What is a French ‘visa d’installation’ and is it possible to apply for one?

Reader Question: I recently heard about a ‘visa d’installation’ that can be used to move to France, and let border authorities know you are planning to do so. Is it easy to get? I already have a spousal visa and live in France with my husband (he is French, I am American).

There is no specific visa called a visa d’installation that you can obtain to come to France.

Rather, it is a catch-all term used for any visa that allows someone to resettle in the country. 

Note that it is not an official term used by the authorities in France, but rather an informal way to group visas that allow you to move to France and then remain in the country.

As a reminder, several visa options in France cannot be renewed and people must leave when the validity period expires (or, if possible, after a combination of their 90-day visa-free time in the Schengen expires too).

This includes:

• Three-month visitor visas for nationals who require a visa to enter the Schengen Area and do not benefit from short-stay visa-free access

• Seasonal worker visas

• Six-month visas often used by second-home owners (Visa de long séjour temporaire) 

• Working holiday visas for young people 

• Visa for au pairs

If they wish to return, they must go back to their country of origin and wait for a certain period and reapply for a similar (or different) visa again.

In comparison, visas that allow you to settle in France (s’installer) include one-year VLS-TS visas that can be renewed prior to expiry of the visa by applying for a residency card, skilled worker visas (the passeport talent for example), etc. 

If you are looking for visas that allow you to settle in France, you can use the French visa wizard to check for the ones you may be eligible for. 

When using the website to see if you need a visa, select the option to say you wish to stay in France for more than one year. 

Remember that for some visas, such as a one-year VLS-TS, you need to validate the visa within three months of arrival in order to remain in the country.

What about if you are already in France? 

In some cases, if you are already in France you can renew or convert your visa to one that allows you to legally remain in the country. 

This includes spouses of French citizens.

After one year, someone who arrived on a VLS-TS as the spouse of a French person can obtain a carte de séjour pluriannuelle vie privée et familiale, valid for two years. They should apply via the Anef site four months to two months before their visa expires.

After three years, they can apply for a 10-year carte de résident. 

Note that in both of these cases, they are not required to leave the country and reapply for their new visa, but rather make their request from inside France.