🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇫🇷 France · Visa & timeline

France visa options and timeline for UK citizens

Difficulty: Moderate. Typical timeline: 2–5 months.

Post-Brexit, Britons need a visa to settle. The long-stay visa (VLS-TS) is the usual route for workers, retirees and the self-sufficient — bureaucratic, but a clear path.

How long does it take?

Most UK→France moves take around 2–5 months. Long-stay visa (VLS-TS): worker, visitor or talent-passport categories.

How hard is it?

We rate this corridor "Moderate" relative to the other common destinations for Britons. Start the longest-lead items (skills/credential assessments, and where required a language test) early.

Not sure you're ready? Take the 60-second readiness check on the home page.

Frequently asked

How long does it take to emigrate from the UK to France?

Typically 2–5 months. Long-stay visa (VLS-TS): worker, visitor or talent-passport categories.

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Educational information only — not financial, tax, legal or migration advice. Fees reviewed 2026-06; verify current rules via official sources before acting.