With summer on the doorstep, here’s a way to work around the 90/180 rule.
Since January 2021, the freedom of British people to come and go in France has been restricted to 90 days out of 180, with no possibility of re-entry until the time is up.
While 90 days might sound like plenty for casual holidaymakers, it’s never long enough for people with second homes in France or for those who are looking to rent or buy a French property.
Say hello to the six-month short stay visa!
Often overlooked, the short stay visa offers certain advantages.
For a start, it’s easy to acquire. You can apply up to three months before the date you intend to travel, which allows plenty of time in case the Consulate dealing with your application is particularly busy during that period. Even if your visa comes through in record time, its six months validity starts on the date you stipulated in your application, which makes planning easy.
Secondly, you don’t need to show proof of health insurance. Your current GHIC is enough.
Thirdly, the short stay visa is multiple entry, which means you can come and go as you please as long as you are heading home by the end of your designated six month period.
What happens after that?
If you loved your time in France so much that you decide to move here permanently, you can simply apply for a one year long-stay visa once you get back home. During that year, you will be able to apply for a ‘carte de séjour’ or residency visa.
The good news is that if you apply for a short stay visa this month, you’ll be here by the end of July with all of summer and autumn to enjoy!
Meanwhile, if you can’t decide where you want to live in France, we offer an exciting new Discovery Service where we talk to you about the things that are important to you and suggest two or three areas of France that we think are a perfect fit, complete with a personalised schedule so you can come and discover it for yourself.
At French Connections HCB, we have helped thousands of people settle in France. If you’d like to find out more about the short stay visa or need help applying for one, you can book a FREE initial consultation with our friendly relocation specialist Diana by clicking on the button below.
Alternatively, you can email her at [email protected]
We look forward to talking to you.
French Connections HCB Team
frenchconnectionshcb.com
