Long stay visa
DEFINITION:
Long stay visas allow the holder to live in France, Monaco, Andorra, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion Island, Guyana, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, St. Pierre and Miquelon or Mayotte for over 3 months. Those are issued for various purposes such as work, study or retirement.
VALIDITY:
Over 3 months
Numbers of entries authorised: multiple
PURPOSE OF STAY :
STUDIES (over 3 months):
 You are going to study in a French university or in a language school,
You are going to train in a company based in France,
You are going to work as an "au pair" in France. |
| WORK (over 3 months):
- You wish to work in France (your current employer must contact the OFIL, Office Français de l’immigration et de l’intégration) You wish to work in Monaco or in Andorra,
You wish to work in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion or Guyana,
You wish to work in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, St. Pierre and Miquelon or Mayotte,
You wish to apply to exercise an independent activity regulated or not in France. |
| WITOUT WORKING (over than 3 months):
You wish to settle in France,
You wish to settle in Monaco,
You wish to settle in Andorra,
You wish to settle in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion or Guyana,
You wish to settle in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, St. Pierre and Miquelon or Mayotte. |
| FAMILY REASONS (over 3 months):
You wish to retire in France,
You wish to settle in France without working,
You are the foreign spouse of a French citizen and wish to settle together in France. |
| FAMILY MEMBERS OF EU NATIONAL must lodge an application for a short stay Schengen visa. Once in France, they should contact the local "préfecture" to finalise the formalities, should they wish to settle in France. |
| FAMILY MEMBERS OF FRENCH CITIZENS wishing to move to France will need to apply for a long stay visa; (decree 2006-211 of the 24th of July 2006). |
HOW TO APPLY : From the 1st of september 2011 the Long Stay visa Office can only be contacted by email.
| For any enquiries eg; to obtain the list of documents or to make an appointment please send an email to: contact.edimbourg-fslt diplomatie.gouv.fr with subject "Long stay visa" indicating:
We will assess your case, provide you with a list of documents and make an appointment. APPLICANT WITHOUT BOOKED APPOINTMENTS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE CONSULATE |
ADDRESS:
Consulat général de France,
Service des visas de long séjours
11 Randolph Crescent
Edinburgh EH37TT
LONG STAY VISA APPLICATION FORM:
|
You have to provide the original of the documents plus one copy. The visa section does not make photocopies.
LONG STAY VISA FEES:
Between £66 and £70
Student fees between £35 and £40
Fees are subject to change following the exchange rate.
According to regulation passed by the Council of European Union in 2003 (2003/454/CE), the payment of visa fees has been totally modified :
The applicants are now charged for the visa process : they have to pay in advance, when filling in the demand and no longer when the visa is issued.
In case of a visa refusal, absolutely no refund will be granted.
At the Consulate: in cash and in pound Sterling only. We will then give you a receipt.
PROCESSING TIME :
Depending on the type of Long stay visa; from 2 weeks to 4 weeks in average.
VISA PHOTO :
3 recent passeport-size photographs per person (2 affixed and 1 left loose); in colour (3,5 x 4,5cm); The size of the face must not exceed 30mm; taken against a white background with good contrast / clear / good quality, printed on normal photographic paper, unmonted and full face without glasses or head covering. The picture is now scanned on the visa.
TRACKING YOUR VISA APPLICATION:
Once you have applied, you may check online the status of your application. You will need to provide the last 10 digits of your receipt ( "quittance ") and your date of birth. Please click here.
Please note that the Consulate will only replies to status queries if the application remains pending beyond the normal processing times.