Immigrate to France. Expert Guide to Routes in 2026

Why Move to France?

France offers a multitude of benefits, including a high quality of life with excellent healthcare, a rich cultural heritage, numerous sights to see, and a strong emphasis on work-life balance.

Other reasons people may want to move to France include its stunning scenery, ranging from Mediterranean beaches to the Alps’ mountains, renowned cuisine, and excellent transportation links to nearby European destinations.

Whilst cities like Paris can be expensive, you might be surprised to hear that food prices are generally affordable and the cost of living is largely cheaper than in the UK.

Who Needs a French Visa?

If you are an EU/EFTA citizen, you don’t need to apply for a French visa; however, you must apply for a residence permit (carte de séjour) or register at your local town hall (mairie).

Any spouses or dependent relatives of EU/EFTA nationals share the same entry rights as EU/EFTA citizens. They must still apply for a residence permit within three months of their arrival in France.

As the UK is no longer a member of the EU, its citizens are unable to move freely to and between EU countries, including France. However, UK nationals can still travel to France without a visa for short-stay visits of under 90 days.

If you travel to France on a UK passport and want to stay longer than three months (90 days), you’ll need a long-stay visa. The correct visa depends on your individual circumstances, and you will also need to apply for a residence permit.

Types of French Visas

French visas are in three different categories:

• Short-stay visas for visits under three months
• Temporary long-stay visa for stays of up to one year
• Long-stay visa for stays over a year

The types of short, temporary and long-stay visas in France:

Short-stay French visas (Schengen visa)

Uniform Schengen Category C Visa

The main short-stay visa is the Uniform Schengen category C visa, which is valid for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. If you are a British citizen, you don’t need this visa unless you have used up your 90-day allowance within the Schengen Area.

This visa can be granted for various purposes, including tourism, medical treatment, business trips, short-term study, and family visits.

The Schengen visa permits you to travel throughout the Schengen Area for a duration of up to 90 days.

Airport Transport Visas

Unless you are travelling from a country such as the UK, where you do not need to apply for a short-term visa to enter France for under 90 days, you require an airport transit visa (known as a category A visa). This is required if you are changing flights in France and staying in the international zone of a French airport.

Airport transit visas are available in three types: one-way, return, and multiple-entry. Fees are the same as for the standard Schengen visa.

Temporary long-stay French visas (Visa de long séjour temporaire)

Temporary long-stay French visas (VLS-T) are valid for up to a maximum of one year and are non-renewable upon expiration of the visa. If you want to stay in France longer after arriving with a VLS-T visa, you will need to meet the criteria for extending your stay and apply for a French residence permit.

VLS-T visas can be divided into the following three sections:

• Temporary worker visas
• Study and training visas
• Special-purpose visas

Temporary Worker Visas

The temporary worker visas are granted to anyone travelling to France to work for under one year. This French temporary worker visa is labled “travailleur temporaire” and can be used for reasons including:

• Temporary seasonal worker
• Teaching jobs in a foreign language
• Medical employment
• To allow time to find a skilled worker job after graduating with a master’s-level qualification in France
• Work exchange program for young professionals aged 18–30

Study and Training Visas

For temporary long-term study or training opportunities, you need a visa that is valid for between three and six months. To qualify, you must have been accepted into a higher education program at an accredited French educational institution.

For any study courses that last longer than six months, you’ll need a standard long-stay visa.

A temporary training visa is also valid if you wish to come to France to work as an au pair. This visa is available to individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 and can be extended for up to a maximum of two years.

Special-purpose Visas

Any other temporary French visas are known as special-purpose visas and are issued for specific circumstances, such as:

• The Working Holiday Program is available to young people aged 18–30 from 15 countries (or up to the age of 35 in Argentina, Australia, and Canada)
• Volunteer placements which last under 12 months, including European Voluntary Service (EVS) placements
• Extended stays for private reasons, which last between three and six months. You must be able to prove that you can fund yourself and not undertake any professional work

Long-term French Visas (Visa de long séjour)

Long-stay French visas are usually for residency that lasts for more than a year. The initial visa is granted for one year, after which you will need to obtain a longer-term residence permit from your local préfecture, provided you meet the necessary requirements.

