France Residency Permits UK | Talent Permit, Visitor, Profession Libérale

Living in France, the right way

A French residence permit lets you live in France for longer than the 90-day Schengen limit — and, depending on the route, work, run a business or study. France offers a broad set of long-stay routes, but each carries its own conditions around income, activity and supporting documents, and those rules are amended from time to time. The first step is choosing the route that genuinely fits your plans.

We provide application support, not decisions — the outcome always rests with the French consular authority or préfecture. You can review the official framework on the France-Visas portal (opens in new tab).

Routes available in France

Route	Who it’s for	Typical basis	Indicative timeline*
Talent permit (investment / activity)	Investors, founders, skilled professionals	Qualifying investment or activity in France	Weeks to a few months
Long-stay visitor (digital nomad)	Remote workers with overseas income	Self-supporting; no local employment	Weeks to a few months
Long-stay visitor (elective)	Financially independent, not working locally	Stable passive income and means	Weeks to a few months
Profession libérale	Self-employed and freelancers	Independent professional activity in France	Weeks to a few months
Student	Those enrolled at a French institution	Acceptance and proof of means	Weeks to a few months
Temporary residence (titre de séjour)	New arrivals, renewals, validation	Post-arrival registration at the préfecture	Varies by préfecture

*Indicative only; varies with current rules.

Figures are indicative and change — we confirm the current rules for your case.

Who it suits

France works well for investors and founders, remote workers, the financially independent, freelancers and students who want a lawful, longer-term base in Europe and can evidence their income, activity or means.

How we help

Matching you to the correct French route before you apply
Pre-checking your documents against the relevant published checklist
Completing France-Visas and préfecture forms accurately and consistently
Helping assemble proof of means, activity, accommodation and insurance
Arranging certified translations and any required legalisation
Booking your consulate appointment and guiding the post-arrival titre de séjour stage

What to prepare

A valid passport and proof of identity
Evidence of income, investment or self-employment, as relevant to your route
Proof of accommodation in France and adequate health cover
Acceptance documents (for students) and details of any dependants

Tell us your plans and intended length of stay, and we will outline a realistic French route. Ready to begin? Start your application.

Frequently asked questions

What residency routes does France offer?

France runs several long-stay routes, including the Talent residence permit (renamed from the Passeport Talent in June 2025, covering investors, founders and skilled professionals), the long-stay visitor visa for the financially independent, the profession libérale route for the self-employed, and student permits. France does not operate a ‘golden visa’. The right one depends on your circumstances, and conditions change, so we confirm the current rules for your case.

What is the difference between a French long-stay visa and a titre de séjour?

The long-stay visa (visa de long séjour, often a Type D) is what you apply for before arriving. Once in France, many holders must validate the visa or apply for a residence card (titre de séjour) at the préfecture within set deadlines. We help you with both stages.

Can I work in France on a visitor route?

The long-stay visitor route is generally for people who can support themselves without working locally. Routes such as the Talent permit or profession libérale are designed for work or self-employment. We help you match your plans to the correct route rather than risk the wrong one.

Can my family join me?

Several French routes allow a partner and children to be included or to follow as family members, usually with additional documents. Requirements vary by route and change over time, so we confirm what currently applies before you apply.

Can you guarantee my application will be approved?

No. We provide application support, document pre-checks and guidance; the decision rests entirely with the French consular authority or préfecture. We focus on presenting a complete, well-organised file.