French VLS-T visa explained: can you leave and re-enter France?
A common question from second-home owners planning longer stays in France
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Reader question: We are considering applying for a VLS-TS so that we can spend longer periods at our second home in France. However, we are both 80, and our health insurance currently limits us to stays of no more than 49 days per trip. We also need to return to the UK periodically for medical follow-ups. If we were granted a VLS-TS, would we have to spend the full permitted period in France continuously, or could we use it flexibly - for example, staying in France for 49 days, returning briefly to the UK, and then coming back for another 49-day stay, repeating this pattern until we reach the visa’s maximum duration?
A quick clarification is in order first: although you refer to a VLS-TS visa, it sounds as though you are actually referring to the VLS-T (Visa de Long Séjour Temporaire), which is the visa most commonly used by UK second-home owners who wish to spend up to six months in France.
The two visas are often confused. A VLS-T is intended for a temporary stay of four to six months and does not require any further formalities once you arrive in France.
On the other hand, a VLS-TS is valid from four to 12 months but acts as a residence permit and must be validated online after arrival. It is generally for people planning a longer-term stay in France.
If your aim is simply to spend longer periods at your second home without becoming a resident, the VLS-T is likely to be the more appropriate visa.
When it comes to health cover, you are also right to consider this carefully. UK applicants for a six-month VLS-T can use a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) to ensure the visa’s medical insurance requirement.
However, as a GHIC only covers medically necessary healthcare under the French state system, many people (especially those with ongoing health concerns), choose to take out additional private insurance for greater peace of mind.
A separate private health insurance policy is required for applicants seeking a 12-month VLS-TS.
Now, as for your main question, you do not have to remain in France continuously throughout the validity of a VLS-T. This visa is valid for the dates marked on it, and during that period you can leave France and return, provided the visa remains valid and you continue to meet its conditions.
Your pattern of spending around 49 days in France, returning briefly to the UK for medical appointments or because of insurance limits, and then returning to France is possible.
When travelling, it is important to carry your passport and the valid visa.
Finally, remember that a VLS-T is valid only for the period shown on the visa. Once it expires, any further time spent in France will normally fall under the standard 90 days in any rolling 180-day period available to British visitors.
If you have unused visa-free Schengen days remaining at that point, these can, in principle, be used after the visa expires, allowing you to extend your overall time in France.
