Long-stay visas (Type D)
French Family Reunification & Family Visa (Regroupement familial / Vie privée et familiale)
Long-stay routes for family members joining a legally resident foreign national through family reunification, or a French citizen through private and family life, each leading to a residence permit.
Important information
- Issued by
- OFII / prefecture (reunification) and the consulate (visa), or directly for spouses of French nationals
- Reunification eligibility
- Sponsor with ~18 months legal residence, plus income and housing conditions
- Spouse of a French national
- 'Vie privée et familiale' visa, without the reunification income/housing thresholds
- Resulting status
- Residence permit that generally permits work
- Language
- A French-language condition applies in certain family cases
- Verify current requirement
Who it's for
- Spouses and minor children of a non-EU national lawfully settled in France (reunification)
- Foreign spouses of French citizens (private and family life)
- Certain dependent family members meeting the specific conditions
Requirements
- Qualifying sponsor (legally resident foreign national or French citizen)
- Proof of the family relationship (marriage or birth certificates)
- For reunification: stable, sufficient income and adequate housing
- French-language evidence where required
- Valid passports and the required civil-status documents (translated/legalised)
What you can do
- Join and live with your family member in France
- Obtain a residence permit that generally allows you to work
- Renew and progress toward a multi-year and then long-term card
- Build toward eligibility for long-term residence or naturalisation
How to apply
For family reunification, the sponsor files the request in France through the OFII; after approval the family members apply for long-stay visas at the consulate.
Spouses of French nationals apply for the 'vie privée et familiale' long-stay visa through France-Visas and the consulate. In both cases the long-stay visa is validated online after arrival and leads to a residence permit.
Documents
- Valid passports and France-Visas applications
- Marriage and/or birth certificates proving the relationship
- Sponsor's residence permit or proof of French nationality
- For reunification: proof of income and suitable housing
- Translations/legalisations and any required language certificate
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Spouses of French nationals use the 'private and family life' visa and are not subject to the income and housing thresholds that apply to general family reunification.
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.
Related French visas
- BUSINESSHIGHLY SKILLEDFAMILY RIGHTSTalent Passport (Passeport Talent / Talent)A multi-year long-stay visa and residence permit for highly skilled workers, researchers, founders, investors and cultural talent, with fast-track rights for accompanying family members.View visa details
- WORKHIGHLY SKILLEDEU-WIDEEU Blue Card (Carte bleue européenne)The EU-wide route for highly skilled workers, issued in France as a Talent 'European Blue Card' permit for graduates or experienced professionals holding a high-salary contract.View visa details
- WORKEMPLOYER-SPONSOREDWORK PERMITEmployee / Temporary Worker Visa (VLS-TS salarié / travailleur temporaire)The standard employer-sponsored work visa for a French job that does not meet Talent criteria. It requires a work permit and is issued as either 'employee' for open-ended roles or 'temporary worker' for fixed-term ones.View visa details