The France long-stay visitor visa (VLS-TS “visiteur”) lets non-EU citizens live in France for up to a year if they can support themselves without working there. Service-public.fr sets the minimum at €1,477.93 net a month for a single person, or €17,735.19 a year. The visa fee is €99, validating it after arrival now costs €300 in tax, and you renew it as a one-year “visiteur” residence card. It suits retirees, people on sabbatical and those living off savings or passive income. It is not a digital nomad visa.
Last checked: October 2026
In short:
- You need €1,477.93 net a month (€17,735.19 a year) for one person, health cover for the whole stay, and a signed promise not to carry out any professional activity in France.
- Costs rose on 1 May 2026: the visitor VLS-TS validation tax went from €200 to €300, first residence cards cost €350, and renewals €250, on top of the €99 visa fee.
- Spending more than 6 months a year in France usually makes you French tax resident, and France has other tests too, so the visa and your tax position need planning together.
Who the visitor visa is for
France-Visas describes the route for people coming to France for more than 3 months without working: retirees, people on leave, and anyone living off their own resources. You get a long-stay visa that also serves as a residence permit (VLS-TS) for the first year. A shorter “VLS-T” exists for people who are certain they will not extend.
The remote work grey area
This is where most nomads get stuck, so here is the official wording.
- France-Visas says applicants must “formally agree not to engage in any professional activity during your stay in France”.
- Service-public.fr lists as a condition: “Ne pas travailler en France que ce soit en tant que salarié, commerçant, auto-entrepreneur, artisan, profession libérale etc.” (do not work in France as an employee, trader, micro-entrepreneur, craftsperson, professional, etc.).
- You sign a handwritten declaration (“attestation sur l’honneur”) that you will not work in France.
Neither source carves out remote work for a foreign employer or foreign clients. We found no official French guidance saying remote work is allowed on this visa. Some people do it anyway and argue that “in France” means the French labour market. That is a reading, not a rule. A consulate or prefecture can refuse a renewal if your file shows you work, and your declared income has to fit a non-working profile. Working physically in France can also make you French tax resident (see below).
If you plan to work, look at a work-based permit instead. The “passeport talent” family covers company founders, investors, highly qualified employees and others, and can run for up to 4 years. The company-creation category requires an investment of at least €30,000, according to France-Visas.
Income requirement
| Item | 2026 figure (service-public.fr) |
|---|---|
| Minimum monthly resources, single person | €1,477.93 net |
| Minimum annual resources | €17,735.19 |
| Accepted sources | Pensions, rental income, savings, support from family with proof of their solvency |
The monthly figure appears to track the net minimum wage (SMIC): service-public.fr’s page on the long-term resident card puts the SMIC at €1,867.02 a month gross, and €1,477.93 is roughly the net equivalent, so expect it to move when the SMIC is revalued. Couples and families should show more. Consulates look at the overall file, so a single month’s balance is weaker than a regular income stream or a solid savings balance.
Documents
France-Visas asks you to document four things. The exact list depends on your country of residence, so use the France-Visas wizard.
- Your situation: retirement, leave, sabbatical, or other proof of why you are not working.
- Resources: bank statements, pension letters, rental contracts, investment statements.
- Accommodation: a lease, property deed or hosting certificate.
- Health cover: insurance covering your whole stay in France.
- Plus the signed declaration that you will not work in France.
Costs and steps
| Step | Cost (2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Long-stay visa application (France-Visas) | €99 | France-Visas fee schedule |
| VLS-TS validation tax, visitor (after arrival) | €300 (was €200 before 1 May 2026) | IntegrationFrance, Ulysse; based on Loi de finances 2026 |
| First “visiteur” residence card (préfecture) | €350 (€300 tax + €50 stamp duty) | Service-public.fr |
| Renewal of the “visiteur” card | €250 | Service-public.fr |
| Late renewal penalty | €180 extra | Service-public.fr |
| 10-year long-term resident card (after 5 years) | €350 | Service-public.fr |
The 2026 increases come from Article 128 of the 2026 Finance Law (loi n° 2026-103 of 19 February 2026). Ulysse reports that they apply to decisions made from 1 May 2026, not to the date you filed.
Step by step:
- Apply on France-Visas and book an appointment with the consulate or its visa centre in your country of residence. Pay the €99 visa fee.
- Travel to France. The VLS-TS is valid for 4 to 12 months.
- Validate the visa online within 3 months of arrival on the ANEF platform (administration-etrangers-en-france) and pay the validation tax by electronic tax stamp (timbres.impots.gouv.fr).
- Before the visa ends, apply for a “visiteur” residence card on ANEF. Service-public.fr says to apply no earlier than 4 months and no later than 2 months before expiry. Missing the window adds €180.
