France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (Visa D Visiteur) — Requirements

The Visa D Visiteur is the route for non-EU nationals who want to live in France for more than three months without working. You show sufficient resources, health insurance covering your whole stay and suitable housing, and you formally commit not to work in France [Service-public][France-Visas]. The "visitor" residence card is valid for one year and is renewable each year [Service-public].

Key facts

Who it is for: retirees, property owners and financially independent people who want to live in France without a professional activity.
Work: not allowed. You cannot work in France in any form, as an employee, a self-employed person or a liberal profession [Service-public].
Duration: a "visitor" residence card valid for one year, renewable each year [Service-public].
Family: our support covers you, your spouse and your children under 18.
Next step: an eligibility assessment of your resources and your plans in France.

Is this route for you?

It suits you if you want to live in France without working, and you can support yourself from your own resources: a pension, an annuity, property income or savings. This is typically the case for retirees, for people who own a home in France and want to live in it, and for people who are financially independent.

It does not suit you if you plan to work in France, even part-time or as a freelancer. The visitor card does not allow any professional activity in France, whether as an employee, a trader, a self-employed person, a craftsman or a liberal profession [Service-public].

If you want to create a company in France, look at Talent Business Creation. If you plan to invest in a French company, look at Talent Investor. To compare all the routes, see how to move to France.

If you are planning your retirement in France, our guide on how to retire in France on a visitor visa covers pensions, taxes and health care in more detail.

Requirements

A commitment not to work in France

You formally commit not to engage in any professional activity in France [France-Visas]. For the residence card, this takes the form of a handwritten sworn statement that you will not work in France, together with a commitment to respect the principles of the French Republic [Service-public].

Sufficient resources

You must show resources that allow you to live in France without working. For a single person, the minimum set by Service-public is €1,477.93 net per month over one year, which means proving an annual amount of €17,735.19 [Service-public].

These can be your own resources, such as annuities, pensions or property income, or those of a member of your family [Service-public]. Proof can include bank statements, guarantees from solvent persons, or a pension certificate for retirees [Service-public]. Family allowances are not taken into account [Service-public].

The amount above is for a single person. If you move as a couple or with children, the level of resources expected for your household is reviewed during the eligibility assessment.

Health insurance

You must have health insurance covering the whole duration of your stay in France [Service-public].

Housing

Your housing conditions in France are also assessed [Service-public]. You show where you will live, whether you own, rent or are hosted.

Requirements change: check each fact against the official source on the day you apply.

How the process works

Eligibility assessment (EU Unlockr). We review your resources, your health insurance, your housing plans and your family situation, and confirm whether the Visa D Visiteur is the right route.
Application file (you and EU Unlockr). We prepare the visa file with you: proof of resources, insurance, housing and civil status documents.
Long-stay visa (French consulate). You apply for a long-stay "visitor" visa with the French consular authorities in your country of residence, and formally commit not to work in France [France-Visas].
Validation after arrival (French administration). Your long-stay visa must be validated online within three months of your arrival in France [France-Visas].
Annual renewal (French administration). The "visitor" residence card is valid for one year. The renewal request is made online, at the earliest four months and at the latest two months before the card expires [Service-public].

Processing time is indicative only: in our experience, it is usually between 1 and 2 months. It is not a promise, because it depends on the authorities.

What EU Unlockr does

Assesses your eligibility and confirms the route.
Helps you put together the proof of resources, insurance and housing.
Prepares the visa file for you, your spouse and your children under 18.
Supports you through the validation after arrival and the annual renewals.

What remains your responsibility

The accuracy of the information and documents you provide, including the origin of your resources.
Keeping sufficient resources and health insurance throughout your stay.
Respecting the commitment not to work in France.
Your passport, civil status documents, and attendance at consular and administrative appointments.
Renewing your card on time each year.

Costs

Costs are separate and should not be added into a single figure:

EU Unlockr fees: set in your service agreement after the eligibility assessment.
Your resources: the amount you must show, from €17,735.19 per year for a single person [Service-public]. These remain your own funds.
Administrative fees: visa and residence card fees, charged by the French authorities.
Third-party costs: health insurance, translations, housing, and travel, paid directly to the providers.

Family and renewal

Our support covers you, your spouse and your children under 18. Each member of the family is reviewed during the eligibility assessment, including the resources and health insurance needed for the household.

The "visitor" residence card is valid for one year and is renewable each year [Service-public]. It does not lead to a multi-year residence card on the same grounds: holders of a "visitor" card cannot apply for a multi-year card for the same reason of stay [Service-public]. Changes of status are possible [Service-public], for example if your situation changes and you meet the conditions of another residence permit. Each change of status is assessed case by case.

Risks and common mistakes

Insufficient or poorly documented resources: a file that does not prove the annual amount can be refused.
Health insurance that does not cover the whole stay, or that does not match the duration of your plans.
Planning to work "a little": any professional activity in France breaches the commitment you sign and can affect your stay.
Forgetting the online validation of the visa within three months of arrival, or missing the renewal window each year.
Situations that need a lawyer's advice: a previous visa refusal or removal order, a criminal record, or a complex tax or family situation. EU Unlockr is not a law firm and will tell you when you need one.

Frequently asked questions

What is the France long-stay visitor visa?

It is a long-stay visa for non-EU nationals who want to live in France for more than three months without working. EU Unlockr supports it under the name Visa D Visiteur.

Can I work in France on a long-stay visitor visa?

No. You commit not to work in France in any form, whether as an employee, a self-employed person, a trader, a craftsman or a liberal profession.

How much income do I need for a visitor visa in France?

For a single person, Service-public sets the minimum at €1,477.93 net per month over one year, which means proving €17,735.19 per year. Pensions, annuities, property income and savings can count; family allowances do not.

What are the France visitor visa requirements?

Sufficient resources, health insurance covering your whole stay, suitable housing in France, and a formal commitment not to work in France.

Can I renew my visitor visa?

Yes. The "visitor" residence card is valid for one year and renewable each year, with an online request made between four and two months before it expires.

Does the visitor card lead to a multi-year residence card?

Not on the same grounds: holders of a "visitor" card cannot apply for a multi-year card for the same reason of stay. A change of status is possible if you meet the conditions of another permit.

Can my family come with me?

Yes. Our support covers you, your spouse and your children under 18, and the resources needed for the household are reviewed during the eligibility assessment.

Official sources

Written and reviewed by the EU Unlockr editorial team. Published 11 November 2026. Facts last verified 11 November 2026 against the official sources listed on this page. This page is general information, not legal advice; EU Unlockr is not a law firm.

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