A foreign citizen married to a French citizen is exempt of the processing fees.

You have to apply with the French Consulate in Houston, only if you study or reside in one of the following states : Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

To know where to apply, click here.

You have to apply with all the required documents in original + ONE COPY of each document. The visa section does not make any copies.

PERSONAL APPEARANCE IS MANDATORY : you cannot apply by mail.

1. Short stay visa for the spouse of a French national :

If you would like to spend less than 90 days in France, the following documents must be presented :

 Original passport or travel document (+ ONE COPY of the identity pages). Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years ago, be valid for at least three months after your return to the US and have at least 2 blank visas pages left;

 1 short stay application form filled out and clearly readable. Please use black ink. Make sure your cell phone number and e-mail address are also added upon the forms ;

 1 recent passport size photograph. DO NOT GLUE to the form;

 a proof of status held in the United States (green card, valid american visa with the I-94, and the valid I-20 or the valid I-AP66….) for the non - American citizens. Holders of a B1/B2 visa will require a more complex and longer procedure (up to 2 weeks);

 the " livret de famille", or a copy of the marriage certificate, or the French official transcription of your marriage when it took place overseas

 a proof of the French nationality of your spouse ( national identity card or French national certificate ; the passport is not accepted as a proof);

Please do not forget to make a copy of each original document. The visa section does not make any copy.

The visa is free of charge.

2. Visa of establishment

CAUTION : New procedure.

A new procedure applies since June 1rst and requires a minimum of 10 to 15 business days (2 to 3 weeks) to be processed. We strongly recommend to apply for this visa at least 3 to 4 weeks prior to the planned departure.

This section concerns persons who wish to settle in metropolitan France, the "DROM" (Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Martinique, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélémy, and Réunion) and St Pierre et Miquelon. It does not concern persons who wish to settle in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, and Mayotte : contact the french consulate at visa@consulfrance-houston.org

This visa applies to all nationalities, including US Citizens. It does not concern nationals of the European Union, of European Economic Space, of Switzerland, of Monaco, of St. Martin and of Algeria : read the section "spouse of a European Union citizen or contact the French consulate at visa@consulfrance-houston.org

The foreign spouse of a French citizen must obtain a long stay visa, valid as a resident card, for any stay longer than 90 days in France. If granted this visa is like a resident card , valid for one year. The holder of the visa will need to register at the local branch of OFII (French Office for Immigration and Integration) in the three months following the arrival in France. The OFII will apply a stamp aknowledging the presence on the French territory. click here to access the OFII website.

If the stay is extended after a year in France, an appointment must be taken with the préfecture at least 2 months before the expiry of the visa, in order to request a Resident Card ("Carte de Séjour").

REQUIREMENTS :

You have to apply with all the required documents in original + ONE COPY of each document. The visa section does not make any copies.

PERSONAL APPEARANCE IS MANDATORY : you cannot apply by mail.

 Original passport or travel document (+ ONE COPY of the identity pages). Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years ago, be valid for at least six months and have at least 2 blank visas pages left;

 1 long stay application form filled out and clearly readable. Please use black ink. Make sure your cell phone number and e-mail address are also added upon the forms.

Click on the document below for english translation:

 1 OFII application form

FORMULAIRE OFII

 1 recent passport size photograph. DO NOT GLUE to the form.

 a proof of status held in the United States (green card, valid american visa with the I-94, and the valid I-20 or the valid I-AP66….) for the non - American citizens. Holders of a B1/B2 visa will require a more complex and longer procedure, and are obliged to apply in person,

 the " livret de famille", or a copy of the marriage certificate, or the French official transcription of your marriage when it took place overseas

 a proof of French nationality of your spouse ( national identity card or French national certificate, the passport is not accepted as proof),

 proof of the residency in France (ex: phone bill or electricity bill …)

 A self-addressed prepaid envelope (Express mail, Fed Ex…) in order to get your passport back with the visa, if granted. Your passport will be kept during the processing time. If you wish or need to keep your passport during the processing time of your visa, you will be required to come a second time at the visa section to bring back your passport and have your visa issued.

Please do not forget to make a copy of each original document. The visa section does not make any copy.

The visa is free of charge.