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The free visa walkthrough

Which French visa do you actually need?

Moving to France means matching your reasons for going to the right long-stay visa — and the rules are sharper than most people expect. Answer six questions and we'll point you to the category that fits, the documents it needs, and exactly what happens at each stage.

This mirrors the logic of the French government's own France-Visas assistant — in plain English, with the traps spelled out.

This is practical guidance, not legal advice. Immigration rules change, consular discretion is real, and your situation may have wrinkles a questionnaire can't see. Always confirm against the official France-Visas assistant and your consulate before you apply — and for complex cases, take professional advice.