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What the French State charges an American to move

One adult, one step at a time. Only what the State itself charges, each amount with its official page and the day we read it.

All amounts are in euros and were read on Oct 28, 2026. A cell marked "Not read" is a case we have not yet read an official page for, so we leave it empty. These are the State's own fees. The list of dated changes shows what rose on 1 May 2026. For the same fees in six European countries see the comparison.

  1. Long-stay visa fee

    At the consulate.

    • Visitor 99 euros No start date on the page. Long-stay visa, full rate. The fee is paid in US dollars on the France-Visas US page. Source: France-Visas, visa fees table.
    • Employee 99 euros No start date on the page. Long-stay visa, full rate. Source: France-Visas, visa fees table.
    • Student 50 euros No start date on the page. Reduced rate for a student whose application was considered by a Campus France centre. Otherwise 99 euros. Source: France-Visas, visa fees table.
    • Spouse of a French citizen Free No start date on the page. Free of charge for the foreign spouse of a French national. Source: France-Visas, visa fees table.
    • Talent 99 euros No start date on the page. Long-stay visa, full rate. Source: France-Visas, visa fees table.

  2. Tax to validate the visa online

    Within 3 months of arrival.

    • Visitor Not read Not read on a page that names this case.
    • Employee 300 euros From May 1, 2026. Source: Service-Public, F15898.
    • Student 100 euros From May 1, 2026. Source: Service-Public, F2231, Service-Public, A18881.
    • Spouse of a French citizen Not read Not read on a page that names this case.
    • Talent Not read Not read on a page that names this case.

  3. First residence card with its tax and stamp

    When the card is issued.

    • Visitor 350 euros From May 1, 2026. A tax of 300 euros plus a stamp of 50 euros. Source: Service-Public, F302.
    • Employee 350 euros From May 1, 2026. A tax of 300 euros plus a stamp of 50 euros. Source: Service-Public, F15898.
    • Student 150 euros From May 1, 2026. A tax of 100 euros plus a stamp of 50 euros. Source: Service-Public, F2231, Service-Public, A18881.
    • Spouse of a French citizen Not read Not read on a page that names this case.
    • Talent 350 euros From May 1, 2026. A tax of 300 euros plus a stamp of 50 euros. Source: Service-Public, F16922.

  4. Renewal of the card

    At each renewal.

    • Visitor 250 euros From May 1, 2026. Source: Service-Public, F302.
    • Employee 250 euros From May 1, 2026. A tax of 200 euros plus a stamp of 50 euros. Source: Service-Public, F15898.
    • Student 100 euros From May 1, 2026. The reduced renewal rate. A18881 names students in it. Source: Service-Public, A18881, Service-Public, F2231.
    • Spouse of a French citizen Not read Not read on a page that names this case.
    • Talent Not read Not read on a page that names this case.

  5. Duplicate of the card

    If it is lost or stolen.

  6. Late filing fee

    Added to a late renewal.

    • Visitor 180 euros No start date on the page. Added when a renewal is filed late, unless force majeure or a valid visa. Source: Service-Public, F302.
    • Employee 180 euros No start date on the page. Added when a renewal is filed late, unless force majeure or a valid visa. Source: Service-Public, F15898.
    • Student 180 euros No start date on the page. Added when a renewal is filed late, unless force majeure or a valid visa. Source: Service-Public, F2231.
    • Spouse of a French citizen Not read Not read on a page that names this case.
    • Talent Not read Not read on a page that names this case.

  7. Two fees that do not depend on the case

    • Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a French one 40 euros From May 12, 2026. 20 euros in Guyane. Source: Service-Public, A18887.
    • Stamp for a naturalization application 255 euros From May 1, 2026. 127.50 euros in Guyane. Source: Service-Public, A18881.

Worked totals

Added up from the cells above, in code. Each total covers the State's fees only.

  1. An employee on a one-year visa who renews once and swaps a driving licence

    • Long-stay visa fee99 euros
    • Tax to validate the visa online300 euros
    • Renewal of the card250 euros
    • Exchanging a foreign driving licence for a French one40 euros

    Total 689 euros

  2. A student with a Campus France application who renews once

    • Long-stay visa fee50 euros
    • Tax to validate the visa online100 euros
    • Renewal of the card100 euros

    Total 250 euros

  3. An employee from the visa to the naturalization stamp

    • Long-stay visa fee99 euros
    • Tax to validate the visa online300 euros
    • Renewal of the card250 euros
    • Stamp for a naturalization application255 euros

    Total 904 euros

What is not counted

The fee of the visa application centre is not in these totals. The France-Visas page for the United States says that service provider collects its own fee and that it is not refunded. We do not price it here.

We leave out translations, apostilles, health insurance and any private provider. We found no price for the civic exam on the Service-Public announcement we read (A18713), so none is counted.

The France-Visas page for the United States says visa fees are seen in US dollars and paid in dollars by card. We read the euro amount in the France-Visas fee table. We did not find the dollar amount on a page we could read.

A person who entered France without the right visa can owe a regularization visa fee of 300 euros, of which 100 euros are not refunded (A18881). It is a different case from the late renewal fee above.

The guides that use these figures: How to Move to France from the US: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Americans (2026), OFII Validation: The 3-Month Deadline and What Happens If You Miss It, France Relocation Services Cost: Consultant, Spreadsheet, or Tool Suite.

Pages we read