Want to live in France for more than 90 days without working as a retiree, a financially independent person, or a second home owner? The Long Stay Visitor Visa (VLS TS visiteur) is your route.
Some people don’t want to study or work in France they simply want to live there. Maybe you’re a retiree dreaming of a peaceful life in the French countryside, a financially independent person living off savings or investments, or a second home owner wanting to spend real time in your French property. For all of them, France has a dedicated route: the Long Stay Visitor Visa.
Here’s the one thing to understand upfront: the word “visitor” is misleading. This isn’t a tourist visa. It’s for people who can support themselves financially and will not work in France. In this guide, we’ll explain exactly who qualifies, the money you need to show, the full process, the documents, and the mistakes that get people rejected so you can plan your French life with confidence.
Who is this guide for?
Pakistani retirees, financially independent individuals, second home owners, and people living off savings or foreign income who want to live in France for more than 90 days without working.
The Long Stay Visitor Visa officially the visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS TS), category “visiteur” lets non EU nationals live in France for stays longer than 90 days, typically for up to one year, with the option to renew.
In simple terms:
If you want to live in France for more than three months, aren’t going to study, and won’t work for a French employer and you can prove you can support yourself the visitor visa is your route.
| Retirees | Those living off a pension who want to spend their retirement enjoying life in France. | |
| Financially independent | People living off savings, investments, or other passive income who don’t need to work. | |
| Second home owners | Those who own (or plan to own) property in France and want to live there long term. | |
| Sabbatical / extended stay | People taking a career break or extended time in France, supported by their own funds. |
Not sure how this applies to you?Send us your details and a Westside adviser will tell you honestly where you stand. Free 30 minute assessment.
Ask on WhatsAppThis is the heart of the visitor visa. To qualify, you must sign a sworn declaration that you will not carry out any professional activity in France during your stay. You’re living in France, but not working there.
A common trap remote work:
Many people assume they can freely do remote work from France for a foreign employer on a visitor visa. The rules around this are nuanced and interpretations have shifted, so this is an area where you must get current, personalised advice before relying on it. Never assume check first, because getting this wrong can put your status at risk.
The simple version:
If you need to work in France, this isn’t your visa you’d look at the Talent Passport or other routes instead. The visitor visa is specifically for those who can live in France
without
working there.
To qualify for the Long Stay Visitor Visa, you generally need:
Money is the single most important part of a visitor visa. You must prove you can support yourself in France without working. As a general guide, applicants are usually expected to show income at least around the level of the French minimum wage (SMIC) commonly cited at roughly €1,500 or more per month for a single applicant though showing more strengthens your application considerably.
Be conservative, not minimal:
Scraping the bare minimum leaves lots of room for rejection. Showing well above the threshold with healthy reserves and funds that are genuinely accessible from France makes your application far stronger. Present multiple sources and highlight the totals.
Consistency matters:
As with any French visa, steady, well documented finances look far stronger than a sudden large deposit. Bank statements over several months that show stability are your best friend here.
Your exact checklist is generated by the France Visas portal, but a typical visitor visa file includes:
Missing or unclear documents = rejection:
The visitor visa is document heavy, and incomplete or unclear financial proof is the top reason for rejection. Every document must be clear, current, and correctly presented.
Not sure how this applies to your case?
Send us your question on WhatsApp. A Westside adviser in DHA Lahore will reply, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00.
Ask on WhatsAppAn easily missed but critical step: once you arrive, you must validate your VLS TS online within 3 months on the ANEF portal (this is when the validation tax is paid). This validation turns your visa into your valid residence permit.
Don’t skip validation:
If you don’t validate within 3 months, your visa won’t convert into a valid residence authorisation which can seriously affect your legal status. Mark the deadline the moment you land.
The visitor visa is renewable, and over time it can lead to real long term stability:
Keep good records:
Because renewals need proof you genuinely lived in France, keep your utility bills, rent receipts, and any tax filings organised from day one. It makes each renewal far smoother.
Your close family can come too, though the route is slightly different from other visa types:
Plan finances for the family:
If your spouse and children are joining, your income and savings must clearly support everyone. We can help you calculate and present this properly.
