Retire in France
Long-stay Visitor (visiteur) — income requirement, modelled cost, healthcare and tax on pensions, sourced and dated.
Income requirement
Key facts
- €1,478/month (≈$1,718/month) Long-stay Visitor (visiteur) — single applicant
- Savings / deposit Savings can offset lower income (e.g. ~€50k) at consular discretion
- Family uplift Not codified; each accompanying adult expected to show comparable means
- Passive income only pensions, rent, dividends — not remote employment
- Watch out The floor is statutory (CESEDA L426-20: the annual net SMIC) but re-floats with the SMIC, so a stale cited figure can itself trigger scrutiny. You sign an undertaking not to work in France.
What retiring in France costs
WhereNext's reviewed budget models about $3,400 a month for one person and about $4,800 for a couple. The visa's own test is separate: Long-stay Visitor (visiteur) needs ≈ $1,718/mo equivalent. Modelled figures are for a comfortable, not frugal, lifestyle; the cost-of-living calculator prices your own basket.
Healthcare, safety and the livability floors
On WhereNext's indices France scores 97/100 for healthcare and 57/100 for safety. It does not clear every livability floor (GPI ≤ 2.0, life expectancy ≥ 75, HDI ≥ 0.80): GPI 2.08 (floor ≤ 2.0). The floors are a screen, not a verdict; the reasons are listed so you can weigh them.
Tax on your pension in France
No special retiree regime on record. Under the US treaty, US Social Security is taxed by the US only. Detail and sources on the retirement tax map.
Retiring to France from your country
France Long-stay Visitor (visiteur): common questions
What is the income requirement for France's Long-stay Visitor (visiteur) in 2026?
France's Long-stay Visitor (visiteur) is set by rule at CESEDA art. L426-20: resources at least equal to the annual net SMIC (€1,477.93/mo net since 2026-06-01, +2.41% inflation trigger — info.gouv.fr) — refloats with the SMIC; the current figure works out to €1,478/month (≈$1,718/month) and re-floats when the underlying index changes. Income must be passive (pensions, rent, dividends) — not remote employment. The rule is statutory; the exact amount is index-linked and re-floats (source: France-Visas — Ministère de l'Intérieur / Europe & Affaires étrangères, checked 2026-09-06).
How does the France Long-stay Visitor (visiteur) requirement change for a couple or family?
Not codified; each accompanying adult expected to show comparable means Verify the current uplift with the consulate before applying.
Is the France Long-stay Visitor (visiteur) income allowed to be from remote work?
No. The Long-stay Visitor (visiteur) requires passive income — pensions, rental income, dividends or annuities — not salary from remote employment. The floor is statutory (CESEDA L426-20: the annual net SMIC) but re-floats with the SMIC, so a stale cited figure can itself trigger scrutiny. You sign an undertaking not to work in France.
Is France's Long-stay Visitor (visiteur) income figure a legal minimum?
The rule is statutory; the exact amount is index-linked and re-floats (source: France-Visas — Ministère de l'Intérieur / Europe & Affaires étrangères, checked 2026-09-06). Requirements change — often yearly as minimum-wage or index figures re-float — so re-verify before any decision.
How much does it cost to retire in France?
WhereNext's reviewed budget models about $3,400 a month for one person and about $4,800 for a couple, before the visa's own income test (Long-stay Visitor (visiteur) needs ≈ $1,718/mo equivalent).
Will France tax my pension?
The WhereNext retirement tax map records for France: US Social Security taxed by the US only under the treaty. Tax residency usually follows from the days you spend there — check the tax map entry and your home treaty before relying on it.
Does France clear WhereNext's livability floors for retirees?
Not on every floor: GPI 2.08 (floor ≤ 2.0) (floors: GPI ≤ 2.0, life expectancy ≥ 75, HDI ≥ 0.80). The floors are a screen, not a verdict; the reasons are listed so you can weigh them.
Part of the WhereNext Retirement & Passive-Income Visa Requirements 2026 open dataset (CC BY 4.0), generated 2026-06-25. Figures are primary-sourced and dated; they change yearly — re-verify before any decision.
Retirement visas with a similar income bar
Closest to France's ≈$1,718/month for a single applicant. USD figures are normalised monthly equivalents at current FX; each country's own currency and basis is the binding figure, on its page.
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