Moving to France is an exciting step, but long before healthcare becomes something you use, it’s something you must prove.
For many expats, health insurance is one of the most misunderstood parts of the French long-stay visa process. It’s also one of the most common reasons applications are delayed, questioned, or refused, not because people don’t have insurance, but because they have the wrong kind.
This article explains, clearly and calmly, what health insurance is required to get a French long-stay visa, how the rules differ by visa type, and what actually works in practice in 2026.
Table of contents
Do you need health insurance for a French long-stay visa?
In most cases, yes, but the rules are not identical for every long-stay visa.
France does not have one single “long-stay visa” rule set. Requirements vary depending on why you are moving to France: visitor, student, employee, family member, entrepreneur, etc. The official requirements are always defined by visa category through the France‑Visas system.
That said, health insurance is explicitly required for visitor (non-working) long-stay visas, and is commonly required upfront for other categories until you are covered through work, study, or residency-based healthcare.
> You might be interested in this article: New to health insurance in France? Essential practices for expats
Why French authorities require health insurance
From the French administration’s perspective, the logic is simple:
- You must be able to cover your own medical costs when you arrive
- You should not rely on the French public healthcare system immediately
- Any serious illness, accident, or repatriation must already be insured
Health insurance is therefore a condition of entry, not a future benefit.
Important distinction: short-stay vs long-stay insurance rules
This is where many expats get caught out.
Short-stay (Schengen) visas
For stays of up to 90 days, EU rules apply. Travel medical insurance must:
- Cover at least 30,000 €
- Include medical and hospital care
- Include medical repatriation
This 30,000 € minimum comes from the EU Visa Code and applies to short stays only.
Long-stay visas (over 90 days)
For long-stay visas, especially the visitor visa, France does not set a universal 30,000 € minimum.
Instead, France-Visas requires:
- Insurance covering all medical and hospital expenses you may be liable for
- Coverage for the entire duration of your stay
- Medical repatriation (and often costs in the event of death)
- A clear insurance certificate (attestation) proving this
The wording matters: consulates look for scope and duration, not just a number.
> You might be interested in this article: Guide to the carte vitale for expats
A key point for visitor long-stay visas (often missed)
If you are applying for a visitor long-stay visa, you must also:
- Commit not to work in France
- Show sufficient financial means
- Hold health insurance covering your full stay
Health insurance is therefore part of a broader legal status: living in France without working.
What consulates actually check in your insurance certificate
In practice, consulates usually want a clear, readable attestation that shows:
- Your name (matching your passport)
- The territory covered (France)
- The dates of coverage (matching your visa length)
- Medical and hospital care coverage
- Medical repatriation (and often death-related costs)
They are not looking for a brand name, they are checking compliance.
Health insurance options that work for a French long-stay visa
International private medical insurance
This is the most common and flexible solution for expats at the visa stage.
International policies can work if they meet France-Visas criteria on:
- Duration
- Scope of medical coverage
- Repatriation
These plans are designed for people living abroad and can be useful if you travel frequently or don’t yet qualify for French public healthcare. What matters is not the provider, but whether the policy wording clearly satisfies the consulate’s requirements.
Travel insurance (long-stay compliant plans only)
Some travel insurance policies are structured for longer stays and can meet long-stay visa requirements, but many do not.
If you go this route, you must confirm that:
- The policy covers the entire length of stay
- Medical and hospital care is not narrowly capped
- Repatriation is included
- The insurer issues a formal certificate, not just a policy summary
For people planning to settle long-term, this option is often transitional rather than ideal.
French public healthcare and mutuelles (not for the visa stage)
This is where confusion is common.
A mutuelle is not visa insurance. It is complementary health insurance that tops up reimbursements from the French public healthcare system (Assurance Maladie).
You usually cannot rely on:
- French public healthcare, or
- A mutuelle
to obtain your initial long-stay visa.
They come after arrival, once you are legally resident and eligible.
Accessing French public healthcare (PUMa) after arrival
If you live in France stably and regularly and are not covered through work, you may open rights under PUMa (Protection Universelle Maladie).
For people without professional activity, this often requires:
- More than 3 months of uninterrupted residence
- Proof of legal stay
- Proof of address and identity
Once registered, the public system reimburses care based on official tariffs (often around 70% of the tariff basis for standard consultations, but this varies).
At that point, many expats take out a mutuelle to reduce out-of-pocket costs for things like dental care, glasses, or specialist fees.
Until then, your initial visa insurance must remain in place.
Common mistakes that delay or derail applications
- Using Schengen (30,000 €) logic for long-stay visas
- Submitting insurance that expires before the visa does
- Missing repatriation wording on the certificate
- Assuming a mutuelle can replace visa insurance
- Providing unclear or incomplete attestations
These are paperwork issues, but they matter.
Final notes
Health insurance for a French long-stay visa is not about finding the “best” policy. It’s about finding the right one for your visa category, at the right moment, with the right wording.
Think of it as a bridge:
- First, insurance that satisfies the consulate
- Then, French public healthcare
- Finally, a mutuelle if needed
Getting this sequence right removes one of the biggest sources of friction in the visa process, and lets you focus on the move itself, not last-minute corrections.
If you’re unsure which option fits your situation (visitor, retiree, family, future worker), getting clarity before you apply can save weeks of stress later.
Updated January 2026
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