FranceFamily
France family reunification visa
Family reunification (regroupement familial) via OFII
In short
A foreign resident who has lived in France lawfully for at least 18 months can bring their spouse and minor children through family reunification, filed with OFII in France. Income must reach EUR 1,867.02 gross a month for a family of two or three and the home must meet minimum surface standards; the prefect decides within six months.
Apply on France-Visas (official visa portal) checked 25 October 2026
Key facts
- Fee
- €99Long-stay visa fee in the official France-Visas fee table. The first one-year card in France costs EUR 150.
- Funds required
- €1,867.02 per monthAverage gross monthly income over the last 12 months for a family of 2–3; EUR 2,053.72 for 4–5 and EUR 2,240.42 for 6 or more.
- Processing time
- The mayor checks resources and housing within two months; the prefect decides within six months of the complete file reaching OFII (silence means refusal).
- Work
- Yes.
- Family
- Spouse (aged 18 or over) and minor children; polygamous second spouses are excluded.
- Where to apply
- The resident files with OFII in France; after approval the family applies on France-Visas and lodges the visa applications at the French consulate or its visa centre in their country of residence.
Conditions for the resident
The sponsor must hold a residence card of at least one year (or a multi-year or resident card) and have lived lawfully in France for at least 18 months. Resources must reach, on average over the 12 months before filing, EUR 1,867.02 gross a month for a household of 2–3, EUR 2,053.72 for 4–5 and EUR 2,240.42 for 6 or more; family benefits and several social allowances are excluded.
Housing standards
For a couple the home must have at least 22 m² in zones A bis and A, 24 m² in zones B1 and B2 and 28 m² in zone C, plus 10 m² per additional person up to eight people. It must also meet health and equipment standards.
Procedure
The resident files online or by registered post with OFII. The mayor checks resources and housing within two months, then the prefect decides within six months. After approval, family members apply for long-stay visas at the French consulate in their country of residence and must enter France within three months of issue; spouses receive a VLS-TS, minor children a visa marked "regroupement familial".
- The resident in France files the family reunification request with OFII.
- The mayor inspects resources and housing; the prefect decides within six months.
- After approval, each family member applies on France-Visas and lodges the application at the French consulate or its visa centre in their country of residence.
- Travel to France within three months of the visa being issued.
- Validate the VLS-TS online, sign the integration contract and attend OFII appointments.
After arrival
The spouse validates the VLS-TS online within three months, signs the republican integration contract (also children over 16) and attends the OFII medical visit. After one year the spouse applies for a one-year "vie privée et familiale" card costing EUR 150.
Deadlines, silence and exemptions
If the mayor gives no opinion within two months, the opinion counts as favourable. If the prefect has not decided six months after the complete file was received, the application is implicitly refused. No resource condition applies if the sponsor receives the disabled adult allowance (AAH) or the invalidity supplement (ASI), or is over 65 with 25 years of residence in France and 10 years of marriage. Different rules apply to Algerian nationals, and ascendants are not covered by family reunification.
Documents
Required documents
Identity
- France-Visas long-stay form and receipt, signed
- Passport valid for the stay, issued less than 10 years ago, with copies
- Recent ICAO-standard photo and proof of legal residence in the country where you apply
Family
- Prefect's approval of family reunification (notified via OFII)
- Marriage certificate and children's birth certificates (international forms)
- Copy of the sponsor's residence card
Frequently asked questions
How long must my husband have lived in France?
At least 18 months on qualifying residence documents.
What income is needed for a couple?
EUR 1,867.02 gross a month on average over 12 months.
Is there a French test before entry?
Service-Public does not list a test before entry; integration steps take place after arrival.
Can I bring my parents through family reunification?
No. Ascendants are not covered by the family reunification procedure.
What ages apply to the spouse and children?
The spouse must be at least 18 and the children under 18; a child who comes of age must apply for a residence card before turning 19.
Official sources
- Service-Public.fr – Regroupement familial
- France-Visas – applying in Türkiye (VFS centres, fees, waiting lists, airport transit visa)
- France-Visas – long-stay visa
- France-Visas – The visa application process (service providers, fees, decision times)
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for France
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Airport transit visa Maximum stay: International transit zone only, no entry into France.
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Entrepreneur and start-up visa Validity: Up to four years.
- Investor visa Validity: Up to four years.
Study and training
- Student visa Validity: VLS-TS from four months to one year; then a one-year card, followed by a multi-year card for the rest of the degree.
- Researcher visa Validity: Length of the hosting agreement, up to four years.
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Company internship: six months initially; continuing training: 12 months, renewable once up to 18 months.
Work
- Work visa Validity: First year on the VLS-TS; then a four-year multi-year card for permanent employees still in the job, or a card matching the fixed-term contract.
- Skilled worker visa Validity: Length of the contract, up to four years.
- EU Blue Card Validity: Contracts of two years or more: length of the contract up to four years; shorter contracts: contract plus three months, up to two years.
- Intra-company transfer visa Validity: Length of the assignment, up to three years, minus time already spent on the visa; not renewable.
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Validity: VLS-TS valid one year; then a multi-year card of two to four years.
Residence
- Retirement visa Validity: VLS-TS for the first year, then a renewable one-year card.
- Permanent residence Validity: 10 years, renewable. The EU card lapses after more than three consecutive years outside the EU or six years outside France; the ordinary resident card after more than three consecutive years outside France.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Validity: Asylum certificate valid 10 months (normal procedure) or 6 months (accelerated), renewable during the procedure.