Mixing the VLS-T visa with Schengen 90/180

Parts of this page are now included in the section Date Considerations on this page.  It consolidates all guidance received from the French Consulate up to late June 2025.

Mixing the VLS-T visa with Schengen 90/180

The French Consulate has confirmed that you may enter France before and after your VLS-T visa period under the Schengen 90/180 day rule. You do NOT have to leave the Schengen Area/France to roll from Schengen to Visa to Schengen. Border officials have the right to question you about your travel dates. It is prudent to anticipate this, and to be able to demonstrate where you have travelled and when.

Note, that under customs regulations, a UK registered car may only remain in France/Europe for a total of 6 months in any rolling year measured from the current date.

There is an ongoing debate about French taxation should you stay more than 180 days or so in France in a calendar or rolling year.  Most users of this website stay fewer that 180 days. The 180daysinfrance team do not comment on French taxation.

The End of the Visa

In late summer 2023 the Consulate revised its long held view that someone needed an exit stamp in their passport to trigger the end of the visa.  The Consulate referred to EU regulations as the basis of their change in position.  In late 2023 may people remained in France after the end of their visa under the Schengen 90/180 day rules and experienced no issues with border officials.  Based upon these two factors we feel able to state the following: 

• You can stay in France beyond your visa end date provided that you remain within your 90/180 limits. The 180days is a rolling period so that any trips made to other EU countries may cut into the 90 days period.

• You may exit France directly to any country.

Border officials have the right to question you about your travel dates. It is prudent to anticipate this, and to be able to demonstrate where you have traveled and when.