Immigration ans Nationality Law for France > The Need for an Entry Permit
A distinction is made under French law between a "visa" and a "stay document" (carte de séjour). A visa, or entry permit, has been made mandatory for all persons staying in France, irrespective of nationality, since the law of June 2006. This essentially means that the alien must go through a French Consular authority and be approved to enter
the country. Of course, for members of the OECD countries, including the
United States, no such entry permit is required for trips to France under
90 days for mere pleasure or business. However a visa, or entry permit, is required for all persons entering France intending to remain there for greater than 90 days and/or work or study in France. While exceptions used to exist in regard to the need for an entry permit, or long stay visa, (for example for spouses of French citizens), since June of 2006 the universal rule
is now that a person will not be issued a stay document or carte de séjour,
unless they have been approved by a foreign Consulate. This means that the
great majority of people must begin their immigration to France by preparing a petition to the French Consulate having jurisdiction over their residence. Long stays in France (longer than three months)
Long stay visas (visa de long séjour) are only given by Consular authorities and they are a prerequisite to obtaining the right to remain in France and to obtain a stay card (carte de séjour). There is an intermediate visa, between the short stay visa and the long stay visa, for stays of six months, and which do not require that the alien obtain a stay card. But this visa has only limited uses and most people who wish to remain in France will need to make an application for a long stay visa, with or without the assistance of counsel. One unusual feature of France's immigration system is that it allows aliens to request "retirement" visas, which will be granted for long periods of time as long as the economic conditions are met. A long stay visa is required in particular by aliens who wish to obtain a stay card as a "visitor", « employee », « student », or « family » visa, especially for spouses or PACS partners (allowing same sex couplings)
