For retirees and the financially independent, France runs on a single route: the long-stay visitor visa, renewed yearly. Work routes exist for those who need them. Here are the 2026 numbers — no salesmanship.
Figures verified 8 July 2026| Route | Who it's for | Money requirement (2026) | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-stay visitor (VLS-TS) Full guide → | Retirees and anyone living off pensions, savings, or investments — no work in France allowed | No statutory figure; consulates benchmark against net minimum wage — ≈€1,478/month per person (June 2026). Showing 1.5–2× is safer | 1-yr status, renewed yearly → 10-yr resident card possible at 5 yrs → citizenship at 5 yrs |
| Salarié / employee | People with a French job offer (employer needs work authorisation) | Salary at least the SMIC — €1,867/month gross (June 2026); more for talent categories | Residency track; same 5-yr milestones |
| Talent passport | Investors, company founders, highly skilled employees | Varies by category — e.g. business investment or qualifying salary thresholds | Multi-year card (up to 4 yrs) from day one |
| Entrepreneur / profession libérale | People starting a business or freelance practice in France | A viable business plan plus resources at least equal to the SMIC | Residency track; same 5-yr milestones |
Consular VLS-TS visa, then mandatory online validation within 3 months of arrival (€300 tax since May 2026). Your visa is then your residence permit for year one.
Apply at your préfecture 2 to 4 months before expiry: carte de séjour "visiteur", 1 year at a time. Same income bar, still no work in France.
After 5 years' regular residence: the carte de résident. Since January 2026 it needs B1 French and the new civic exam. Card fee €350.
Naturalisation after 5 years' habitual residence — unchanged. But since 1 January 2026 you need B2 French plus a 40-question civic exam (80% to pass).
Income benchmarks, documents, fees, and the step-by-step process .
Read the guide → GuideThe renewal cycle, the 10-year card, and the new B2 + civic-exam rules from January 2026.
Read the guide → GuideEligible after 3 months' residence. The application, the carte Vitale, and the "PUMa tax".
Read the guide →Investor, founder, and skilled-employee categories — thresholds and the 4-year card.
How Schengen counting works, the EES biometric border system, and ETIAS (expected late 2026, €20).
The online portal for validation and renewals — and what to do when it jams.
Visa applications fail on paperwork details. We'll introduce you to an English-speaking immigration lawyer we've independently vetted — licensed, and experienced with expat cases in France.