- Renew every year. The visitor card is valid for 1 year and is renewable. Service-public.fr does not list a multi-year visitor card.
After 5 years: long-term residence
After at least 5 years of regular, uninterrupted residence, you can apply for the 10-year “carte de résident de longue durée-UE”. Service-public.fr lists:
- resources at least equal to the SMIC (€1,867.02 a month, as cited on the page);
- French at level B1 and a civic exam, unless you are over 65;
- valid health insurance;
- a fee of €350 for the first card and €250 to renew.
Health cover and PUMa
You need private health insurance covering your whole stay to get the visa. After that, France’s universal health protection (PUMa) is open to people who live in France in a “stable and regular” way. Service-public.fr says people without a job must wait 3 months after arriving before their rights open, and must keep living in France at least 6 months a year to keep them.
There is a new cost to watch. The Social Security Financing Law for 2026 (30 December 2025) introduces a financial contribution for PUMa members who live in France, do not work, and do not pay French social contributions such as CSG. As of early October 2026, service-public.fr still said a decree setting the amount was awaited. Most visitor visa holders fit that description, so keep your private policy until the amount is known.
Tax: the 183-day rule is only part of it
France does not tax you just because you hold a visa. It taxes you if you are tax-domiciled there under Article 4B of the tax code. Any one of these is enough:
| Test | What it means |
|---|---|
| Home or main place of stay | Your household lives in France, or you spend more than 6 months of the year there |
| Professional activity | You carry out a professional activity in France, employed or not |
| Centre of economic interests | Your main investments, business or income source is in France |
The second test is why remote work on a visitor visa is risky. Even if immigration never notices, working from a French home can make you French tax resident. Where two countries both claim you, the relevant tax treaty decides, according to the Notaires de France. US citizens remain taxable in the US as well.
If you are French tax resident, you declare worldwide income in France and may also owe social charges on investment income. Get advice before you move, especially if you have US retirement accounts, a foreign company or large unrealised gains.
Timeline at a glance
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Before departure | Gather documents, apply on France-Visas, attend appointment |
| Within 3 months of arrival | Validate VLS-TS online, pay €300 |
| 3 months after arrival | PUMa rights can open |
| 4 to 2 months before visa expiry | Apply for the “visiteur” card |
| Every year | Renew the card (€250) |
| After 5 years | Consider the 10-year long-term resident card (French B1 required under 65) |
Related guides: Tax residency explained: why the 183-day rule is a myth for most countries · Digital nomad visa countries: which countries have one (2026 list) · Schengen 90/180 rule (2026): how to count days, EES and ETIAS · Italy digital nomad visa: requirements, income and tax in 2026 · Expat health insurance for digital nomads: SafetyWing vs Genki vs Cigna and more
Quick answers
Q: How much income do you need for a France long-stay visitor visa?
Service-public.fr sets the minimum at €1,477.93 net a month for a single person, or €17,735.19 a year. Pensions, rental income, savings and family support with proof of solvency can count. The figure appears to follow the net minimum wage (SMIC), so expect it to change when the SMIC is revalued.
Q: Can I work remotely on a French visitor visa?
Officially, no carve-out exists. France-Visas requires you to agree not to engage in any professional activity during your stay, and you sign a declaration not to work in France. Some people work remotely for foreign clients anyway, but it risks a refused renewal and can make you French tax resident.
Q: Is the France visitor visa good for retirees?
Yes. It is the standard route for non-EU retirees who do not need to work. You need €1,477.93 net a month, health cover for the whole stay, and accommodation. After 3 months you can join PUMa, though a new 2026 contribution for non-working residents is still awaiting its decree.
Sources
- France-Visas: Tourist stay of more than 3 months (long-stay visitor visa)
- France-Visas: Visa fees (English)
- France-Visas: Talents internationaux et attractivité économique
- Service-public.fr: Carte de séjour temporaire “visiteur”
- Service-public.fr: Visa de long séjour
- Service-public.fr: Carte de résident de longue durée-UE
- Service-public.fr: Protection universelle maladie (PUMa)
- Ameli: Protection universelle maladie
- Notaires de France: Expatriation, la notion de domicile fiscal
- Ulysse: Titre de séjour, la première délivrance passe à 350 € depuis le 1er mai 2026
- IntegrationFrance: Visa long séjour VLS-TS 2026, validation, taxe et droits
- Connexion: France visitor visa, must you promise not to work?
This is general information from the Nomad Forums team, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; check the official source or a qualified adviser before acting.
Over to you: If you validated a visitor VLS-TS after 1 May 2026, did you pay €300, and how long did your first “visiteur” card take at the préfecture? For those already on PUMa, have you heard anything about the new contribution for non-working residents?