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- Bring at least 3,000 to 5,000 EUR to cover your first month and a rental deposit.<\/li>\n
- If you are arriving with family, multiply that figure by the number of people.<\/li>\n
- For a long-stay visa, you will normally need to show a monthly income of roughly 1,500 to 1,800 EUR per person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Each element of the cost is broken down below.<\/p>\n
What each route into France costs<\/h2>\n
France is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, for study, for work and for family life. Before you commit to any of them, understanding the legal and financial costs of each route helps you make an informed decision. The main routes and their costs are set out below.<\/p>\n
1. French work visa fees<\/h3>\n
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- The long-stay work visa (VLS-TS) application fee is EUR 99.<\/li>\n
- After arriving in France you have to validate the visa and pay the residence tax, which is set by the Ministry of the Interior and depends on your status.<\/li>\n
- You then apply for a residence card (Carte de Sejour), and the tax due depends on the category of card issued, so check the current amount on service-public.gouv.fr before you budget.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2. French student visa fees<\/h3>\n
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- The long-stay student visa (VLS-TS) application normally costs 99 EUR, although applying through the Campus France system may reduce it to 50 EUR.<\/li>\n
- Campus France<\/a> service fees vary by country between 50 and 180 EUR and are paid separately.<\/li>\n
- After arrival, OFII validation for students normally costs 60 to 80 EUR.<\/li>\n
- If you apply through an outsourcing partner such as VFS Global<\/a> or TLScontact, expect a service fee of 27 to 40 EUR and an optional courier charge of around 31 EUR on top.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
3. Family reunification visa fees<\/h3>\n
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- A long-stay visa to join family, for example a French spouse or other family members, also costs EUR 99.<\/li>\n
- Validating this visa type carries the residence tax set for your category.<\/li>\n
- The residence card then carries the tax set for your category, although exemptions or reductions apply in certain cases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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<\/p>\n4. The long-stay visa (VLS-TS)<\/h3>\n
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- The standard long-stay visa (VLS-TS) application fee is EUR 99, with reductions and exemptions for some categories, and it covers retirees, freelancers and entrepreneurs.<\/li>\n
- Validating the visa after arrival carries the residence tax, and the amount depends on your status.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
5. The cost of a French residence card (Carte de Sejour)<\/h3>\n
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- Once your visa is validated, you apply for a residence card.<\/li>\n
- A first visiteur residence card costs EUR 350, made up of a EUR 300 tax plus a EUR 50 stamp duty, and EUR 250 on renewal. Other categories pay the tax set for their own card, so check the current amount on service-public.gouv.fr before you budget.<\/li>\n
- For refugees and stateless people, the cost is only 19 EUR.<\/li>\n
- For students or trainees staying more than 6 months, renewal or validation of the card normally costs around 79 EUR, and in some cases nothing at all.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Points to note:<\/p>\n
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- Holders of a French student visa<\/a> who hold a scholarship, such as Eiffel, Fulbright or Chateaubriand, are often exempt from the visa fee.<\/em><\/li>\n
- Depending on the country you apply from, there may be an additional service or courier fee of 27 to 40 EUR.<\/em><\/li>\n
- If you do not complete OFII validation within the deadline, the visa lapses, so the payment due at that stage matters a great deal.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
6. The self-sufficiency route (long-stay visitor visa)<\/h3>\n
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- Financial resources required:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Main applicant: stable resources at least equal to the French minimum wage (SMIC), currently around 1,400 EUR net a month<\/span><\/p>\n
Spouse: additional resources on top of the main applicant’s, assessed case by case<\/span><\/p>\n
Each child: further resources, plus proof of suitable accommodation and private health insurance<\/span><\/p>\n
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- Stable monthly passive income: many applicants budget 2,500 to 4,000 EUR a month for a couple or a family, well above the minimum threshold<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This visa does not permit work in France. It is designed for retirees and for people with an income from outside the country.<\/p>\n
7. The cost of an Au Pair visa (a cultural placement for young people)<\/h3>\n
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- The visa fee is low, normally under 100 EUR<\/li>\n
