Q& W
yes, you will need a visa even though you own a house in France. Owning a French property does not grant you automatic residency unfortunately, but it will help with your visa application, as you need to have a French address to get the visa.
Need advice? Put your problems to our panel A
e are thinking of retiring to France but since Brexit, we’ve heard that
it’s not that easy… do we need a visa now even though we own a holiday house in France?
TRICA BURGESS & ARNAUD FOURNIER of All French Matters respond (
allfrenchmatters.com): Firstly, please do not let the new rules of Brexit put you off coming to live in France. As with any new protocol, there are procedures to follow, and with the right advice and guidance, it needn’t be daunting, and that’s what we are here to help with. In answer to your question,
Ask the experts
HOW CAN WE RETIRE TO FRANCE?
though, so you cannot work on this visa. You will need to meet certain
criteria to obtain a visa, the main two being: • To be able to prove
Trica Burgess and Arnaud Fournier There are several types of
visas but the most common type (and the one we process the most), is the VLS-TS visa (visa long séjour valant titre de séjour). This is a year-long visitor visa
and is the fi rst step towards gaining French residency. The VLS-TS visitor visa allows you to move freely between the UK and France for the period of its validity without the restrictions of the 90 days out of 180 days rule to be in France. It gives you the right to be in France as a visitor only
earnings/resources to support yourself and provide private health cover for the period of your visa. To prove that you have the means to support yourself, you will need to meet the national minimum earnings requirement in France, which is €1,400 per month, or €16,800 for the year. • Private health insurance,
which must cover the entire validity of the visa (up to one year), except for retirees receiving a British retirement pension who may provide the S1 form delivered by the NHS. We must stress that private health insurance (PHI) is an extremely important part of the visa application process and is not the same as travel insurance. It can be quite expensive for the year, from
£1,000-£2,000 per person, depending on age and any known health issues. The good news is that once
you have your visa and you arrive in France, you can apply for your carte vitale, and this gives you access to the French healthcare system (CPAM),
IS IT WORTH USING AN ARCHITECT FOR MY PROJECT?
I’m in the early stages of looking for a home in France and haven’t yet decided whether to buy a renovation project or build a new house. Before I get any further, I’m wondering what the benefi ts of using an architect are?
ANNE-SOPHIE DONÈCHE of Sweetch Architects responds (
sweetcharchitects.com):
Under French law, you are only required to hire an architect for your project if the ‘surface de plancher’ you are creating (new-build) or the ‘total surface de
building or if it’s within a conservation area. This means that a lot of
Ann-Sophie-Donèche
plancher’ (extension, renovation) is over 150m2
. The obligation to work with
an architect will also depend if your property is a listed
94 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2025
construction and architectural projects can be completed without using an architect. So it is worth questioning what the benefits would be of using an architect, when you’re not legally obliged to do so. There are, however, numerous ways in which using an architect can make a project more efficient, innovative and aligned with your needs and vision. Architects are highly trained
professionals who specialise in the design, functionality and efficiency of spaces. While many
people have a rough idea of what they want, architects, through questions and analysis, will get a deeper understanding of your current lifestyle but also the one you would like to build, and how you interact within a space. They will design spaces which
are tailored for you and respond to your needs. The end result is a space that feels like an extension of you, carefully crafted to enhance your day-to-day experience. Beyond aesthetics and
functionality, architects also bring a level of technical knowledge and expertise that is essential
© SHUTTERSTIOCK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
