Many long-stay visas issued by French consulates are “long-stay visas equivalent to a residence permit” (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour, VLS-TS): student, employee, spouse of a French national, family reunification, talent, etc. They allow you to live in France for up to one year without going to the prefecture. But they only produce their full effects once they have been validated online.
What is a VLS-TS?
A VLS-TS is a long-stay visa (type D) issued by the French consulate, valid for more than three months and up to one year. During its validity, the holder does not need to apply for a residence card. At the end of the visa, a residence card must be requested if the stay continues.
The obligation: validate within three months
Within three months of arriving in France, you must:
- declare your date of entry and your address in France;
- pay the tax linked to your visa (its amount depends on the type of visa; for example €300 for an employee VLS-TS);
- obtain the electronic confirmation of validation.
The procedure is carried out online on the official platform for foreign nationals (ANEF), via the “Valider un visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS)” service.
Why it is essential
Without validation within three months:
- you are considered to be in an irregular situation;
- you cannot leave and re-enter the Schengen area with your visa;
- you will face difficulties when applying for your residence card, and may have to pay a regularisation fee;
- your rights linked to the visa (work, social benefits) may be challenged.
Visas not concerned
Long-stay visas that do not “count as a residence permit” (for example those requiring a card application at the prefecture within two months of arrival) follow a different procedure: read carefully the mention on your visa.
Common problems and solutions
- Technical error or blocked platform: keep screenshots with date and time, contact the online support, and keep proof of all attempts made within the deadline.
- Wrong information entered: request correction as soon as possible through the support service.
- Deadline exceeded: do not wait; seek advice quickly, as the consequences depend on your situation.
When the platform blocks an application despite all efforts, a court action can sometimes unblock the situation. Our firm obtained, for example, a receipt authorising work for a “talent – family” holder blocked by the ANEF, after filing an urgent application with the court.
Our advice
Validate your visa in the first days after your arrival, keep the validation certificate with your passport and note the visa’s expiry date: the residence card application must be filed before it expires.
Need help with your case?
FATOU BABOU AVOCAT assists individuals, families and companies with visas, family reunification, residence permits and appeals against refusals, before consulates, prefectures and courts.
- Bordeaux office: 11 rue Galin, 33100 Bordeaux, France – +33 9 85 40 18 64 – contact@legalfb-avocat.fr
- Dakar office: 14 rue Woro Fila, Fann Hock, Dakar, Senegal – +221 77 173 69 05 / +221 33 844 29 16 – contact@fbavocat-sn.com
- Book an appointment online
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules, amounts and deadlines change regularly: always have your own situation checked by a lawyer.