2026 Guide
France Long-Stay Visa Refused? How to Appeal Within 30 Days (2026)
Oct 21, 2026 |
Julio Vero
10 min read
In brief: If a French consulate refuses your long-stay visa, you have 30 days from notification to appeal. The appeal goes to the Commission de recours contre les décisions de refus de visa (CRRV) in Nantes. It is mandatory before you can go to court. Many websites still say you have two months.
What deadline applies to a refused long-stay visa?
Thirty days. Article D312-4 of the immigration code (CESEDA) says administrative appeals against a visa refusal must be filed within 30 days of notification. Before 1 January 2023 the deadline was two months. Decrees of 29 June 2022 shortened it, and some older guides were never updated.
Do not leave it until last week. The appeal goes by post to Nantes, and you need proof it was sent in time.
Which route applies to me?
|
Your situation |
Where you appeal |
Deadline |
|---|---|---|
|
Long-stay visa (type D) refused by a French consulate |
CRRV, Nantes |
30 days from notification |
|
The CRRV rejects your appeal, or does not answer |
Administrative court of Nantes |
2 months |
|
Short-stay (Schengen) visa refused |
Sub-director of visas, Interior Ministry |
30 days |
|
Residence permit refused by a prefecture in France |
A different procedure |
Not covered in this guide |
This guide covers the first two rows: long-stay visas for visitors, entrepreneurs, Talent Passport holders and families.
What is the CRRV and what can it do?
The CRRV is a commission attached to the Foreign Affairs and Interior ministers. It reviews refusals of long-stay visas made by consulates. It can do one of two things:
- Reject your appeal.
- Recommend that the ministers grant your visa. It is a recommendation, not a visa.
The chair can reject an appeal without convening the commission if it is clearly inadmissible or unfounded. A weak, rushed appeal can be dismissed on paper.
How do I send the appeal?
- Keep the refusal letter and note the date you received it. Your 30 days start there.
- Read the reasons given. Your appeal must answer each one, with evidence.
- Write a reasoned appeal in French. Attach the refusal, your passport copy, the application receipt and new evidence.
- Send it by registered post with proof of receipt to: Commission de recours contre les décisions de refus de visa d’entrée en France, BP 83609, 44036 Nantes Cedex 01, France.
You can also ask the consulate to reconsider (a recours gracieux). This is optional and does not pause the 30-day CRRV deadline. Never send it instead of the CRRV appeal.
If the consulate never answers your application, its silence can count as a refusal. The 30 days can then start without any letter reaching you. If you have heard nothing for weeks, get advice before assuming you are still waiting: the clock might be ticking to file the Court appeal.
What happens after the CRRV?
If the CRRV rejects your appeal, or the ministers confirm the refusal, you can ask the administrative court of Nantes to annul the decision. You have two months to do so. If the CRRV does not answer within two months, its silence counts as a rejection. The two-month court deadline is not extended for people living abroad.
Why are long-stay visitor visas usually refused?
Consulates check four things in a visitor file. Weak evidence on any one of them is a common reason for refusal:
- Funds below the threshold or poorly documented. The guide figure is the French net minimum wage: €17,735.19 a year since 1 June 2026, per Service-Public.
- Health insurance with gaps, such as missing repatriation or not covering the whole stay.
- Vague accommodation evidence.
- Signs of work in France. A French client, a French contract or a LinkedIn profile saying “consultant, Paris” can sink a visitor file. If you work remotely for a US or UK employer, read our guide to remote work on a France visitor visa.
Should I appeal or reapply?
It depends on why you were refused. This is practical guidance, not a rule:
- Reapply when the refusal points to a missing or weak document you can now fix. A new long-stay application costs €99 plus the visa-centre fee, and you control the timing.
- Appeal when you believe the consulate misread a complete file, or reapplying would repeat the same problem.
A lawyer can tell you which route fits once they read the refusal letter.
FAQs
1. Is the deadline 30 days or two months?
Thirty days to appeal to the CRRV, under article D312-4 CESEDA, since 1 January 2023. Two months applies later, to the court appeal.
2. Can I go straight to court?
No. The CRRV appeal is mandatory first. A court case filed without it will be rejected.
3. Does the appeal have to be in French?
Yes, it should be written in French and explain your reasons.
4. How long does the CRRV take?
If it has not answered within two months, its silence counts as a rejection and the court route opens.
5. Can I travel to France while I appeal?
Not on a long-stay basis. The refused visa does not exist until it is granted, so do not plan your move around the appeal.
Refused? Send us the letter
A lawyer will read your refusal, tell you whether to appeal or reapply, and send a fixed-fee proposal. Your first consultation is free. See our Visitor Visa and Entrepreneur Visa services.
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