France Family Reunification Visa Requirements and Application Procedures
France Family Reunification Visa Requirements and Application Procedures
A family reunification visa is a long-term visa type that allows a person living in a foreign country to live with their spouse or children. Since the France family reunification visa is a long-term visa type, the person is granted the right to live and work in France for periods of 90 days or more. The family reunification visa covers the spouse, child, parent or other close relatives of people who are French citizens or who reside in France with a residence permit.
Who is Eligible for a France Family Reunification Visa?
If a person is a legitimate resident of France, he/she can request a family reunification visa for his/her family members.
If there are sponsors for family reunification in France, these sponsors are evaluated in 3 categories: French citizens, citizens of EU or EEA member countries and citizens of countries other than EU or EEA member countries. Family reunification visa applications differ depending on the category in which the sponsor residing in France is included.
Persons who can apply for a France family reunification visa are listed below.
- Family members of persons who are citizens of France or a Scandinavian country; a foreign child under the age of 21 who needs the care of a French parent, a child adopted by a couple who has an official relationship with a French person, the person himself or his spouse's elderly relatives and the spouse's parents or grandparents can apply for a French family reunification visa.
- A spouse, a child under the age of 21 or for whom the person is responsible, a relative or descendant directly dependent on the person or spouse and in need of care, of an EU or EEA national living in France may apply for a French family reunification visa.
- Spouses and parents of third-country nationals who are not EU or EEA nationals residing in France may apply for a French family reunification visa.
What are the France Family Reunification Visa Requirements?
France family reunification visa requirements vary depending on the applicant and the sponsoring family member; detailed information is provided in the following sections.
What are the requirements for a visa applicant to reunite with family in France?
For family reunification in France, the applicant's family must live abroad and the person must not pose any threat to public order in France.
According to the procedures applied for family reunification in France, the couple who will reside in France must be at least 18 years old or older, while the children must generally be under 18 years old, with certain exceptions.
What is the Age Limit for Family Reunification in France?
The minimum age for family reunification in France is 18 for spouses, while the maximum age for children is 18.
Is There an Exam Requirement for Family Reunification in France?
There is no French family reunification exam requirement to obtain a French family reunification visa; however, applicants are evaluated based on their knowledge of the French language and country values and can take free lessons in these areas if desired. After the relevant courses, individuals are subjected to an assessment exam and answer French family reunification exam questions in the areas of language and integration.
As of March 7, 2016, the requirements for a French family reunification visa were made equal for all nationals and the exam requirement was abolished.
What are the conditions that the sponsor must meet for the France Family Reunification Visa?
The conditions that the sponsor must meet for a France family reunification visa are listed below.
- The sponsor must have resided in France regularly for at least 18 months. For Algerians, the period of residence is set at 12 months.
- The sponsor must have a residence permit valid for at least one year. The receipt showing that the residence permit has been renewed is also considered valid.
- The sponsor's residence must be comfortable and suitable for living. The sponsor must be the tenant, owner or free user of a house in order to ensure good conditions in case his/her family comes to France.
- The sponsor's family must have a sufficient and stable income to come to France.
What are the housing requirements for family reunification in France?
In France, the conditions for a family reunion are to be livable and comfortable. The sponsor must be a tenant, homeowner or a person who has the right to use a home free of charge. The size of the home is determined by the number of people living in the home and the area in which the home is located.
The size requirements for French houses in different regions, for different numbers of family members, are given in the table below for the French family reunification visa.
| Required Fields | 2 Person | 3 Persons | 4 Person | 5 Persons | 6 Person | 7 Persons | 8 people and more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area A | 22m² | 32m² | 42m² | 52m² | 62m² | 72m² | 82m² + additional 5m² for each person |
| Area B | 24m² | 34m² | 44m² | 54m² | 64m² | 74m² | 84m² + additional 5m² for each person |
| Area C | 28m² | 38m² | 48m² | 58m² | 68m² | 78m² | 88m² + additional 5m² for each person |
What are the financial eligibility requirements for family reunification in France?
The financial eligibility requirement for family reunification in France includes demonstrating a stable and sufficient income that allows the family to have good conditions.
