Update on Long Stay Visitor Visas for France (beat the 90 day limit) plus latest EES & ETIAS Info

26 February 2025

[Update 14/03/25: It’s being reported EES will have a gradual launch from October 2025 with ETIAS at least 6 months after that but again a transitional phase in and then a “grace” period so unlikely to be mandatory and fully enforced until April 2027]

Latest update on obtaining the French Long Stay Visitor Visa allowing non EU citizens a 6 month (180 day) stay rather than the rolling 90 days within a rolling 180 day period – something that is initially quite hard to get your head round. It’s fully explained here plus there’s a useful Short Stay Calculator to work out your permitted stay.

The long stay visitor visa is a tourist visa for those that won’t be working and have the funds to support themselves for the time spent in France.

For the UK “Ski Bum” this has become the common annual process for those that haven’t gone about the Carte Sejour / France Residency (with tax implications) route or obtaining an EU passport through relatives / investments etc.

The process for UK staff to obtain Work Visas and employer Work Permits has become a lot smoother in the last couple of years – although still a costly and time consuming procedure.

Note that there are 2 new systems / procedures coming in to play that have been planned for nearly 10 years and been subject to numerous delays.

EES and ETIAS

1. EES (Entry/Exit Sytem) – is an automated system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180 day period) each time they cross an external Schengen border. The EES will collect travellers’ facial image and fingerprints. It will also collect travel document data as well as the date and place where the traveller entered and exited the territory of European countries using the system. A Smartphone App will be available to help with initial registration. The latest (Feb 2025) information is that this will be gradually phased in over 6 months from November 2025. The EES will automatically highlight people over-staying the 90 in 180 day rule and will not rely on a border control officer checking all your passport stamps – something we have witnessed happen on a very rare two occasions in the last 5 years.

2. ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) – is a travel authorisation for citizens of visa-exempt countries to enter the EU. Most applications will be processed in minutes via a Website or App and cost 7 Euros. It is valid for 3 years or until your passport runs out – whichever comes first. The ETIAS scheme is scheduled to start around six months after EES so this must be well in to 2026 with the delays they have had.

EES does not apply to holders of residency permits and long-stay visas. Similarly ETIAS is not required for holders of long term visas although it is not clear if a French Long Term Visa would get you authorised in to Geneva for example – for €7 for 3 years, it’s definitely not worth the hassle and chances are you’ll need it for visiting other EU countries in your (minimum) 180 days before applying for another French Long Stay Visitor Visa.

Initial Blog Post – October 2022

Updated Blog Post – February 2024

French Government Visa Website (for application form)

TLScontact Visa Agency Website (for in person appointment)

EU EES Entry/ Exit System Website – EES Not in operation (currently scheduled for “later in 2025”)

EU Official ETIAS Website – ETIAS Not in operation (expected 6 months after EES implementation)

French Long Term Visitor Visa Process Feb 2025 for UK Citizens

• An online form to be completed on the French Government Visa website:
  • Select Current Nationality as British
  • Select United Kingdom as place of submission and City of submission (Edinburgh, London or Manchester)
  • Make sure you are applying for the Long-stay (> 90 days) and main destination of stay as France.
  • Double check passport number and validity dates – they can’t be changed.
  • The mobile telephone number (used for login authorisation later) is in the format 447777XXXXXX (12 numbers).
  • Your Plans are Visitor and Main purpose of stay is Visitor (adult).
  • No National Identity Number is required.
  • You will need to put a French address where you are staying. State if it is a second home.

• Arrange an appointment at a TLS  office in London, Manchester or Edinburgh via the TLSconnect website:
  • You’ll need the reference number from submitting the online form to book an appointment
  • You pay a €55 service fee on-line (this is not the Visa fee)
  • You can pay a £30 courier fee to have your passport returned direct to your home address rather than collecting it from the TLS office – this is a bit of a rip-off as they just use Royal Mail Special Delivery Next Day By 1pm which costs £7.75 and also takes at least an extra day as your passport is sent from the London Embassy to the TLS Office and then via Royal Mail.
  • The further in advance you can book the more available slots – Edinburgh had loads of availability in February compared to October for example.

• At the TLS appointment:
  • Documentation is checked
  • If applicable there is a new second home owners form to complete (not available on-line)
  • Passport photos are stapled to a form and signatures taken
  • Photocopies of documents are inspected and put together in a folder with your passport
  • Payment for the visa is taken (contactless) for €99
  • Fingerprints (electronic scanner) are taken and a receipt issued

• Your passport, documents and application form are sent to the French Embassy in London for processing.

• Your passport is then sent back to the TLS office for collection or via courier for home delivery.

TLS are a third party used to process applications, they also offer enhanced services (at a cost), such as help with filling in the forms for £15 and photo copies at 30p a sheet plus there is a premium lounge (probably with no queues) available for €100 and Saturday appointments for an additional €60.

Note that the decision on your application is by the French Embassy not TLS

Documentation Requirements

A check list is provided once your on-line form is submitted on the French Government Visa website.

• Passport (issued less than 10 years ago, with 2 blank pages and at least 3 months left before expiry)
• 3 Passport photos
• Declaration that you are not going to work and proof of your status eg. retirement / second home owner / funds available etc. (write & sign a letter with the details)
• 3 months of Bank Statements / Other proof of finances
• Proof of accommodation / rental agreement / homeowner etc.
• Travel health insurance – a valid EHIC or GHIC appear to be all that is required
• Photocopies of your passport (plus any previous visas) and EHIC / GHIC are needed – these copies will be kept by TLS.

Timescales

TLS state that the aim is to get your passport back in 15 working days, but it depends on the London Embassy ultimately. Applications in October 2022 took around 14 days, in February 2024 and February 2025 an appointment on Monday had the passport delivered back via courier on the following Tuesday (just over a week).

Appointments in Edinburgh were widely available in February 2025 with only 2 weeks notice. An 09:00 appointment is probably best to avoid queues if they overrun during the morning. In October it appears to be primarily UK applicants sorting out working visas while in February it’s 95% Japanese students applying for visitor visas! They are quite strict about bag searches, having your checklist form and service fee receipt available on arrival plus keeping your mobile phone switched off (it’s ok to switch it on to pay the Visa fee!).

Finally, note that the TLS Office in Edinburgh has moved. It’s now up towards the castle and about a 20 minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley Station.