France Visa Fees 2026: Visa, Permit and Tax Stamp Costs
The French visa fee is only the first payment. A long stay brings a second charge when you validate the visa in France, and a third each time a residence card is issued or renewed. The charges paid in France rose on 1 May 2026 under the Finance Act for 2026, so figures from before that date are out of date. This guide lists what applies now, from France-Visas, the official visa portal, and Service-Public.fr, the government's official information site, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
France charges an application fee of €90 for a short-stay visa and €99 for a long-stay visa. The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused. After arrival, validating a long-stay visa that serves as a residence permit costs €300 in tax, or €100 at the reduced rate for several groups — though Service-Public.fr's own student guide states a student pays €150 on validation, so confirm the exact amount for your category before paying. A first residence card costs €350 in tax stamps, or €150 at the reduced rate (the student guide gives this reduced figure as €100 tax plus €50 stamp duty), and a renewal costs €250, or €100 reduced.
Stage 1: the visa application fee
| Visa | Application fee |
|---|---|
| Short-stay visa (up to 90 days) | €90 |
| Long-stay visa (more than 90 days) | €99 |
| Visa for a school trip | Free of charge |
France-Visas describes this as a fee for the administrative processing of the application. Three points follow from that:
- No refund. Visa fees are not refunded, even in case of refusal or withdrawal of the application.
- Paid at the appointment. The service provider or consulate collects the fee when you submit your file and give your biometrics.
- Exemptions exist. Free or reduced fees can apply to children under 6, children from 6 to 12, spouses of French nationals, and students whose file has been examined by a centre for studies in France.
The visa wizard on France-Visas tells you the exact amount for your nationality and purpose before you apply.
Stage 2: validating a long-stay visa in France
Most first-year stays use a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit, the VLS-TS. You must validate it online within 3 months of arriving, and a tax is due at that point.
| Holder | Tax since 1 May 2026 | Before |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | €300 | €200 |
| Reduced rate: seasonal worker, student, family reunification, job search or company creation | €100 | €50 |
Service-Public.fr gives the amounts actually paid on two common routes: an employee validating a VLS-TS pays a tax of €300, and a student pays €150.
Stage 3: the residence card
When a prefecture accepts your application for a temporary card, a multi-year card or a resident card, you buy a tax stamp before the card is handed over.
| Act | Normal rate | Reduced rate | Before 1 May 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| First issue of a residence card | €350 | €150 | €225, reduced €75 |
| Renewal | €250 | €100 | €225, reduced €75 |
| Duplicate | €350 | €150 | — |
The reduced rate covers cards issued for certain reasons. Service-Public.fr gives these examples: seasonal worker, student, job search or company creation, family reunification and au pair.
For a talent card, the same source breaks the €350 down as a stamp duty of €50 plus a tax of €300. The prefecture tells you by SMS when the card is ready and how much is due, and the stamp can be bought online or at an authorised point of sale.
Other fees that changed on 1 May 2026
| Item | Now | Before |
|---|---|---|
| Tax stamp for a naturalisation application or declaration of nationality | €255 | €55 |
| Regularisation visa fee, for people who entered irregularly or applied late | €300, of which €100 is non-refundable | €200, of which €50 was non-refundable |
| Provisional residence permit, issue or renewal | €100 | New fee |
Miss a renewal deadline and it costs more. A student who applies to renew after the deadline also pays a regularisation fee of €180, according to the student permit page of Service-Public.fr.
What a typical first year costs
| Case | Official charges |
|---|---|
| Student with a VLS-TS | €99 visa fee, then €150 on validation |
| Employee with a VLS-TS | €99 visa fee, then a €300 tax on validation |
| Talent card holder staying a year or more | €99 visa fee, then €350 in tax stamps for the card |
| Tourist who needs a visa | €90 |
Fees your employer pays, not you
An employer who hires a non-European on the standard employee route owes a separate tax. For a contract of more than 3 and less than 12 months it is €74, €210 or €300 depending on salary. For a contract of 12 months or more it is 55% of the gross monthly salary, capped at €2,567.15. Employers of talent card holders are exempt.
A cost people forget: insurance
For stays of up to 90 days, travel insurance is mandatory unless you are exempt. France-Visas requires cover of at least €30,000, including medical repatriation and emergency or hospital treatment, valid across the Schengen area for the whole stay.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a French visa in 2026?
The application fee is €90 for a short-stay visa and €99 for a long-stay visa, according to France-Visas.
Is the French visa fee refundable?
No. France-Visas states that visa fees are not refunded, even in case of refusal or withdrawal of the application.
How much does a French residence permit cost?
Since 1 May 2026 the tax stamp for a first residence card is €350, or €150 at the reduced rate. A renewal costs €250, or €100 at the reduced rate.
How much does it cost to validate a VLS-TS?
The tax is €300 at the standard rate and €100 at the reduced rate. Service-Public.fr states that a student pays €150 on validation.
Who pays a reduced fee?
For residence cards, the reduced rate applies to reasons such as seasonal work, study, job search or company creation, family reunification and au pair stays.
Do children pay French visa fees?
France-Visas lists children under 6 and children from 6 to 12 among the applicants who can receive a full or partial exemption.
How much is the French citizenship application fee?
The tax stamp for a naturalisation application has been €255 since 1 May 2026, up from €55.
Official sources
- France-Visas — Frequently asked questions (visa cost, insurance, validation)
- France-Visas — The process
- Service-Public.fr — Residence permits: increase in fees from 1 May 2026 (updated 12 May 2026)
- Service-Public.fr — Talent card (tax stamp)
- Service-Public.fr — Residence card: employee / temporary worker
- Service-Public.fr — Foreign student: long-stay visa or residence permit
- Service-Public.fr — Authorisation to work for a foreign employee (employer tax)
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Use the France-Visas visa wizard for the exact fee in your case. Information, not legal advice.