LumenHow much income do you need for a French visitor residence permit (carte de séjour visiteur)?
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The law requires resources at least equal to the net annual minimum wage (SMIC), plus health insurance and a promise not to work in France. The ministry's 2026 guidance puts this at 1,477.93 € net a month for a single person. Family allowances don't count, and someone else, such as a relative, may provide the resources.
Key facts
| What | The law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Income | Own resources at least equal to the net annual minimum wage (SMIC); AAH and ASI allowances not counted | CESEDA art. L426-20 |
| Amount in the ministry’s guidance | 1,477.93 € net a month for a single person, over one year | Service-public.fr F302, step 1 |
| Annual figure in the document list | Resources of 17,735.19 € a year | Service-public.fr F302, step 2 |
| Health insurance | Covering the whole stay | CESEDA art. L426-20 |
| Work | You must undertake not to work in France | CESEDA art. L426-20 |
| Card length | 1 year, renewable | CESEDA art. L426-20; Service-public.fr F302 |
| Cost | 350 € first card; 250 € renewal | Service-public.fr F302, steps 5 and 7 |
| Next step | No multi-year card for the same reason | Service-public.fr F35799 |
What the law requires
CESEDA art. L426-20 says the temporary “visiteur” card goes to a foreigner who proves they can live on their own resources, at least equal to the net annual minimum wage (salaire minimum de croissance), without counting the disabled adult allowance (AAH) or the supplementary invalidity allowance (ASI). You must also have health insurance for the whole stay and undertake not to work in France. The card lasts one year.
The amount in 2026
The ministry’s guidance on service-public.fr (checked by the source on 1 June 2026) says the minimum for a single person is 1,477.93 € net a month, over one year. Its list of documents asks for proof of resources of 17,735.19 € a year.
Whose money counts
Service-public.fr says the resources can be your own (pensions, annuities, rental income and so on) or a family member’s. You can show bank statements, guarantees, or proof of income from solvent people who support you. Family allowances don’t count, because they are paid to support children. Your housing situation, and any guarantees from solvent people such as your family, are taken into account too.
No work
You can’t work in France on this card in any form: employed, trader, auto-entrepreneur, craftsperson, liberal profession. You sign a handwritten statement that you won’t work.
Cost and renewal
Service-public.fr says the first card costs 350 € (300 € tax + 50 € stamp duty) and a renewal 250 €. You apply and renew online on ANEF, at the earliest 4 months and at the latest 2 months before your visa, VLS-TS or card expires.
The card is valid 1 year and is renewable. Service-public.fr F35799 says a visitor card can’t lead to a multi-year card for the same reason; a multi-year card on another ground is possible if you meet that card’s conditions.
Related questions
- Renewal timing and late fees: see “When to apply to renew a French residence permit”.
Sources
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