Moving to France From the US in 2026: The Long-Stay Visitor Visa Explained

Last updated: August 2026. Visa income benchmarks and tax figures below were checked against current French consular guidance and the IRS's tax-year-2026 inflation adjustments.

If you have started researching a move to France, you have probably run into a frustrating fact: France has no dedicated digital nomad visa. Spain has one. Portugal has one. Italy launched one. France, so far, does not.

That does not mean Americans can't move to France. Tens of thousands do. They just use a different door — the one France has quietly offered for decades: the Long-Stay Visitor Visa, officially the VLS-TS "visiteur." It is the single most common way Americans legally settle in France, whether they're retirees, remote workers, or people taking a year abroad to live off savings.

This guide explains exactly how that visa works, what income you need to qualify, the crucial rules about working, and how your US taxes fit into the picture. For the full country picture — cities, cost of living, healthcare, and banking — see our complete France guide.

What Is the VLS-TS "Visiteur" Visa?

VLS-TS stands for Visa de Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour — a long-stay visa that doubles as a residence permit once you validate it in France. The "visiteur" category is designed for people who want to live in France for more than 90 days but are not coming to take a French job.

It is issued for one year, renewable annually. After several years of continuous residence it becomes the foundation for a multi-year residence card and, eventually, eligibility for permanent residency or citizenship. It is a genuine path to living in France, not a tourist workaround.

The catch is in the name. You are entering as a visitor, and the visa comes with one non-negotiable promise you sign.

The "No Work in France" Rule — and the Remote-Work Nuance

When you apply, you sign a formal letter — the engagement de ne pas travailler — agreeing not to work in France. This is the heart of the visa, and it trips up a lot of would-be nomads.

Here is the honest, current breakdown:

• You may not work for French clients or French employers. No local job, no French customers, no building a French client base. That would require a work visa such as the Talent Passport or the Profession Libérale route below.
• Purely remote work for a foreign (non-French) employer is tolerated under current guidance. If you are a salaried American employee working for a US company, logging in from an apartment in Lyon, France does not treat that as "working in France" in the way the rule targets.

The distinction is where your economic activity is directed, not where your laptop physically sits. Keep your income clearly foreign-sourced, avoid French clients entirely, and you stay inside the lines. This is not a formal digital nomad program with its own guarantees — it is a tolerated use of a visitor visa — so document your foreign employment cleanly and don't improvise a French side hustle.

The Income Requirement: How Much Do You Need?

France wants proof you can support yourself without working locally. There is a legal floor and a practical reality, and they are not the same number.

The legal benchmark is the French net minimum wage (SMIC) — roughly €1,443 per month net as of January 2026. On paper, that is the minimum stable income the visa contemplates.

The practical reality is that most consulates want to see a comfortable margin above that floor. In practice, applicants who show around €2,500–€3,000+ per month per person (or equivalent savings in the bank) have a far smoother approval. A couple should scale this up. You can prove means through pension statements, employment income, rental income, dividends, or simply a healthy savings balance — consulates accept a mix.

Think of €1,443/month as the absolute minimum the rules allow and €2,500–€3,000 as the number that actually gets you approved without a fight. If you're unsure how much runway to build before you go, our guide on how much Americans should save before moving abroad walks through the math.

The Other Documents You'll Need

• Private health insurance covering your entire stay, with a minimum of €30,000 in coverage.
• Proof of accommodation in France — a lease, property deed, or an attestation d'accueil.
• The signed non-work letter (engagement de ne pas travailler).
• Valid passport, passport photos, and the completed long-stay application.
• Proof of onward/return travel and a clean background as your consulate requires.

The visa fee is about €99. After you arrive, you validate the visa online through the ANEF platform within 3 months, and pay the OFII residence tax (currently around €200). You apply through VFS Global or the French consulate serving your US state — the consulate is assigned by where you live, so you can't shop around.

If You Actually Need to Work: Two Alternatives

The visitor visa is perfect for retirees, the financially independent, and remote employees of foreign companies. But if you need to earn money in France — serve French clients, run a local business, or take a French salary — you need a different visa.

Profession Libérale / Entrepreneur Visa

This is the correct route for US freelancers and consultants who want to legally serve French or EU clients. Because France has no digital nomad visa, this is the closest equivalent for self-employed people.

You register a French business (micro-entreprise, EI, or société) and must show economic resources at least equal to the full-time French minimum wage — about €1,867 gross per month (~€22,400/year) — via savings, contracts, or projected income. Since June 2025, there's a mandatory government pre-approval step: you must obtain an avis favorable on your business project through the ANEF platform before the consulate will even accept your application. Budget 2–3 months of lead time. French self-employment also means paying into the French social system (URSSAF), which is generous on benefits but heavy on charges.

