To guarantee legal residency, it is essential to validate your long-stay visa
(VLS-TS) as soon as you arrive in France. This is a detailed guide:
1. Get to France
Make sure you enter within the times your visa is valid.
Save copies of your passport, visa, and other official documents in case the
validation procedure calls for them.
2. Compile the Necessary Data
What you will need is as follows:
Details of the visa (VLS-TS)
Arrival date in France
Your French address
A working email address
Bank card (to pay taxes online)
3. Sign up on the OFII Platform online.
Go to https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/ the official
website.
Actions to take:
Select “Validate your VLS-TS visa” (valider votre VLS-TS in French).
Make an account and provide the necessary data, such as your French address
and visa information.
Send in the form.
4. Cover the cost of the residence permit.
The tax will be computed by the system according to the type of visa you have.
You can pay online with a bank card or, if you don’t have one, by buying a tax
stamp (timbre fiscal) from a tabac store.
Depending on the kind of visa, fees might range from €50 to €250.
5. Obtain Verification
An email confirming the completion of your application will be sent to you.
This paper serves as confirmation of your legal residency; save it or print it out.
6. Appointment with OFII (if required)
The OFII may occasionally ask you to participate in an integration session and/or
a medical assessment.
Bring your proof of address, passport, and any other papers that may be needed.
Your legal status may be impacted if you miss it.
7. Maintain Validation Proof
As evidence of your legal stay, keep a copy of your passport and the confirmation
of your visa validation with you.
Crucial Advice
Due date: To avoid fines, validate within three months of your arrival.
Renewal: After a year, long-stay visas often need to be renewed. With your local
prefecture, begin the renewal procedure as soon as possible.
Change of Address: If you relocate while visiting, update your information with
OFII.
Do you need help using the OFII website or comprehending how to pay for a tax
stamp?