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The rule in writing
“For a long-stay visa (VLS-TS), you must hold private health insurance covering your full stay in France. Travel insurance and short-stay Schengen policies are not accepted.”
Official source: France-Visas (france-visas.gouv.fr) & FrenchEntrée long-stay guide — Last verified:
The rule in writing
“The policy must provide medical and hospitalisation cover valid in France for the whole visa period (up to one year), stating inpatient and outpatient cover and the territory.”
Official source: France-Visas long-stay visa requirements — Last verified:
The rule in writing
“Consulates commonly refuse policies with a deductible (excess) on the core cover. Applicants report rejections over deductible clauses; the certificate should show cover without a disqualifying deductible.”
Official source: Consulate application guidance & documented applicant reports — Last verified:
Will your certificate pass?
What a consulate officer actually looks for on the page.
Passes when it shows
- Private health cover — not travel or Schengen
- Medical + hospitalisation cover valid in France
- Covers your full visa period (up to a year)
- No disqualifying deductible on the core cover
Refused when it’s
- A travel or Schengen “trip” policy
- A deductible / excess on core cover
- Cover that ends before your visa does
Why travel insurance gets refused
Travel and short-stay Schengen policies are built for trips, not residence. Applicants report them being rejected at the visa centre because they do not cover a full year of residence, or because they carry a deductible the consulate will not accept.
A long-stay application needs a private health plan structured for living in France: medical and hospitalisation cover, valid in France, for the whole visa period, with the certificate stating the cover type, territory, and dates.
What a compliant certificate must state
- Private health insurance (not travel or Schengen cover)
- Valid in France for the entire visa period (up to one year)
- Inpatient and outpatient medical cover, clearly stated
- No disqualifying deductible on the core cover
- Territory and policy dates that match your visa
The certificate wording is what the consulate reads. We arrange policies whose certificate states these points and show you the wording before you buy.
After you arrive: the CSM contribution
Public cover in France (PUMa) is a later step, not a visa document. A December 2025 law changed the picture for visitor-visa holders — see the requirement below — so private cover carries you through the bridge months and beyond.
Honest limits: Cover is worldwide but excludes treatment in the United States. Pre-existing conditions are excluded, including conditions you did not know about. We disclose this before you request a quote. Consulates keep discretion, and requirements can change. We show the published rule and its source; the final decision is the consulate’s.