Immigration and Nationality Law for France > The Need for an Entry Permit

Unless an agreement exists between France and the State of nationality of the person, any foreign person seeking to enter France must have an entry visa.

Our mission is to be intimately familiar with Consular requirements and assist you in complying with those requirements in an optimal manner.

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. Some exceptions to this rule do apply, in particular for the spouses of European citizens.
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). This category of visa allows the holder to remain in France for a period greater than three months. This is a type D visa, valid only for France, and which only allows for transit to another European State (“France +1 transit Schengen”).

Two to three months after arrival in France, the holder of a long stay visa may go to the Préfecture and request a residency card. The cateogories of visa may vary: it could be for one entry or for multiple entries, and it may state the reasons for stay, such as “student”, “employee”, “visitor”, “independent professional”, “merchant”, “scientist”.

The VLS-TS (long stay visa valid as residency card) was established in France in 2009. It allows for entry and residence in France for one year, without having to request a residency card, on condition of a medical visit with OFII (Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration) following arrival in France. Students, visitors, spouses of French citizens, and employees may benefit from this status in particular.