- In return for helping with childcare, you receive accommodation, meals and a monthly allowance<\/li>\n
- You receive a free or discounted city transport card<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Legal and administrative costs of moving to France<\/h2>\n
The legal and administrative costs of the move, including document translation, health insurance, notary services and legal advice, are set out below.<\/p>\n\n
\n\n
\n\t \nCost type<\/th> Brief description<\/th> Approximate cost (EUR)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\t Certified translation of documents<\/td> Translation of identity, academic and employment documents<\/td> EUR 45\u2013120 per document<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Notarial certification of documents<\/td> Official certification of documents at a notary's office<\/td> EUR 10\u2013100 per document<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Certification by a commissioner for oaths<\/td> Official signing of documents<\/td> About EUR 10 per signature<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Public health insurance (PUMA)<\/td> Compulsory health cover for immigrants<\/td> Variable; usually deducted from salary or set according to income<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Complementary health insurance (Mutuelle)<\/td> Optional cover for additional costs<\/td> EUR 35 to over 100 per month<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Notarial services and legal advice<\/td> Certification of and advice on immigration documents<\/td> EUR 50\u2013100 per document<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n The cost of living in France<\/h2>\n
What life costs in France varies with the city and with your own habits. The main components are housing, utilities and food, each covered below.<\/p>\n
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Housing costs: deposit and monthly rent<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n\n
\n\t \nCity \/ region<\/th> Apartment type<\/th> Monthly rent (EUR)<\/th> Deposit (approx.)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\t National average<\/td> 1-bedroom, mid-range<\/td> EUR 525-665 per month<\/td> 1 month's rent (EUR 525-665)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Large cities (e.g. Lyon, Marseille, Nantes)<\/td> 1-bedroom in the city centre<\/td> EUR 700-930 per month<\/td> 1 month's rent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Bordeaux \/ Toulouse<\/td> 1-bedroom<\/td> From EUR 939 (Lyon) to EUR 710-875 (Bordeaux\/Toulouse)<\/td> 1 month's rent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Paris (inside the Peripherique)<\/td> 1-bedroom<\/td> EUR 1,360 per month<\/td> 1 month (unfurnished) or 2 months (furnished)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Paris - 2-bedroom apartment<\/td> 2-bedroom<\/td> EUR 1,750-2,600 per month<\/td> 1-2 months' rent depending on whether furnished<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Paris - small studio<\/td> Studio<\/td> EUR 1,150 per month<\/td> 1 month's rent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n - \n
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Utilities and internet in France<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n\n
\n\t \nCost type<\/th> Monthly average<\/th> Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\t Electricity and gas<\/td> EUR 100 to 160<\/td> Depends on usage and home size; higher in winter.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Water and sewerage<\/td> EUR 40 to 50<\/td> Usually calculated by number of occupants.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t High-speed internet<\/td> EUR 30 to 40<\/td> Fibre or ADSL; initial installation around EUR 50.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Mobile (line and data)<\/td> EUR 10 to 15<\/td> Budget plans with unlimited calls and data.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n - \n
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Public transport costs in France<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n\n
\n\t \nTicket type<\/th> Approximate price<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\t Single metro\/bus ticket<\/td> See the current Ile-de-France Mobilites fare guide; fares are revised each January<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Navigo weekly pass<\/td> EUR 32.40 (all zones)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Navigo monthly pass<\/td> EUR 90.80 (all zones; employers may cover half)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Unlimited day ticket<\/td> About EUR 12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n
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- Stable monthly passive income: many applicants budget 2,500 to 4,000 EUR a month for a couple or a family, well above the minimum threshold<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Depending on the country you apply from, there may be an additional service or courier fee of 27 to 40 EUR.<\/em><\/li>\n
- Holders of a French student visa<\/a> who hold a scholarship, such as Eiffel, Fulbright or Chateaubriand, are often exempt from the visa fee.<\/em><\/li>\n