Can you stay in France for 6 months

[Pudsey Bear]

Can you stay in France for 6 months?

Yes, BUT...

To stay in France for more than 90 days and up to 6 months, you typically apply for a Temporary Long-Stay Visa (VLS-T).
Google +2

Key Features of the 6-Month VLS-T Visa

• Purpose: Designed for stays between 4 and 6 months for reasons such as tourism, personal visits, or short-term courses.
• Non-Renewable: Unlike the standard 12-month long-stay visa (VLS-TS), the 6-month VLS-T cannot be extended or converted into a residence permit from within France.
• Multiple Entry: It allows you to enter and leave France multiple times during its validity.
• Schengen Travel: You can travel to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period while your French visa is valid.
• No Validation Required: Unlike the 12-month visa, you generally do not need to "validate" this visa online or attend a medical exam after arriving in France.
  FrenchEntrée +4

Requirements and Application
To qualify, you must demonstrate the following through the official France-Visas portal:

• Financial Means: Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself for the entire 6 months (roughly €1,300–€1,400 monthly or a total of ~€8,400 in savings).
• Accommodation: Proof of a place to stay, such as a rental agreement, property deed, or a letter from a host.
• Health Insurance: Comprehensive travel health insurance covering the full duration of your stay with a minimum of €30,000 in coverage.
• Timeline: You can apply up to 6 months before your planned departure, and it is recommended to apply at least 1 month in advance to account for processing.
  FrenchEntrée +3

Important Considerations

• The "90/180 Rule": If you are from a visa-exempt country (like the UK), you can technically use your 90-day visa-free allowance either before or after the 6-month visa period, but you must be careful not to overstay your cumulative allowance.
• Frequency: For certain applicants (such as UK residents), the consulate may limit you to one 6-month VLS-T per calendar year, or require a 6-month gap between visas.
  FrenchEntrée +4

 

[barryd]

Been covered a lot Kev on the forums. I considered it but its a right ball ache to get, costs several hundred pounds with no guarantees or your money back if you fail. It also involves two visits (might be one now) to an approved centre and my nearest is a 240 mile round trip.

I still might go for it at some point. I saw the other day that someone had managed to get a 12 month visa but there are other complications with that as regards tax and exporting your vehicle if you stay in France for more than six months.

Glad I did those many years of epic long Euro trips when we could.