Retiring to France remains one of the most popular long-term lifestyle moves for foreigners seeking a slower pace of life, excellent healthcare, and day-to-day quality that is hard to replicate elsewhere. But while the dream is simple, the legal pathway is not.
Visas, residence permits, financial thresholds, healthcare cover, and, new in 2026, stronger language and civic requirements all matter. Getting the order and the category right is the difference between a smooth transition and years of administrative stress.
This article explains how retiring to France actually works in 2026, which visas retirees use in practice, and how permanent residency fits into the picture.
Table of contents
Do you need a visa or a residence permit to retire in France?
If you are not an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, the answer is yes, you need both, but at different stages.
The standard structure is:
- A long-stay visa to enter and live in France for more than 90 days
- A residence permit (carte de séjour) if you want to remain beyond the visa’s validity
A long-stay visa is not permanent residency. It is an entry and first-year residence document. Staying long-term requires renewing your status inside France via residence permits.
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not need a visa, but long-term residence still comes with conditions (resources, healthcare cover, registration rules). Brexit means UK citizens now follow the non-EU route.
The main visa route for retirees: the long-stay “visitor” visa (VLS-TS)
For most retirees, the correct visa is the VLS-TS “visiteur” (long-stay visitor visa).
This visa is designed for people who want to live in France without working, using pensions, investments, or other private income.
What the visitor visa allows
- Live in France for up to 12 months
- Travel freely within the Schengen Area
- Apply for a renewal residence permit inside France
What it does not allow
- You cannot work in France (no employment, no self-employment)
- You cannot rely on French social assistance
This is the core retiree status used by Americans, Britons, Canadians, Australians, and other non-EU nationals.
A critical step many retirees miss: validating your VLS-TS
If your long-stay visa is issued as a VLS-TS, you must validate it online within 3 months of arrival.
This is done through the official ANEF / Interior Ministry portal. Failure to validate can invalidate your right to stay and block renewals later.
This is one of the most common (and costly) administrative mistakes new retirees make.
Financial requirements to retire in France
France does not publish a universal “retiree income rule”, but for visitor status, the benchmark is clear.
For 2026, Service-Public indicates that a single applicant must show at least 1,443.11 € net per month, over a full year, in stable resources.
Key points:
- This is a minimum, not a target
- Consulates assess overall stability (regular pensions, investment income, savings)
- Couples are assessed case-by-case; there is no fixed official “couple amount”
Income must be passive or external (pensions, dividends, rental income, etc.), since visitor status prohibits work in France.
> You might be interested in this article: Understanding permanent residency in France
Health insurance: what retirees must have for the visa
Health insurance is mandatory for the long-stay visitor visa.
The requirement is not a specific euro amount, but scope and duration.
Your insurance certificate must show:
- Coverage for all medical and hospital expenses you may be liable for
- Coverage for the entire duration of your stay
- Medical repatriation (and often death-related costs)
- Validity in France
Travel insurance is usually not sufficient unless it explicitly meets these conditions for long-term residence.
There is no official “approved insurer list”. What matters is that the certificate clearly matches the France-Visas criteria.
What happens after your first year in France?
If you wish to stay beyond your first year, you move from visa status to residence permits.
Most retirees renew as:
- Carte de séjour “visiteur” (typically 1 year, renewable)
Applications are now largely online and must be submitted:
- No earlier than 4 months
- No later than 2 months before your current document expires.
Timing matters. Late applications can lead to loss of legal status.
Accessing French healthcare as a retiree (PUMa)
Private insurance is required at the start.
Later, if you reside in France stably and regularly, and are not working, you may become eligible for public healthcare under PUMa (Protection Universelle Maladie), often after 3 months of uninterrupted residence.
Eligibility is not automatic and depends on your situation.
Once affiliated, many retirees then add a mutuelle, which is complementary insurance that tops up reimbursements from Assurance Maladie. A mutuelle is not a visa solution; it comes later.
Permanent residency in France: what changes in 2026
After 5 years of legal, continuous residence, retirees may apply for a 10-year resident card (carte de résident).
This is the closest thing to permanent residency.
Major 2026 changes you must know
From 1 January 2026, first-time applications for a carte de résident generally require:
- French language level B1
- Passing a civic exam (examen civique)
⚠️ Exemptions apply if you are 65 or older.
These are significant changes. Planning early matters.
> You might be interested in this article: Language requirements in France: What expats need to know in 2026
Who can apply for the 10-year resident card?
Eligibility depends on your situation, not a single checklist.
Common pathways include:
- 5 years of regular residence in France
- Certain family ties to French nationals
- Other protected or long-term statuses
Authorities also assess:
- Integration
- Respect for public order
- Compliance with residence rules
Applications are submitted online and reviewed by the prefecture.
Cost of the resident card
The standard fee is 225 €, generally composed of:
- 25 € stamp duty
- 200 € tax
Some exemptions or reductions exist depending on status.
Final notes: retiring to France in 2026
Retiring to France is absolutely achievable, but only if you respect how the system is structured.
Key takeaways:
- Retirees typically start with a visitor long-stay visa
- Long-stay visas are not permanent residency
- VLS-TS validation within 3 months is mandatory
- Financial and health insurance requirements are strictly assessed
- Permanent residency now comes with stronger language and civic requirements
France rewards preparation. Those who understand the sequence, and plan early, enjoy a far smoother, more secure retirement.
Updated January 2026
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