Why the type matters
US citizens need a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour, VLS-TS) to live in France for more than 90 days. The type you apply for governs what you may do once you arrive, and changing it later is harder than choosing correctly now.
Most long-stay visas are issued as a VLS-TS — a visa that doubles as a residence permit once validated. Validation happens online within 3 months of arrival, and skipping it leaves you without legal status even though the visa itself is valid.
The main categories
- Visitor (VLS-TS visiteur) — for those who will not work in France. Retirees and people living on savings or pensions; whether it covers remote work for a foreign employer is contested, and the visitor guide sets out where that stands
- Work (VLS-TS salarié) — requires a French job offer, and the employer must obtain the autorisation de travail before you apply
- Talent Passport — highly-skilled workers, researchers, founders and investors. Valid up to 4 years, with salary thresholds revised each January
- Student (VLS-TS étudiant) — enrolment at a French institution, with work permitted up to 964 hours a year
- Spouse / family — spouses of French or EU/EEA residents, and family reunification
France still has no legally distinct digital nomad visa as of September 2026. Remote workers apply under the standard visitor visa; “digital nomad visa” is marketing language, not a France-Visas category. Some consulates now ask for more detail on the arrangement — an employer letter, and how your time will be split.
Validation is what makes it a residence permit
Most VLS-TS holders must validate online within 3 months of arrival, through the ANEF portal. This is the step that turns the visa into a residence permit for its first year.
Under Article 128 of the loi de finances pour 2026, the validation tax for standard VLS-TS categories rose from €200 to €300, effective 1 May 2026. Some exemptions still apply — spouses of French nationals, certain scholarship holders — so confirm your category on the portal.
Miss the deadline and you are in irregular status even though the sticker in your passport still looks valid. It surfaces at renewal, not at the border.
What every type has in common
- Apply from the US, through France-Visas and your assigned consulate — never after arriving
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond the intended stay
- Comprehensive health insurance covering the full stay, including repatriation and emergency care
- Proof of accommodation in France
- Proof of financial resources appropriate to the category
- Passport photos and the completed long-stay application
France-Visas gives an official baseline of roughly 15 working days to 2 months. Straightforward visitor files often land at the faster end; Talent Passport files and anything needing extra screening take longer.
Documents every application needs
- US passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months beyond your stay — 6+ months is strongly recommended as a buffer for onward Schengen travel
- The France-Visas application, printed and signed, with a recent ICAO-compliant biometric photo
- Proof of financial means — typically 3 months of bank statements, at a level set by the category
- Insurance meeting the Schengen minimum of €30,000 for medical costs, repatriation and emergency care
- Proof of accommodation — a lease, a booking, or a signed attestation d’hébergement
- A biometric appointment, completed at a VFS Global centre
Submit no earlier than 3 months and no later than 15 days before travel. Most English-language documents need a certified translation by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté).
Documents only some categories need
These vary by category and by consulate, which is why checklists found online disagree. Work from your own consulate’s list.
- FBI Identity History Summary with a State Department apostille — common for work, family and some visitor files, but not universal
- Birth certificate with apostille — typically family-based and naturalisation-track applications
- Marriage certificate with apostille, where relevant
- Transcripts and diplomas with apostille, for Talent Passport, work and student files
- Employment contract, secondment letter, or a school or university acceptance letter
A pre-departure medical certificate is not a general requirement. Since France simplified the process, long-stay visa holders generally validate online after arrival, and only a subset are called for an in-person visit or examination.
What it actually costs
- Visa fee: €99 long-stay, €50 student, €90 short-stay
- VFS Global or TLScontact service fee: $52–68, plus biometric enrolment at about $35
- Apostille: $38–75 per document. Certified translation: $50–125 per page
- FBI background check: $18 when applying from the US
- Optional extras — priority booking, courier return, SMS updates — add $22–120
Realistic totals: $500–850 for one long-stay applicant, $1,400–2,100 for a family of four. The visa fee is the small part; apostilles and sworn translations are what add up, and both take time as well as money.