These long-stay visas are generally granted under four categories:

Work Visas

A long-stay work visa in France is valid to work or be self-employed. For work, you will usually need proof of a job offer. If you are starting a business or working self-employed, you must demonstrate that the work is economically viable and that you have sufficient funds to develop the business and support yourself in France.

Current work visa types include:

• Multi-year talent passport (passeport talent) for entrepreneurs and highly-skilled workers. This visa is valid for up to four years and allows dependents to accompany the highly skilled worker
• Internal transfer to a French branch of an international ICT company for senior management and staff with high-skilled expertise (salarié détaché ICT)
• Repeated seasonal work (travailleur saisonnier)
• Internships or traineeships (stagiaire)

Study Visas

Study visas are available for international students who have been offered a place on a higher education course at a French university. This visa is used for undertaking a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree.

As an international student, you are able to work 964 hours annually, which corresponds to 60% of normal working hours in France (except for Algerian nationals, whose maximum working hours are limited to 50% of normal working hours).

Family Visas

To immigrate to France and join relatives there on a long-term basis, you can apply for a family visa. The conditions depend on where the family member you are joining is from.

If your relative who is in France is a national of:

• A EU/EFTA country (not including France) – you can join them if you are a spouse, child under the age of 21, or a dependent direct relative. Within three months of arrival, you will need to look at French residency options and apply for a residence permit
• France – you can join them if you are a spouse, child/adopted child over the age of 21, or dependent older relative. You will typically need a long-stay visa to visit France
• Non-EU/EFTA country (such as the UK) – spouses and children can come to France to join their relative, provided the relative has been living in France for at least 18 months. It is also dependent on the type of visa and the sponsor’s residence

You will need to give proof of family relationships. For example, if applying to join a non-EU/EFTA family member, you will need to provide evidence that they have sufficient funds to support both themselves and you.

French Citizenship

Once you have been living in France for five years, you can apply for French citizenship. This gives the right to vote and have a French passport.
However, the French citizenship process is complex due to cost and strict requirements.

You may be able to apply for French citizenship before five years under exceptional circumstances. For instance, if you have completed a minimum of two years of higher education in France and obtained a degree from a French university or institution, the number of qualifying years can be reduced to two years.

Another exemption to the five-year residency rule is if you have made significant contributions to French cultural, scientific, economic, or humanitarian fields. The residency period could be reduced or waived entirely for significant contributions, such as distinguished service in the French army or an allied force.

Complications That Can Arise in the Process

The legal process of immigrating to France can be complex and time-consuming. Choosing the correct visa for your particular situation can be the first challenge, as requirements differ depending on your reason for moving. Delays or refusals of your visa can occur for several reasons, including missing documents, translation errors, or incomplete applications.

Other significant complications in the visa application process include language barriers and complex administrative procedures. Often, application forms and appointments are conducted in French.

It can also be challenging to arrange health insurance for your move to France, as the healthcare system differs from the UK’s NHS.

Complications do not stop once you have arrived in France; you may need to renew your visa regularly, and immigration laws change frequently, making it crucial to stay informed to avoid fines or legal issues. Living in France permanently is also possible, but it requires further legal processes and applications.

How Can IAS Help?

Immigrating to France does not have to be difficult. At IAS, we are experts at understanding immigration rules and are committed to helping all individuals who want to move to France.

Our expert immigration lawyers can assess your eligibility for French visas, review your supporting documents, and assist you in completing your application form to maximise your chances of success.

We will also ensure that you meet all the requirements for the particular visa route to France, leveraging our expert knowledge of immigration law to maximise your chances of a successful application, whether you’re looking to move for work, study, or family reasons.

Contact IAS today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or message us online for further information and support for your move to France.