Validating visas & residence permits
When you arrive in France, it is essential to know whether or not you will need to validate your visa and obtain a residence permit. You should also remember to report any change in circumstances that occurs during your stay.
A residence permit is an official document issued by the French government that authorises foreign nationals to stay in France for longer than 3 months. Once you have been granted a residence permit, your local prefecture will issue you a residence card that corresponds to your situation.
You must be in possession of a residence permit. If you are found to be without one, you will be considered to be in France illegally. You could be fined and may face deportation.
Upon arrival
To figure out what administrative steps you will need to take after arriving in France, please see the official government website Titres, carte de séjour et documents de circulation pour étranger en France (in French). However, we can provide some advice based on common types of visas and residence permits.
Short-stay visas
There is no need to validate your visa when you arrive in France. However, you must make sure to leave France and the Schengen area before your visa expires.
Passeport talent-chercheur long-stay visa
If you have a Passeport talent-chercheur long-stay visa, it will simultaneously serve as a residence permit (VLS-TS) that is valid for up to 1 year. However, you are required to validate your visa online within 3 months of your arrival in France.
If you are staying in France for 12 months or longer, you will start off with a simple 3-month visa for researchers (Passeport talent-chercheur). Within 2 months of your arrival, you will need to go to the prefecture to apply for a multiannual residence permit bearing the specification “Passeport talent-chercheur“. It is valid for the duration of your hosting agreement (maximum of 4 years).
Long-stay visa & residence permit
Within 3 months of your arrival in France, you must validate your VLS-TS and pay a tax (in addition to the visa fee). Validation can be carried out online via a portal provided by the French Ministry of the Interior (Foreign Nationals in France); you will be asked to provide additional elements of information:
- Certain details indicated on your visa
- Date of entry in France
- Residence address in France
- Bank or credit card to cover the residence permit fee or the tax stamp specific to your situation
Make sure to keep track of your log-in information; you will need it to track the progress of your application and, potentially, to renew your residence permit.
Residence permit tax
To find out more about the taxes and fees you need to pay to obtain a residence permit (as of January 1, 2020), please see this document.
Except in certain cases, you will need to purchase a tax stamp anytime you apply for a visa or residence permit. In France, tax stamps can be purchased at stores that sell tobacco products (ask for an electronic tax stamp for a “titre pour étrangers“). Alternatively, you can purchase tax stamps online via the French Ministry of the Interior’s website (Foreign Nationals in France) or the French tax authority website.
Helpful links
Reporting a change in circumstances
During your stay in France, you must report any major changes in your personal circumstances, such as if you move to a new place of residence or if you get married or divorced. To this end, you can use the French Ministry of the Interior’s website Foreign Nationals in France.