The required financial resources vary according to the number of people in the family. Families of 2 or 3 people must have a monthly net minimum wage or an average income of 1,329.05 euros, while families of 4 to 5 people must have an average monthly income of 1,442 euros, and families of 6 or more people must have an average monthly income of 1,573.31 euros.
The applicant's economic resources may consist of wage or freelance earnings, wealth management and retirement pensions.
Payments made for support purposes such as providing economic support to a family member who does not have financial income, cash assistance provided to elderly people, special solidarity grants and retirement equivalent allowances are not considered as sources of income.
Where to Apply for a France Family Reunification Visa?
France family reunification visa applications are made through VFS Global, which is the authorized intermediary institution for visa applications from Turkey.
Does the French Consulate in Ankara Accept Family Reunification Visa Applications?
No, the French Consulate in Ankara does not accept family reunification visa applications. Applications can only be made through authorized intermediary institutions or accredited visa agencies.
What are the Required Procedures for Going to France for Family Reunification?
There is a 2-stage process for entering France through family reunification. The first stage consists of the procedures that the sponsor residing in France must complete, while the second stage consists of the visa application procedures of the applicant in Turkey.
Before applying for a family reunification visa, the sponsor must apply and receive approval from the French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII). After receiving the approval, also known as the prefecture approval, the applicant must apply for the visa online and then go to the intermediary appointment.
How to Get Governor's Approval for Family Reunification in France?
In order to obtain approval from the prefecture for family reunification in France, the applicant must fill out form 11436. The file consisting of the completed form and other additional documents must be sent by post to the regional administration authorized by the French OFII.
The first page image of form number 11436 is given below.
What are the Required Documents for France OFII Family Reunification Application?
The documents required for the France OFII family reunification application are listed below.
- Form number 11436: The forum must be filled in completely and accurately by the applicant.
- Residence permit: A photocopy of a valid residence permit or a document equivalent to a residence permit for the family member in France is required.
- Registration documents: Depending on the person's situation, various registration documents such as the marriage contract, birth certificate, birth certificates of family members included in the visa must be accompanied by a sworn translator's translation into French or certified by the French consulate or a diplomatic authority.
- Application letter: A letter explaining the reason for family reunification is requested. If family reunification does not include the entire family, it is important to provide reasons why the application is necessary in the best interests of the children.
- Income documents: The applicant must submit income documents covering the last 1 year.
- House documents: People who have an address to reside in France must submit documents proving their status, such as tenancy, home ownership or free accommodation.
How Many Months Does It Take to Get Governor's Approval for Family Reunification in France?
The French prefecture approval for family reunification takes an average of 6 months. If the person submits a complete and acceptable file, an application submission certificate is issued that includes the names of the family members who applied. If necessary, authorities can come to the house and perform various checks.
How to Apply for a Visa for Family Reunification in France?
When applying for a visa for family reunification in France, first click on the "Do you need a visa?" heading on https://france-visas.gouv.fr/ and then go to the "Visa Wizard" page and select the applicant's country, age, passport issuing country, passport type and long or short term visa type according to duration and proceed to the second page.
On the second page, select the “Family or private settlement” and the “Family reunion” options in the second box and click on the “Submit online application” button at the bottom of the page. After filling out the application form on the page that opens, an appointment must be made.
After completing the biometric procedures on the appointment date, the visa fee and visa service fee are paid via VFS Global. The evaluation processes can be followed on the website with the reference number on the receipt issued by the application center.
If the visa is approved, the passport is sent to the visa application center and can be picked up from the passport application center or sent to the applicant's address via courier.
What are the Required Documents for a France Family Reunification Visa?
The list of documents for family reunification in France is listed below.
- Passport: The person's passport must have been issued within the last 10 years, the last two pages must be blank, and must be valid for 3 months after the visa expires.
- France family reunification visa application form: The application form must be filled out completely and accurately via the online system, printed out and signed with a wet signature.
- Photograph: A photograph of the person's face in full view and in the requested dimensions must be added to the application documents.
- Population registration copy: The population registration document obtained from the provincial or district population directorates or via e-government must be added to the application documents.
- OFII approval: A visa application can be made by obtaining the civil registration documents of the family member abroad with the document issued by OFII.
How to Fill Out the Application Form for a France Family Reunification Visa?
