Residency
France — Residency: Processing Times
France does not publish one processing time that covers visas and residence permits; times depend on the category, the consulate or prefecture and the completeness of the file. The one deadline given in the official pages is for naturalisation by decree: the administration has up to 18 months from receipt of the application to respond. For visas, the long-stay visitor visa is issued as a VLS-TS that must be validated online after arrival. Ask your consulate or prefecture for its current times.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceMinistry of the Interior — naturalisation procedureLast reviewed: 2026-10-23
Key facts
- No single official processing time exists for visas and residence permits; it depends on category and office.
- For naturalisation by decree, the administration has up to 18 months from receipt to respond.
- A VLS-TS long-stay visa must be validated online after arrival in France.
Timelines
- Naturalisation by decree, administration response: Up to 18 months
Common mistakes
- Skipping online validation of the VLS-TS after arrival.