.

Long-stay visa waivers

If you have a ‘retired’ or ‘retired spouse’ residence card, you can enter France at any time for stays of less than 1 year without applying for a visa.

If you have a residence card " seasonal worker », you can enter France to work without exceeding a cumulative duration of 6 months per year.

Exemptions from long-stay visas under EU law

You are exempt from VLS, in accordance with the directives of the

  • Citizen European
  • Third foreigner holding the ‘residence card of a family member of a Union citizen’ issued by a Member State of theUE 
  • Holder of the long-term resident card granted in another Member UE and your family members 
  • Third foreigner with ICT employee status in another Member UE on the basis of long-term mobility and posted to an entity established in France, as well as their spouse and minor children
  • Foreigner who has stayed for at least 1 year in another Member UE of the State under cover of a card identical to the one in France marked « talent – European Blue Card » and his family.

Exemptions under international agreements

You are exempt from long-stay visas under international agreements if you are a national of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or the Holy See/Vatican.

There are different types of visas depending on the reason and length of your stay and your intention to install permanently in France.

Long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS): valid from 4 to 12 months

That visa says VLS-TS, is valid as a residence permit and waives the need for a residence permit in the prefecture upon arrival in France.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Administrative information by telephone - Allô Service Public

    • accès

      For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.

      Please note: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.

    • horaires
      • Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15Fermeture exceptionnelle le mercredi 11 novembre
      • Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15

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