General
Moving to France from the UK: how the long-stay visa works now
Since the UK left the EU, British citizens no longer have freedom of movement in France. A long stay now means a visa, a clear route and a well-prepared file. Here is how it works, in plain English.
By Mathieu Silva · 3 min read
What changed after Brexit
British citizens can still visit France without a visa for short stays, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period. Anything longer, whether you plan to study, join a French spouse, work, launch a business or simply live in France, requires a long-stay visa obtained before you travel.
UK applicants are now assessed under the same rules as other non-EU nationals. In practice, that means the same document lists, the same online application and the same attention to how coherent your file is.
Choosing the right route
Most British applicants fall into one of five situations. If you are unsure, our guide to choosing a French visa compares them side by side.
- Retiring or living in France without working: the long-stay visitor visa.
- Joining a French husband or wife: the spouse of a French national visa.
- Studying at a French institution: the student visa, usually through Campus France.
- Highly qualified work, research or an innovative business: the Talent Passport.
- Freelancing or running your own activity: the entrepreneur or profession libérale route.
Where and how you apply
Every application starts on the official France-Visas website, which generates your form and your personalised document list. You then book an appointment at the visa application centre serving your area, which in the UK is operated by TLScontact, to submit your documents and biometrics.
Apply from the country where you legally live. If you are a British citizen already living elsewhere, for example in Spain or the United States, you normally apply through the French consulate or visa centre of that country instead.
What makes a strong file
Consulates read many files a day. The ones that go smoothly share three qualities: every document requested is present, the documents tell one consistent story, and the letters explain your project clearly in a formal register.
Pay attention to the details that often trip up UK applicants: civil status documents that may need an apostille or translation, bank statements that clearly show the resources you rely on, and a cover letter that ties everything together.
After you arrive
Many long-stay visas must be validated online shortly after arrival. Do not skip this step: our guide to VLS-TS validation explains what to do.