Turkish applicants · French Republic
Long-Stay Visa — Salaried Worker (VLS-TS Salarié) for Turkish citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Standard work visa for non-EU nationals with a French employment contract who do not meet Talent Passport criteria — requires a full labour-market test.
This page covers the Long-Stay Visa — Salaried Worker (VLS-TS Salarié) specifically for Turkish applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Türkiye. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.
- Processing time
- 4–12 weeks (labour-market test adds time).
- Government fees
- Visa fee €99; employer tax ~55% of monthly salary (OFII); residence permit tax €225.
- Typical duration
- 1 year; renewable.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
No nationality-specific treaty frameworks apply to this combination.
Consular processing: a French Republic consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence
Tourist entry vs. this route
Tourist-entry rules for Turkish nationals change periodically and are separate from the Long-Stay Visa — Salaried Worker (VLS-TS Salarié). Check the destination government's current entry guidance before travel.
Key figures for Turkish applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Time to permanent residence
Talent Passport -> 10-year resident card around year 5 -> naturalisation from around 5 years where integration and language criteria are met.
Leads to Carte de resident / EU long-term resident, then French citizenship by naturalisation.
Visa overview
The standard salaried-worker VLS-TS is for foreign nationals who do not meet the Talent Passport salary or qualification thresholds. The employer must obtain a work authorisation (autorisation de travail) from the DREETS, which involves a labour-market test demonstrating that no suitable local candidate is available. The visa is typically issued for 1 year, renewable as a carte de séjour "salarié".
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Employment contract with a French employer.DGEF / Ministère de l'Intérieur (Service-Public.fr) ↗
- ✓Employer obtains autorisation de travail from DREETS (includes labour-market test).DGEF / Ministère de l'Intérieur (Service-Public.fr) ↗
- ✓Role must be on the list of métiers en tension (shortage occupations) OR employer proves no local candidates available.Légifrance (French statute portal) ↗
Common blockers
- !Employer fails the labour-market test — DREETS finds suitable local candidates.DGEF / Ministère de l'Intérieur (Service-Public.fr) ↗
- !Role is not on the shortage list and employer cannot justify the hire.Légifrance (French statute portal) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Employment contract.DGEF / Ministère de l'Intérieur (Service-Public.fr) ↗
- ·Work authorisation from DREETS.DGEF / Ministère de l'Intérieur (Service-Public.fr) ↗
- ·Passport and personal documents.DGEF / Ministère de l'Intérieur (Service-Public.fr) ↗
Application pathway
Employer obtains work authorisation
The employer applies to DREETS for authorisation de travail, which includes a labour-market test unless the role is on the shortage list.
Apply for VLS-TS at consulate
Apply for a long-stay visa annotated "Salarié".
Validate visa and begin work
Validate via ANEF within 3 months. Renew annually at the préfecture.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in France. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyEmployerRequest work authorisation ↗
Employer submits the online work-authorisation request required before the worker files for the visa.
Service-Public.fr / Ministry of the Interior · verified
- ApplyApplicantStart the France-Visas application ↗
Applicant completes the official long-stay salaried-worker visa application after employer authorisation.
France-Visas · verified
Not sure French Republic is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer work sponsored routes that Turkish nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Turkish citizens eligible for the Long-Stay Visa — Salaried Worker (VLS-TS Salarié)?+
Eligibility for the Long-Stay Visa — Salaried Worker (VLS-TS Salarié) is set by DGEF. Turkish applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
Where do Turkish applicants typically file the Long-Stay Visa — Salaried Worker (VLS-TS Salarié)?+
a French Republic consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by DGEF — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Turkish applicants need a tourist visa for French Republic as well?+
Tourist-entry rules for Turkish nationals change periodically and are separate from the Long-Stay Visa — Salaried Worker (VLS-TS Salarié). Check the destination government's current entry guidance before travel.
How long until permanent residence in French Republic?+
Talent Passport -> 10-year resident card around year 5 -> naturalisation from around 5 years where integration and language criteria are met. The route leads to Carte de resident / EU long-term resident, then French citizenship by naturalisation. See Service-Public.fr - French nationality for the qualifying-residence rules.
What is the difference between VLS-TS Salarié and Talent Passport?+
The VLS-TS Salarié requires a full labour-market test, is issued for 1 year (not 4), and does not give your spouse automatic work rights. The Talent Passport skips the labour-market test entirely, lasts up to 4 years, and gives your spouse full work rights. If you meet the current Talent Passport salary and qualification criteria, always compare that route before using the standard salarié permit.
What are the métiers en tension (shortage occupations)?+
France publishes a list of métiers en tension (shortage occupations) by region. If your role is on this list, the labour-market test is simplified — the employer does not need to prove that no suitable local candidate exists. The list includes occupations in healthcare, IT, construction, hospitality, and manufacturing, though it varies by region. Verify the current list on travail-emploi.gouv.fr.
How we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: DGEF
Last checked: 1 August 2026