France long-stay (Type D) visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a France long-stay (Type D) Schengen visa when you apply from United States.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇫🇷 France·····✈·····🇺🇸 from United States
To
France
Type
D · LONG STAY
Apply at
USA
Centre
VAC
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Action neededLong stay — national (Type D) · applying from United States.
Documents ready00 / 11
Competent authority
French Consulate covering the applicant's US state of residence by jurisdiction
Application centre
VFS Global (11 US centres)
Recommended — commonly expected even when not on the official list
Cover letterA letter of introduction stating who you are and why you are travelling.
Travel itineraryA day-by-day plan of your trip to attach to the application.
Fees
Consular (Type C)
€90
Service fee
$45
Est. total (adult)
$145
Long stay (Type D)
€99
The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in USD · centre: TLScontact.
Fee notes
France switched VFS->TLScontact in USA April 2025 (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, LA, Miami, NY, SF, Seattle, DC). Service ~€45. Long-stay VLS €99 (+€300 ANEF post-arrival validation, not a visa fee).
Timeline
medium confidenceProcessing
15–45 days
End-to-end
3–8 weeks
Centre
VAC
Appointment wait
Appointments cannot be booked more than 3 months before travel; peak-season (spring/summer) slots scarce. Realistically ~1-4 weeks, worse at popular centres.
Application centre
VFS Global (US), sole administrative service provider for France. Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, LA, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC.
Timeline notes
Harmonised ~15 calendar days typical; some cases up to 45-60. 3-month advance booking cap is a real constraint.
Funds to show
high confidenceThe figures below are the short-stay (Type C) means of subsistence. A long-stay (Type D) visa sets its funds requirement nationally by purpose (study, work, family reunification, income) — check the consulate for the amount that applies to your case.
Per day
€65
Minimum
—
In EUR ≈
as shown
no accommodation booked
€120 / day
with hotel booking (base daily SMIC)
€65 / day
proof of private accommodation / attestation d'accueil (half SMIC)
€32.5 / day
Notes
Base = daily SMIC (EUR 65.00). If NO hotel reservation is presented, EUR 120/day required. If a hotel reservation covers part of the stay: EUR 65/day for the booked period + EUR 120/day for the rest. Holders of an attestation d'accueil (hosted) need only half the SMIC = EUR 32.50/day. Travel medical insurance also required.
Consulates apply discretion and may expect a buffer above this figure — treat it as a floor, not a guarantee.
Funds source ↗⚠ Special cases & caveats
- Non-US citizens resident in the USMust present valid US residence (Green Card or US visa) for the consular jurisdiction of application.
- WorkSigned work contract + French work authorisation, employer letter, payslips.
- StudyAdmission letter, Campus France clearance where applicable, proof of financial means, accommodation proof.
- Family reunificationKinship certificates, proof of inviting person's residence, housing and resources, OFII approval where applicable.
- All D visa holders (VLS-TS)Validate the long-stay visa online with OFII within 3 months of arrival in France.