Tourist or Private visit
Stay not exceeding 3 months
Your situation
You want to visit France for under 3 months for tourism reasons without engaging in any professional activity during your stay.
Your visa
After checking whether your nationality requires a visa, you must then apply for a short-stay visa (uniform Schengen visa or national visa depending on your destination i.e. in France's European or non-European territory)..
Your supporting documentation
This will be indicated in the visa wizard and will depend on your country of residence and on your nationality. The purpose is to check whether you have financial resources (cash, travellers' cheques, international bank cards, etc.) sufficient for the duration of your planned stay and your return to your country of origin.
Visa for medical care
Your situation
You need to consult a doctor or specialised clinic, receive treatment in a hospital or receive aftercare.
Your visa
The visa issued to you for medical care reasons is a short-stay visa and does not exclude a private stay or tourism. The cost of any medical care you receive in France will not be covered by the French health insurance system.
Your supporting documentation
In addition to the general documentation usually required for any short-stay visa, you will also be asked to provide specific supporting documentation. It will be examined in strict respect of medical confidentiality.
To learn more :
- Information notice on medical expenses issued by the Ministry of Solidarity and Health..
- Brochure coming to France for treatment (pdf)
Stay exceeding 3 months
Your situation
You want to visit France for private reasons, for a period exceeding 3 months without engaging in any professional activity during your stay.
Your visa
You must apply for a long-stay "visitor" visa. You will be issued with a long-stay visa serving as a residence permit (VLS-TS). This visa is subject to an online validation procedure after you arrive in France.
Where appropriate, a temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T) can be issued to people who are certain that they will not extend their stay beyond the duration of their visa.
Your supporting documentation
This will be indicated in the visa wizard and will differ depending on your country of residence or on your nationality. You must prove information about your socio-economic situation (leave, retirement, etc.), your resources, your accommodation and your medical cover in France. You must also formally agree not to engage in any professional activity during your stay in France.