Talent Passport (Passeport Talent)

The premium route. Instead of annual renewals, the Talent Passport gives you a single multi-year card valid for up to 4 years. It's built for skilled employees, founders, and investors, with 2026 thresholds such as:

• Qualified Employee: a French job offer paying at least €39,582/year gross.
• EU Blue Card (highly qualified): at least €59,373/year gross.
• Business Founder: a viable project with at least €30,000 invested.
• Investor: a direct economic investment of at least €300,000 in France.

A major perk: the accompanying "Talent – Famille" permit lets your spouse work in France with no separate work permit. It's the best option for Americans with a French employer, a fundable startup, or serious capital.

French Tax Residency: When France Starts Taxing You

Moving to France on any long-stay visa eventually raises the tax question. You become a French tax resident if you spend more than 183 days a year in France, or if France becomes your main home (foyer) or the center of your economic interests. Residents are taxed on worldwide income across progressive bands running from 0% up to 45%, plus social charges on top.

Here's the reassuring part for Americans: France doesn't tax you into oblivion the way the headline rates suggest, because the US-France tax treaty is one of the most favorable in the world.

The US-France Tax Treaty (One of the Best)

The treaty (in force since 1996) generally assigns taxing rights on US-source pensions, Social Security, and government pensions to the US, and reduces withholding on passive income — dividends at 15% (sometimes 5% or 0%), and interest and royalties often at 0%. For an American retiree living off US retirement income, this can mean paying little or no French income tax on that income. That's a genuine standout among expat destinations, and a big reason France is so popular with US retirees despite its high nominal tax rates.

The FEIE and Foreign Tax Credit

No matter where you live, US citizens and green card holders keep filing US federal taxes. The two main tools against double taxation are:

• Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE): excludes up to $132,900 of earned income for tax year 2026 if you qualify.
• Foreign Tax Credit (FTC): a dollar-for-dollar credit for French income tax paid.

Because France's income tax and social charges are relatively high, most Americans who become French tax residents benefit more from the Foreign Tax Credit than the FEIE — and often accumulate excess credits to carry forward. Which tool wins depends on your income type and situation; our deep dive on FEIE vs the Foreign Tax Credit breaks down exactly when each one comes out ahead.

Social Security & Totalization

The US and France have a Totalization Agreement, so you generally pay into only one country's social security system at a time, and contributions in each can count toward benefits in the other. This prevents double social-security taxation — especially important if you go self-employed and start paying French URSSAF charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely for my US employer on the French visitor visa?

Under current guidance, purely remote work for a foreign (non-French) employer is tolerated. You may not work for French clients or French employers, take a French job, or build a French client base — that requires a work visa. Keep your income clearly foreign-sourced.

How much income do I need for the long-stay visitor visa?

The legal floor is roughly the French net minimum wage, about €1,443/month net (January 2026). In practice, most consulates want to see around €2,500–€3,000+ per month per applicant, or equivalent savings, for a smooth approval.

Does France have a digital nomad visa?

No. France has no dedicated digital nomad visa in 2026. Remote workers use the VLS-TS visitor visa as the workaround, or the Profession Libérale route if they need to serve French/EU clients legally.

How much does the visa cost and how long does it last?

The visa fee is about €99, plus an OFII residence tax of roughly €200 paid after arrival. It's valid for one year, renewable annually, and validated online via the ANEF platform within 3 months of arrival.

Will I have to pay French tax on my US retirement income?

Thanks to the US-France tax treaty, US-source pensions, Social Security, and government pensions are generally taxed by the US, not France. Many American retirees pay little or no French income tax on that income — but confirm your specific situation with a cross-border tax professional.

Can I get French public healthcare on the visitor visa?

After living in France legally for at least three months on a stable basis, you can register for PUMA (public health coverage). Note that a 2026 contribution now applies to non-EU visitor-visa holders before PUMA access — until then, your required private insurance is your coverage. See our full France guide for details.

Bottom Line

France may not have a digital nomad visa, but the VLS-TS "visiteur" visa has quietly served Americans for decades. If you can show stable income — ideally €2,500–€3,000+ per month — carry proper health insurance, and keep any work strictly foreign-sourced, the door to living in France is very much open.

The tax side is where France genuinely rewards Americans: the US-France treaty is one of the most favorable anywhere, especially for retirees. But the interaction between French residency, the treaty, the FEIE, and the Foreign Tax Credit is complex, and the wrong choice can cost thousands. Before you file, have a cross-border specialist such as Greenback Expat Tax Services model your situation.

For the complete picture — cities, cost of living, healthcare, banking, and daily-life tips — read our full France guide.