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How to Validate VLS-TS 2025

Long post ahead! I prepared this article to be as detailed as possible to guide you through the process.

Baguette from Malaysia
2–3 minutes

If you’ve just received your VLS-TS (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour)—whether you’re a profession libérale, entrepreneur, student, or employee—it is mandatory to validate it within 90 days of your arrival in France. Failure to do so means your visa will be invalid, and you’ll need to reapply.

In this article, I’ll walk you through how I validated my VLS-TS (Prof. Libérale/Entrepreneur) online, and share helpful links for those with other visa categories.

📌 Step 1: Validate Your Visa on the ANEF Website

Since 2019, the validation process is 100% digital. If you’ve come across outdated info mentioning an offline process—ignore it. Everything is now done online.

  • 👉🏻 Go to the official portal: ANEF
    (“Administration numérique pour les étrangers en France”)
  • Click on “Je valide mon VLS-TS”
  • Verify the category of your visa on the remarks (“remarques”) section
List of visa category
  • Then enter your visa number
A picture showing where to find your visa number
  • On the next page, you will have to enter your
    • Passport number
    • Visa validity dates
    • Your full name
    • Your birthdate
    • Etc…

🧐 You might wonder: “Why do I have to retype everything I already gave them?” Because this step validates your visa and connects it to the French immigration system.

📌 Step 2: What is CESEDA?

CESEDA stands for:
Code de l’entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d’asile – the French legal code that governs the rights and obligations of foreigners in France.

It determines:

  • Your legal residency status
  • Your rights and obligations (e.g., medical visit, integration contract)

Each code also determines your tax stamp fee (see image below).

Example: If your visa mentions “ETUDIANT”, the CESEDA reference is “CESEDA R431-16 13”, the tax you will have to pay is €50.

An image listing the visa's motive, the corresponding CESEDA code, and the tax stamp fee

📌 Step 3: Pay the Tax Stamp (Timbre Fiscal)

You must pay a tax stamp to validate your VLS-TS visa.

  • €200 for most long-stay visas (e.g., profession libérale, employees)
  • €50 for certain categories (e.g., students)

Payment Options:

  • Online (recommended):
    • You can pay directly on the ANEF site using a debit/credit card.
    • ⭐️ Tip: If your bank card was rejected for whatever reason, you can try paying with Wise (formerly TransferWise).
      • Great exchange rates.
      • Option for virtual VISA card.
      • Use my referral link for a chance to win £50.
  • In cash:
    • You can buy a physical timbre fiscal at a tabac (tobacconist – the shop front looks like a kiosk).
    • ⭐️ Tip: You can find a list of partner tobacconists on this link.

📌 Step 4: Receive Confirmation by Email

Once your visa is validated:

  • You will receive a confirmation email with an identification number.
  • This document is essential for all future administrative procedures in France.
  • It also include:
    • Information about your medical visit (visite médicale OFII)
    • Information about signing the Contrat d’Intégration Républicaine (CIR)

📚 Additional Resources

✨ Final Tips

  • Validate as soon as you arrive—don’t wait until the last minute.
  • Keep a digital and printed copy of the confirmation PDF.
  • You’ll need your 9-digit identifiant for all future residency renewals and requests.

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