Family of EU/EEA/Swiss citizen (Directive 2004/38)
For foreign family members of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen (not French) exercising free movement in France — enter on a Schengen short-stay visa, then apply for a free residence card at the local prefecture.
Family of foreign resident (Regroupement familial — sponsor-initiated)
For spouses and minor children of a foreign national legally resident in France — a two-stage process where the French-based sponsor applies to OFII first, and the visa application in Vietnam only opens after official approval.
Adoption (visa long séjour « adoption » — MAI) — SUSPENDED FOR VIETNAM 5 MAR 2026–~5 MAR 2027
SUSPENDED for Vietnam (5 March 2026 to approximately 5 March 2027): French residents cannot start adoption procedures for children living in Vietnam during this period. Outside the suspension, this is the long-stay visa for a foreign minor adopted by a French national or a foreign national usually resident in France.
Spouse of French national — Conjoint(e) de Français(e)
Long-stay visa for a Vietnamese national married to a French citizen — requires the foreign marriage to be registered in the French civil registry before any visa application can be filed.
Child of French national — Enfant de Français (minor child of a French parent)
Long-stay visa for a Vietnamese minor child of a French parent — used when the child's French nationality is not yet legally established or is disputed.
Ascendant of French national — Ascendant(e) de Français (parent of an adult French citizen)
Long-stay visa for an elderly Vietnamese parent or grandparent of an adult French citizen, where the French citizen is financially supporting them — genuine, pre-existing financial dependency is the key condition.
Parent of French minor — Parent d'enfant français mineur (foreign parent of a French minor residing in France)
Long-stay visa for a Vietnamese national who is the parent of a French minor child living in France — requires proof of real, ongoing financial and parental involvement since the child's birth or for at least two years.