Since Brexit, a British owner is a non-EU national and can spend at most 90 days in any rolling 180-day period in France and the wider Schengen area without a visa — owning a chalet does not extend this. To stay longer, apply for a long-stay 'visitor' visa (VLS-T), which allows up to a year without the right to work. A proposed automatic easing for British second-home owners was struck down by France's Conseil constitutionnel, so no special exemption exists as things stand. This is a fast-moving area — last checked 9 July 2026 — so verify the current rule with France-Visas or your consulate before you rely on it.
The 90/180 rule in practice
As a non-EU national, a British passport-holder may stay visa-free in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within any 180-day window. It is a rolling calculation, not a per-visit or per-calendar-year limit: on any given day you count backwards 180 days and your presence in that window cannot exceed 90 days. Time spent anywhere in Schengen counts, not just in France, and your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
Owning property changes none of this. A chalet is an asset, not an immigration status, so a British owner who wants to spend a full ski season plus summer in the Alps will exhaust the 90 days and must either leave or hold a visa. Overstaying risks fines and future entry bans, so the days must be tracked carefully.
Staying longer: the visitor visa
To spend more than 90 days at a time, the standard route is a long-stay visitor visa (visa de long séjour temporaire, VLS-T, or its longer VLS-TS form). It typically allows a stay of up to one year, is aimed at people who can support themselves without working in France, and requires proof of sufficient means, accommodation (your chalet qualifies) and health cover. It does not grant the right to work in France.
For many British chalet owners this is the practical answer to the Brexit squeeze: it converts a hard 90-day ceiling into a season-spanning stay. The visa is applied for from the UK before travel and can generally be renewed, moving toward a longer-term residence card for those who want to make France a genuine base.
The rejected second-home exemption
There was a political attempt to ease this for British second-home owners: an amendment that would have granted them a form of automatic long-stay right. It was struck down by the Conseil constitutionnel, so it never came into force, and no special carve-out for British owners currently exists. The default 90/180 rule therefore still applies in full.
Immigration rules shift, and this topic in particular has been revisited more than once, which is why we date-stamp it: last checked 9 July 2026. Before you plan a long stay or make commitments, confirm the current position directly with France-Visas or a French consulate — do not rely on an older article.
Sources
Primary and expert sources behind this answer:
- France-Visas — Official French visa portal (Schengen 90/180, long-stay visa) ↗
- service-public.fr — French public-service portal (residence, buying costs) ↗
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. French property tax, inheritance and residency rules are complex and change frequently; every figure and rule here must be confirmed with a French notaire, a tax adviser (fiscaliste) or a lawyer for your specific situation before you act.
Related questions
Explore our guides and listings
Buying a chalet in the French Alps? Get an independent read first.
GADAIT is an independent luxury buyer's agent. We confirm the tax, the ownership structure and the real cost for your specific case — before you commit a euro.
Newsletter
Be among the privileged.
Subscribe to the Gadait International newsletter and receive the latest trends in the luxury market, along with exclusive opportunities for exceptional properties in advance.
Low frequency. High relevance.