Moving to… France (Part 1)
Moving to France Part 1: Visas
Who doesn’t dream of living like royalty? For those of us lacking a divine heritage, the land of chateaux is still attainable. So long as you are not trying to revive the monarchy, France has a variety of visas available for the royal we. France does do its visas a bit differently, however. Unlike many of its neighboring countries, like Spain and Italy, France does not offer a Golden Visa or Digital Nomad Visa. But it does offer comprehensive options for talented individuals and business creators.
The long-stay visa, known in French as the visa de long séjour, valent titre de séjour will show up as “VLS-TS” on your documents. A long-stay visa for more than six months will generally indicate that you want to become a tax resident of France. The long-stay visa operates as a full residency permit. And there are many different types (see below). Most can be renewed as long as you continue to meet the conditions for approval. Basic renewal requirements include health insurance plans, lodgings, and a bank statement showing a balance equivalent to about 24,000 USD per person for a year’s stay. This figure can be adjusted for a married couple sharing housing or if housing will be free.
“Retiree” or Sabbatical Visa
Probably the most commonly-used French visa by Americans, this basic VLS-TS visa does not come with approval to work in France (even if you are doing work for clients elsewhere!). But it is quick and easy to get for those of you who have enough savings or non-work income (i.e. social security, investment income or royalties) and are happy to take some time off in France. This visa is renewable annually. If you wish, you can exchange it for a 10-year resident card after you have stayed five years, and you have the option to apply for French citizenship.
Business Creation and Self-employment
France has been creating a number of visa offerings for educated or experienced talent in an effort to draw them to France. One such visa is the Création d’entreprise, Passeport talent- or business-creator- Visa. If you have a business idea in France, with a minimum investment of 30,000 EUR and proof that you have some type of master’s degree and/or 5 years of professional experience in your field, this visa could be yours. You will need to create a business plan and three years of financial projections as well as having your idea reviewed by the French authorities via a handy online portal. The official guidelines note that under limited conditions buying an existing business in order to reinvent might qualify.
Over the past 15 years, France has also been making it easier to run your own free-lance business, and there is a passport talent visa specifically for free-lancers.
Passeport talent - profession artistique et culturelle (artistic and cultural professional)
Let’s say you are a performer, artist or author ready to make a move in France. If you have a contract to work in France in your own field or if you have a way to demonstrate that you can earn some money in your field in France, this visa might be for you. There are actually two subsections to this visa, one for those with employment offers in France (salarié) and one for those who are self-employed (non-salarié). To request either one, you will need to show that you can earn at least 51% of the French minimum wage from work related to your field that you will be doing in France. The evidence for this could be a form signed by a French employer attesting to your gainful employment as an artist, author or performer (for the visa “salarié”). If you don’t have an employment contract, you might instead show a contract with a gallery, a commission, an advance, etc… (visa “non-salarié”).
Because the French do understand the financial constraints of being an artist, you can find the remaining 49% of your minimum wage income from other sources: savings accounts, royalties, grants from your home country, etc…).
A Relatively Simple, Quick Process
If you are an American who has been seriously considering a move to France, you should not be put off by concerns about the process. France’s online immigration portal (https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/online-application ) will lead you through the visa options, the documents available and how to set up an appointment at your local visa office. Assuming you meet requirements and depending on the type of visa, you can generally receive an approved visa in 2 weeks to 2 months time.