Questions and Answers

VLS-T or VLST!

When we started the 180days campaign in 2020 the French authorities used the term VLST visa in emails to the team: we used this in out work. We noticed in 2021 that they used the term VLS-T on their webpages.  Our future material will use the term VLS-T 

What is the problem with Schengen?     

The problem with Schengen is the cumulative total of 90 days in any 180 day period. The control period is too short. A cumulative total of 180 days in any 360 days is preferred. The matter is detailed here.

Schengen: pourquoi cette polémique ? 

La principale difficulté de la règle Schengen réside dans le total cumulé de 90 jours sur toute période de 180 jours. La période de contrôle est trop courte. Un total cumulé de 180 jours sur 360 jours serait préférable. Vous voulez en savoir plus?      

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How many 2nd homes and 2nd home owners are there in France?

When we researched this subject in April 2020 we could not find official data so we used information from UK national newspapers that indicated there are some 200,000 UK citizens with a second home in France. Our own survey data indicated that most second homes were owned by a couple so this implied that there were some 100,000 second homes in France.

In late 2020 we reviewed a document that assessed official data from 2016. Box 2 at the end of the document states that British visitors own 86,000 second home in France and are the most numerous of non-French owners. The link is here: https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4632406#graphique-figure1. 

We also reviewed a document that assessed data from 2005. Graph 6 on Page 6 indicates that in 2005 there were some 70,000 second homes in France owned by UK citizens. The link is here: https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4632406#graphique-figure1.

In conclusion we consider that our figure of 100,000 homes is reasonably accurate but may be slightly high.

We are always keen to be notified of emerging information or statistics so please let us know via the contact form if you are aware of any other reports or documents.  

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Why have two websites "180daysinFrance" and "180daysvisa-free"?  

180daysinFrance focuses exclusively on matters related to traveling to France 

Our earlier, extensive, content was published on the 180daysvisafree site.  

• It focused on the broader 180/360 proposal for both second homeowners and those who travel extensively in the EU. 

• It is no longer active.

The 180daysvisa-free Facebook page is no longer active. 

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Why do you have both a website and a Facebook page and why is it public? 

Our experience in 2021 demonstrated the benefits of having both a Facebook page and a website that focus on a single objective. We decided to make the Facebook pages public because

• posts within closed groups cannot be shared outwith the group so these posts have had not been seen by tens of thousands of people with second homes, MPs or journalists or anyone who is not a group member.

• we are subject to the rules of the private groups which can restrict how we post. 

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