The application form for a France family reunification visa is filled out online at https://france-visas.gouv.fr/.
The applicant must log in to a previously opened account and fill out the form. Those who do not have an account before must create a new account on the website and then complete the France visa form filling process.
How to Get a Population Registration Copy for a France Family Visa?
A population registration sample for a France family visa can be obtained via e-government or from the population directorates. In order to obtain a population registration sample via e-government, you need to log in to e-government and type “Population registration sample document query” into the search engine.
On the page that opens, the button “I have read the above information text” is selected and continued. The type of population registration sample, whether the ex-spouse will be added or not, whether the document will be documented or not and the reason for issuing the document must be selected; the name of the institution to which the document will be issued must be written correctly.
After filling in the information, the "Query" button should be clicked. The document on the page that appears is printed and submitted for visa procedures. It is also possible for the person to personally go to the provincial and district directorates and request a population registration copy from the relevant unit.
Below is the screenshot where you can get a population registration sample for a France family visa.
What kind of photo should I get for a France Family Reunification Visa?
For a France family reunification visa, the photo must have been taken within the last 3 months. In accordance with the Schengen visa photo standards, the photo must be clear, taken against a light-colored background, the person must look directly at the camera with a neutral expression, and they must not wear glasses or a headscarf unless necessary, and if they do, they must do so in a way that does not cover the face.
There is no problem with a person wearing enough make-up that does not change their face and for men to have a beard during the photo shoot. The France visa photo size must be 35 mm wide and 45 mm long.
Below is a sample photo for a France family reunification visa.
How Much Does a France Family Visa Cost?
The France family visa application fee is 99 euros.
How Many Days Does It Take to Get a France Family Reunification Visa?
The France family reunification visa is issued after the OFII application process, which takes an average of 6 months, and the visa evaluation process, which takes an average of 15 to 60 days.
How to Track Your Visa for Family Reunification in France?
The visa tracking process for France family reunification can be done via the VFS Global website or via SMS or e-mail.
Within the scope of e-mail tracking procedures, the applicant is informed when the passport reaches the visa center. When the SMS service is purchased by the applicant for an additional service fee, more detailed information about the visa status is provided to the applicant.
Enquiries can be made online via VFS Global's website using the reference number and surname of the person written on the receipt given during application.
How Long Does a Family Reunification Visa to France Last?
The duration of a family reunification visa to France varies according to the status of the person residing in France. A temporary but long-term residence permit is usually issued for family members of a French citizen; this permit is valid for up to 12 months and must be approved within 3 months of arrival in France.
The visa granted to the families of French citizens is granted for 5 years, after which the application paths for permanent residence or French citizenship are opened. The visa length and residence permit are granted for the same duration for the family members of EU citizens. In general, a visa valid for 5 years is granted for the family members of EU citizens.
For family members of non-EU citizens, if the application is approved, a long-term and subsequent residence permit is issued. The validity of the residence permit is the same as the visa period of the person's spouse or parent. The person must verify the residence permit within 2 months of arriving in France.
How to Get a Residence Permit with a France Family Reunification Visa?
If the person has obtained a long-term visa that requires applying for a residence permit for a French family reunification visa, the residence permit application procedures must be completed within 2 months of going to France and the competent authority in the region of residence must be notified.
If a person lives in Paris, he/she must apply to the police station, while those living in a different region must apply to the regional authority or lower authority.
Before going to the competent authority, the person must find the requested documents on the website of the institution where he/she resides; some states also offer the possibility of making an appointment online. The person must go to the application process for the French residence permit in person and with the relevant documents. It is recommended to bring the originals of the supporting documents.
What are the rights you can have with a family reunification visa in France?
The rights that can be obtained with a family reunification visa in France are listed below.
The right to work in any sector within France
Right to settle and reside within the borders of France
The right to receive education in public schools in France
The right to travel freely to cities in France and the Schengen area
2026 Application Checklist
- Valid Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond stay.
- Proof of Funds: Bank statements or Blocked Account confirmation (2026 rates).
- Biometrics: Appointment confirmation and receipt.
- Health Insurance: Travel or private insurance covering €30,000+.
- Form IMM 5645: Fully completed Family Information form.