France, with its rich cultural heritage, beautiful landscapes, and high quality of life, attracts people from all over the world. Whether for work, study, or family reunification, France offers a variety of residency options.

 

In this process, PandaRemit, as a reliable international remittance service, can make your life in France more convenient.

 

Types of Residence Permits in France

 

• Short-term permits are usually for tourism, business, or short-term studies, lasting up to 3 months.

 

• Long-term permits are for longer stays, including living, working, or studying, lasting more than 3 months.

 

• There are also specific permits for particular situations, such as student visas, work visas, and family reunification visas, each with its own application conditions and validity period.

 

Do You Need a Residence Permit to Live in France?

 

• Citizens from the EU, EEA, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, or the Vatican can live in France without a residence permit. On the other hand, non-Europeans need to apply for a VLS-TS long-term residence visa or a French residence permit if they intend to stay in France for more than 3 months.

 

 

What is VLS-TS?

 

The VLS-TS (Visa de Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour) is a special type of long-term visa in France, acting as a residence permit for a certain period. It allows the holder to stay in France for more than three months without immediately applying for a separate residence permit. It's a long-term residence visa equivalent to a residence permit, issued to non-Europeans. You're likely to receive a VLS-TS in your first year in France, especially if you're moving to France for the first time and staying for 3 – 12 months.

 

Some of the Most Common VLS-TS Visa Categories Include:

 

1. VLS-TS Étudiant: For foreign students over 18 years old who have been admitted to a French university.
2. VLS-TS Salarié: For salaried employees with long-term contracts exceeding 90 days.
3. VLS-TS Travailleur Temporaire: For foreign employees with temporary or fixed-term contracts exceeding 90 days.
4. VLS-TS Salarié détaché ICT: For outstanding ICT employees or internal company transfers with managerial functions and contracts of at least 3 years.
5. VLS-TS Stagiaire: For ICT employees or interns stationed in France for less than a year.
6. VLS-TS Passeport Talent: For individuals who can improve the French economy, such as investors, business owners, freelancers, high-quality employees, researchers, artists, performers, and individuals with (international) national reputation.
7. VLS-TS Vie Privée Et Familiale: For spouses, partners, children, or dependent elderly parents of French nationals who wish to reunite with their family.
8. VLS-T Visiteur: A 4-6 month temporary long-term residence visa issued to tourists, digital nomads, retirees, or other long-term visitors who will not engage in professional activities.

 

How to Obtain VLS-TS?

 

You need to apply for VLS-TS at least 3 months before arriving in France. You can submit your application form and supporting documents through the French visa website and then attend an interview at your local consulate/embassy. Once your application is processed, you will receive a VLS-TS sticker on your passport.

 

Cost of VLS-TS?

 

The cost of VLS-TS depends on the category you're applying for. You can expect to pay between 80 to 250 euros.

 

What is a French Residence Permit?

 

After arriving in France with VLS-TS, you need to obtain a French residence permit. The French residence permit allows foreigners to stay in France for a specific period, issued to those:

 

1. Who are obliged to obtain a residence permit upon arrival,
2. Who wish to stay in France after the expiration of VLS-TS,
3. Who obtain multi-year visas from the start,
4. Who are eligible to stay in France indefinitely.

 

 

Applying for a French Residence Permit: Necessary Documents

 

1. Valid passport and photocopies
2. VLS-TS visa or Carte de Séjour as proof of long-term residence in France
3. Birth certificate or marriage certificate, including your family's birth certificates or marriage certificates (if applicable)
4. ICAO standard photos
5. Proof of address in France, not older than 6 months
6. Medical certificate issued by OFII
7. Proof of your income
8. Proof of health insurance
9. Proof of stamp duty payment
10. Signed Republican integration contract and language certificate

 

Next, you need to submit your application online and attend an interview as required. Interviews are usually conducted at the French consulate, where your application eligibility will be assessed.

 

Conditions and Requirements for Residence Permits

 

When applying for a residence permit, you need to prove that you have sufficient financial resources to support your life in France, which may include proof of bank deposits or pay slips.

 

You also need to provide proof of health insurance and accommodation to prove that you have a stable place to live in France.

 

Renewal of Residence Permits and Permanent Residence

 

The renewal of residence permits usually needs to be applied for 1-2 months before the current permit expires.

When renewing, you need to submit the latest documents, such as proof of income and proof of accommodation.

 

After living in France continuously for five years, you can apply for permanent residence, enjoying more rights and benefits.

 

Difference Between Visa and French Residence Permit

 

A short-term residence visa allows you to stay in France for up to 90 days. It does not allow you to work or engage in economic activities.

 

A long-term residence work visa can. And the difference between it and a residence permit is that the former leads to the latter.

 

A long-term residence VTS-TS visa allows you to enter, settle, live, and work in France for up to 12 months without applying for a separate residence permit.

 

Practical Tips for Living in France

 

Adapting to life in France means learning French and understanding local cultural customs. France is famous for its cuisine, and trying local delicacies and adapting to French eating habits is an important part of experiencing life in France. French restaurants usually have fixed business hours for lunch and dinner, which is worth noting.

 

Moreover, finding suitable accommodation may take time and patience. Understand the housing market and prices in different regions, as well as the details of rental contracts. Link to French housing rental guide

 

With this residency guide, you can better understand the basic requirements for living and working in France. Remember, whatever your needs, PandaRemit can support you on your international life journey.

 

About Us - PandaRemit

PandaRemit is an online cross-border remittance platform, committed to providing global users with safer, more convenient, more reliable, and more affordable online cross-border remittance services. PandaRemit has a user-friendly interface and advanced security features, offering the best solution for easy global remittance.

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In summary, PandaRemit provides a simpler and more efficient way of online global remittance, offering a range of features and benefits to users. Today, PandaRemit has opened global remittance services for more than 30 countries or regions, helping users save nearly 100 million USD in fees, and is recognized and trusted by millions of users worldwide.

PandaRemit is your top choice for cross-border remittance.

For more detailed information, please visit the PandaRemit official website (https://www.pandaremit.com/) or download the PandaRemit app.

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