Ralph and I are less than three months away from the big move to France!

Finding somewhere to live was obviously a huge piece of the puzzle, but once we found the house, it was time to turn our attention to the next critical phase: visas. For long stays, France requires you to apply no more than 90 days before your arrival, but the preparation? That starts well before.

As anyone in the expat Facebook groups will tell you, getting the right visa for your situation is key. You can’t just show up with good intentions and a suitcase full of remote work. You’ve got to do your homework — and ideally, before you ask how to ship your belongings or whether to bring your stand mixer. (Yes, I have seen this online!!)

So where to begin?

Start with the official French visa site: france-visas.gouv.fr. That “.gouv.fr” ending means it’s the real deal. The site includes visa wizards to help narrow your options, plus helpful FAQs — though it can feel overwhelming if bureaucratic French is not your second language (or even your fourth).

That’s where Foolproof French Visas by Allison Grant Lounes came in handy. I downloaded the e-book to better understand the options and eventually sprung for her self-guided entrepreneur package with Franceformation. It included videos, checklists, templates, and even one-on-one sessions to review my documents. Highly recommend for anyone who’d rather not reinvent the wheel.

Two People, Two Paths

Ralph and I applied for different types of long-stay visas based on our plans in France:

Ralph’s Path: VLS-TS Visitor Visa (Inactif)

This is a great option for retirees or those with passive income who don’t plan to work in France. The income requirement is currently around €1,430/month (net), and the rules are clear: no work allowed. Not freelance, not remote, not “just helping out.” Nada. Thankfully, Ralph is quite content with this arrangement!

My Path: VLS-TS Profession Libérale Visa

This is also a renewable VLS-TS visa, but it allows me to work as a self-employed consultant. Essentially, I’m sponsoring myself for a work visa. The minimum income I’ll aim for is around €1,800/month, equivalent to France’s minimum wage (le SMIC) before taxes.

Yes, I’ll be paying French taxes on global income — but I’m more than okay with that. France funds universal healthcare, school lunches, and higher education through its social charges. That’s a trade-off I can get behind.

The Paper Trail

Ralph’s application was relatively simple: proof of income (from his pension and social security statements), housing, health insurance, and financial means. Mine was a bit more involved: business plan, letters of intent, projected income, my CV, and a very official-looking cover letter. Thankfully, Allison’s guidance made this part less painful — I used her templates wherever possible and met with her virtually before I submitted my documents.

A few extra things we learned along the way:

• No double taxation. France and the US have an excellent tax treaty, the most favorable in the EU. I’ll get a U.S. tax credit for income taxed in France, and Ralph’s retirement savings, pension, and social security won’t be taxed by France at all.
• We didn’t need to fly back to the U.S. As residents of Germany, we were able to apply through the French Consulate in Frankfurt. That saved us time, money, and a logistical headache.
• Insurance matters. We already have regular health insurance that covers us abroad, but we’d heard of people from the US needing repatriation coverage as well. To cover our bases, we bought an annual travel insurance policy to meet that requirement. Maybe it’s because we applied from Germany, but they didn’t ask us for any of this at all. No regrets, though – we’re happy to have that extra assurance in case of a travel emergency.

The Big Day(s)

We had our visa appointments in Frankfurt and — believe it or not — everything went smoothly. The consular officer was kind, efficient, and didn’t ask for a single extra document. We each paid our €99 fee and left with our passports still in hand. No drama, no lawyer required.

Six days later, Ralph got an email from the consulate saying that his request had been processed. A week after that, I got the email, too. Technically, it doesn’t say that you’re approved – but we figured the odds were good! So we made an appointment two weeks later to return to Frankfurt to pick them up.

Far from my experiences at other “official” appointments (I’m thinking of the DMV!), the consular officer was kind and welcoming. It’s worth noting that she smiled at us, which after years in Germany felt like a warm hug. She was even curious about our decision to move to France and asked what we liked about the country. After months of anticipation, we were practically giddy watching her place the visa stickers in our passports. Then she handed us a little flyer explaining how to validate them online once we arrive. Easy peasy.

Everyone complains about French bureaucracy (and hey, I’m sure we’ll have our turn), but this part? Surprisingly smooth. Then again, after three years navigating German culture and decades working for the government in various capacities, our bar for “difficult paperwork” might be a little skewed.

Still, watching that sticker go into my passport felt like more than just glue and ink. It was official. A quiet little oui from France. A tangible reminder that this dream — wild and winding as it may be — is truly happening.