Document Checklist
France Work Visa (VLS-TS Salarié) Checklist (2026): Documents & Process
France's VLS-TS Salarié is a long-stay visa for non-EU nationals with a French employment contract longer than three months; once validated after arrival, it doubles as your first residence permit. Unlike a tourist visa, the process starts with your employer, not you — they must obtain a work authorization before you can even book your visa appointment. This checklist is based on common requirements across France-Visas guidance and French consular practice; exact document lists vary by consulate and by the exact salaried-worker sub-category (standard salarié, ICT/intra-company transferee, or Talent Passport), so confirm the precise list for your consulate on the official France-Visas site before booking your appointment. Pair this with our [France Salarié visa guide](/guides/france-work-visa-salarie-guide-2026) and [France visa processing times](/guides/france-visa-processing-times-2026).
Before you can apply: the employer's steps
- Signed employment contractA French employment contract of more than three months, specifying role, salary and start date — this is the foundation of the whole application.
- Employer's work authorizationYour French employer must obtain authorization to employ a foreign national (historically via DIRECCTE, now reorganized under France's labor administration) before you apply for the visa — confirm the current authority and process with your employer's HR or immigration counsel.
- Confirm your exact visa categoryStandard Salarié, intra-company transferee (ICT), and Talent Passport routes have different thresholds and document lists — ask your employer or immigration adviser which applies to your role and salary level.
Core application documents
- Valid passportMachine-readable, issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay, with at least two blank pages.
- Completed long-stay visa application formSigned and dated, submitted through France-Visas or your appointed visa application centre.
- Two recent passport-style photographsMeeting French/Schengen photo specifications.
- Employment contract and work-authorization proofThe signed contract plus the official document confirming your employer's authorization to hire you, as issued by the French labor authority.
- Proof of qualificationsDegree certificates, professional certifications or prior work references relevant to the role, especially for Talent Passport or skilled-role applications.
- Proof of accommodation in FranceA lease, employer-provided housing letter, or hotel booking covering your initial arrival period.
- Travel and medical insuranceCovering at least your initial travel period before French social security coverage begins through employment.
- Proof of means during any gap before your first paycheckBank statements or an employer advance letter, especially if your first salary payment falls weeks after arrival.
At the visa appointment
- BiometricsFingerprints and a photo are taken at the visa application centre or consulate, generally required for most long-stay applicants.
- Application fee paymentFigures circulating for the long-stay work visa fee vary by source; confirm the current amount with your consulate or France-Visas before your appointment, since third-party checklist sites are not a reliable source for the exact government fee.
- Visa sticker in passportOn approval, you receive a VLS-TS sticker — this is not yet a residence permit on its own; validation after arrival is what converts it into one.
After you arrive in France
- Validate the visa within the required windowFrance requires VLS-TS holders to validate their visa (historically within about 3 months of arrival), which typically includes an online declaration and, depending on category, a residence-tax-style payment — check the current validation process and deadline on France-Visas or with your prefecture, since the exact mechanism has changed in recent years.
- Register with social security and healthcareYour employer's HR should guide you through registering for French social security (Sécurité Sociale) once employment starts.
- Plan for your multi-year residence permitIf your contract extends beyond the initial visa period, you'll generally need to apply for a multi-year residence card (carte de séjour) at your local prefecture before the visa expires — start this process well ahead of the expiry date, since prefecture appointment backlogs are common.
Tips
- Don't book your visa appointment before your employer's work authorization is actually granted — applying without it is a common cause of delay or refusal.
- Keep both the French and any certified English translation of your employment contract and qualification documents together, since consulates can ask for either depending on staff.
- The VLS-TS sticker alone doesn't let you stay past its validity — missing the post-arrival validation step can create status problems even if your original visa was approved correctly.
- If your family will join you, check France's separate family reunification (regroupement familial) or accompanying-spouse visa rules — they are not automatically covered by your own Salarié visa.
Requirements change — always confirm the current list with the official source before you submit.
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