French VLS-TS visa application - using a marina address and contract as proof of accommodation

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Paddy Fields

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A French VLS-TS long-stay visa for tourism requires official proof of accommodation, typically a rental contract, property purchase deed, or a hosting attestation. Using a marina berth as your address—where you keep and live aboard your boat—is this possible? The marinas would have to support liveaboard arrangements and issue rental contracts for boat berths, would this function as proof of accommodation?
 
Paddy Fields said:
A French VLS-TS long-stay visa for tourism requires official proof of accommodation, typically a rental contract, property purchase deed, or a hosting attestation. Using a marina berth as your address—where you keep and live aboard your boat—is this possible? The marinas would have to support liveaboard arrangements and issue rental contracts for boat berths, would this function as proof of accommodation?
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You can use the boat as your ‘address.’ There’s a get out clause, something like ‘a particular case requires a letter.’ Have used that each year since B day. Just need SSR (to link you to boat) plus proof of funds (from memory £20k per head), GHIC, passport and you are good to go. Oh, and a covering letter explaining that you will be cruising aboard your boat & living aboard. Intended cruising area, maybe (if known). Enjoy!

The first couple of years, there was a need to argue a case, when presenting papers. The last couple of times it’s been a case of ‘Ah, you are staying on your boat.OK.’ Straight on to payment - which is a good sign!

EDIT: If you have a French marina contract, that is also accepted. A few on here do/have done that. Probably along shortly. But, one is not essential to gain a French address. An SSR / registration document will suffice.

PS Worth thinking about the dates you ask for the visa to cover, if planning to reapply regularly. There has to be a minimum of a 6 month gap between expiry of old and start of new……
 
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Just remember the most important rule when dealing with French bureaucracy.

Do not ever argue a point about whether a particular piece of information is needed.
If it is in the list, they have to have it.

So just supply something which is close enough. As a rule they don't want to know what is in the document you supplied, they only want to know it is there and they can check off whatever box it is on their list.

So they want an address - give them one. They want a rental contract - give them your berth rental contract, .... you get the idea. Do not question whether it is needed, nor whether your document is the right one (they really don't want to know).

Smile, be civil, and each time they ask for a piece of paper. Give them something. Anything.
 
Forty_Two said:
As said above it will be no problem. @westernman has it right.

I've done this for three years now. I have a berth lease but always get a fresh letter from the Capitainerie as they like dates less than three months old. They told me this year that the 6 month rule has gone & offered to start it earlier if i wanted.
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Good point. Everything needs to be less than three months old.
 
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