France · 5 rules · 4 calculators
How many days can you spend in France?
It depends on why you’re there. Visiting from outside the EU, you can spend 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen area, France included. For tax, more than six months of the year in France — 183 days or more — generally make it your main place of stay, and you’re tax domiciled there. A 10-year carte de résident stops being valid after 3 years in a row outside France.
Visas and stays
How long can you stay in France as a visitor?
France is one of the 29 Schengen countries: visitors from outside the EU count their days anywhere in the area together, towards one limit of 90 days in any 180. EES records every entry and exit.
Tax residency
Tax residency in France: 183 days, or a home
How many days can you spend in France before you’re tax resident? Fewer than 183 in the calendar year keeps you under the main-stay test — but a home, your work or the centre of your economic interests in France can make you resident whatever the days.
Residence permits
Living in France: 3 years away with a carte de résident
The EU long-term resident card lasts until 3 years in a row outside the EU, or 6 outside France.
Day calculators for France
France: questions and answers.
Is France in Schengen?
Yes: France has been in the Schengen area since 1995, when checks at its borders with the other Schengen countries were abolished. It joined the EU in 1958. It was one of the five countries that signed the Schengen Agreement in 1985.
How many days can I spend in France as a non-resident?
For tax, fewer than 183 in the calendar year keeps you under the main-stay test, if your home, your work and the centre of your economic interests aren’t in France either. As a visitor from outside the EU, the limit is 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area.
How long can I stay in France as a UK citizen?
As a visitor, the same as anyone from outside the EU: 90 days in any 180 across the 29 Schengen countries together, France included. Since EES, your entries and exits are recorded at the border instead of stamped in your passport.
Can I keep a French residence card while living abroad?
A 10-year carte de résident stays valid until 3 years in a row outside France; the EU long-term resident card until 3 years in a row outside the EU, or 6 outside France.
How many days can you spend in France? FlySee counts them for you.
Track days in every country and know the date you can stay until.
- Counts your Schengen days automatically, in the background
- A tax tracker of your own counts the main-stay test: fewer than 183 days in the calendar year, any part of a day
- Shows the date you can stay until, and gives you a heads-up before you reach the limit
- Logs every day you’re outside France, automatically, and rebuilds past trips from your photos
- Exports your days by country as PDF, Excel or CSV for your accountant
- Free to download
- free trial
- no account
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Sources
France and the Schengen area
EES (Entry/Exit System)
- European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs — Entry/Exit System (EES)
- GOV.UK — EU Entry/Exit System: guidance for British travellers
- Swedish Police Authority — The Entry Exit System (children, data storage, days left)
- European Union — Entry/Exit System: check how long you can stay
- European Union — Entry/Exit System: the Travel to Europe mobile app
- Frontex — Travel to Europe app
FlySee counts days; it doesn’t give tax advice. Whether you’re resident is for you and your adviser.
FlySee counts days; it doesn’t give immigration advice. Whether you qualify is for you and your adviser.
FlySee counts days; it doesn’t give legal advice. Whether you can stay is the border guard’s call.