| Visa type | VLS TS “visiteur” (long stay) |
| For stays over | 90 days |
| Validity | Up to 1 year, renewable |
| Income guide | Around €1,500+/month (SMIC level) for one person |
| Work in France? | No, sworn non work declaration required |
| Health insurance | Mandatory, full stay |
| Accommodation | Lease, property deed, or host attestation |
| Validate (ANEF) | Within 3 months of arrival |
| Renewal | Apply ~2 months before expiry (no cap) |
| Toward settlement | 10 year card after 5 years’ residence |
Most visitor visa rejections come from avoidable issues usually around money. Fix these before you apply:
| Insufficient or unclear financial proof | The number one reason. Showing funds below the expected level, or presenting them unclearly, gets you rejected. | Fix it first: Show income comfortably above the minimum, from clear sources (pension, savings, investments, rent), with totals highlighted and funds accessible from France. |
| Weak or missing accommodation proof | No clear proof of where you’ll live in France weakens your application. | Fix it first: Provide a solid lease, property deed, or a proper host attestation covering your stay. |
| Missing or inadequate health insurance | No private health cover, or cover that’s insufficient, is an easy rejection. | Fix it first: Buy compliant private health insurance covering your entire stay, and include the proof. |
| Incomplete documents or errors | Missing papers, a missing sworn statement, or inaccurate information cause rejections. | Fix it first: Follow the France Visas checklist precisely, include the non work declaration, and double check every detail. |
| Choosing the wrong visa | Applying as a visitor when you actually intend to work in France leads to rejection. | Fix it first: Be honest about your plans. If you’ll work, use the right route (like the Talent Passport) instead. |
Here’s the honest truth: no one can “promise” a visitor visa the decision always rests with the French authorities. But this visa is very document- and finance sensitive, so expert guidance makes a real difference. And that’s exactly where we come in.
At Westside Visa, our consultants in DHA Lahore help Pakistani retirees and financially independent individuals apply for the France visitor visa with strong, credible applications. We help you:
And if you’ve already been rejected, don’t lose hope we’re expert at reading a rejection, fixing the real issue (usually financial presentation), and rebuilding a stronger application. Many of our success stories started with a “no”. Think of us as your teammate honest, experienced, and fully on your side.
Planning your move to France? We’ve got you covered:
Living in France without working is a real possibility with the visitor visa and strong finances are the key. Westside Visa guides you through every step, with honest, expert advice you can trust.
Book Your Free Consultation Message on WhatsApp
+92 322 5061166 info@westsidevisa.com First Floor 22 A, Sector A Phase 5 DHA, Lahore
No. The visitor visa requires you to sign a sworn statement that you won’t carry out professional activity in France. It’s designed for people who can support themselves without working. If you want to work in France, you’d need a different route, such as the Talent Passport.
As a general guide, you’re usually expected to show income at least around the French minimum wage (SMIC) commonly cited at roughly €1,500 or more per month for a single applicant. Showing more strengthens your application considerably. Income can come from pensions, savings, investments, or rental income.
This is a nuanced and shifting area. Some interpretations allow remote work purely for a foreign employer with no French connection, while others treat it more strictly under visitor status. Because the rules have changed and can affect your status, get current, personalised advice before relying on it don’t assume.
The visitor visa is valid for up to one year. You can renew it by applying for a carte de séjour visiteur online (ANEF) at least 2 months before it expires, as long as you still meet the conditions. There’s no cap on renewals, and after 5 years of continuous residence you may apply for a 10 year resident card.
Yes. You must validate your VLS TS online on the ANEF portal within 3 months of arriving in France. This is mandatory it turns your visa into a valid residence permit. Skipping it can seriously affect your legal status.
Yes, but typically they apply for their own visitor visas in parallel, each with their own financial and accommodation documentation. Your funds must comfortably support the whole family. Standard family reunification generally isn’t available to visitor permit holders in the first year.
Yes from confirming it’s the right visa to presenting your finances powerfully and building a complete file, including your family’s applications. We can’t promise a visa (no honest consultant can), but we make sure your application is as strong as possible. Contact us to get started.
Westside Visa News brings the week’s official changes for Pakistani students and families, in plain language, every Monday.
Visit us at First Floor, 22 A, Sector A, Phase 5, DHA Lahore, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00, or message us any time.
This guide is general information from Westside Visa Consultants, not legal advice. Visa rules change often, so always confirm the latest position on the official government website before you apply.
A curated list of the most popular travel packages based on different destinations.
The Campus France interview is the make or break moment of your France study journey, no interview, no visa. But here’s the good news: it’s not designed to fail you. It’s there to confirm you’re a genuine, well prepared student.
Family belongs together. If you or your spouse is building a life in France, French law gives you real routes to reunite whether you’re joining a French citizen or a family member already settled there.
Here’s the hard truth every Pakistani applicant needs to hear: weak or unclear proof of funds is the number one reason France visas get rejected. The good news?
One visa, 29 European countries. A France Schengen visa opens the door to Paris, and to Germany, Italy, Spain, and beyond. But with Pakistan facing one of the world’s highest rejection rates, how you apply matters more than ever.
A world class European education at surprisingly affordable public university fees, plus access to 29 Schengen countries no wonder France is booming with Pakistani students. But there’s one step you can’t skip: Campus France.
Studying in France is already affordable, but scholarships can make it even cheaper, or in some cases nearly free.
Westside Visa Consultants has placed Pakistani students in France every year since 2021, through the Etudes en France procedure and through direct admission.
A France visa rejection stings but it’s not the end of the road. There’s no automatic ban and no mandatory waiting period. What matters is understanding exactly why you were rejected, fixing the real issue, and coming back stronger.
Don’t hesitate Call to Westside.
+92 322 5061166
info@westsidevisa.com
+92 322 5061166
Copyright 2026 | All Right Reserved.
Accepted Payment Methods :
