For many people who are not citizens of the European Union (EU), owning a second home in France is something of a dream. However, the procedure can be difficult and expensive for people who want to stay at their French properties for longer than 90 days in any 180-day term. 

France Moving Towards Special Visas for Second Home Owners

The Current Scenario

Currently, non-EU citizens who own second homes in France are required to acquire a visa in order to stay for a period longer than 90 days within a 180-day period. A temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T), which is only available to these visitors, is valid for up to one specified six-month term at a time. 

The VLS-T application process entails both online and in-person steps, and it needs to be done again for any subsequent comparable stays. Many second-home owners avoid it because it is a difficult and expensive procedure.

Special Visa for Second Home Owners

A French senator has suggested a brand-new, specifically designed visa that might have an extended validity period for people who own second homes outside the EU. Corinne Imbert, a senator and departmental councillor for the western French region of Charente-Maritime, submitted the suggested amendment.

If approved, the visa would make it easier and more convenient for non-EU second-home owners to visit their French homes. The visa would be effective for five years and enable visits of up to six months in length without additional paperwork each year.

Many second-home owners, according to Ms Imbert, have lived in their departments for a considerable amount of time and are well-integrated into the communities and organisations there. She considers it crucial to remove the present administrative barriers that prevent them from visiting their properties.

With 86,000 homes, more than any other non-resident foreigner, Britons have the most Second homes in France. After Brexit, British second-home owners who are subject to the same regulations as non-EU citizens are becoming concerned about the current visa limitations.

Senator Imbert suggested an exclusive visa for non-British nationals who own second homes in France. In order to prevent allegations of discrimination, the visa would be accessible to all non-EU citizens. This plan stands apart from the Immigration Bill, which already includes suggestions for brand-new French worker visas.

The campaign for a visa-free France applauds the suggested visa for second-home owners as a positive step. The campaign is also supported by MP Bernard Sorre, who has proposed a new mobility agreement with the UK in an official written query to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Conclusion

British and other non-EU citizens who own property in France may find a solution in the special visa that France is proposing for second-home owners. Although it is uncertain whether the suggested visa will be implemented, second-home owners can currently find solace in the fact that their concerns are being taken seriously.

FAQS

Will only British citizens be eligible for the suggested visa?

The suggested visa will not be restricted to citizens of the United Kingdom. All non-EU citizens who own land in France will be able to use it.

What is Visa Free campaign group in France?

The France Visa Free campaign group is a body that advocates for a 180-day stay waiver for non-EU nationals who have a property in France.