The right of a person to live and work in France depends on their citizenship as follows:

1. Non-European Union Citizens: A Carte de Séjour, also known as a Titre de Séjour, is a residence permit required by French law for any non-European Union citizen staying in France for a period longer than
   1. three months, if a vistor has a short stay visa (visa court séjour) or
   2. six months, if a visitor has a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour)
      
2. European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) Citizens: All EU citizens from the original accession countries, and EEA citizens and their family members have the right to live and work in France and do not require a work or residence permit.
   
   Note: An EU citizen's non-EU/EEA spouse and dependent family members are entitled to the same rights to live in France, however within two months of arrival in the country they must apply for a residence permit (Carte de Séjour) and will not be entitled to all rights afforded EU/EEA citizens in France. "Family members" are parents, and children under 21 years of both the EU citizen or their non-EU spouse.
3. New EU Accession countries: Citizens of the new EU member states may live in France but there are limitations on the sectors in which they may be employed. These rulings apply for seven years from the point of the new member country's accession to the EU. This relates to citizens of Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Rumania, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. 
   For full details: Click here (in French)

EU Member-State Citizens Moving to France

Any EU or EEA citizen moving to France must carry a valid passport or Identity Document (ID). After three months they are required to declare themselves as resident, this is not the same as applying for a work or residence permit, which is not required for EU and EEA citizens from original accession countries.

EU-national family members

Non EU-national family members

Documents required (originals and at least 2 copies) for the application are:

• Documents allowing entry into France (passport and visa)
• Document proving the family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates)
• Proof of address (utility bill, deeds, rent receipt or a declaration by a legally resident family member that they are providing accommodation)
• Proof of EU family member's employment, proof of own employment or proof of financial resources and health insurance

• Details of parents, and mother's maiden name will be requested; have the information at the ready
• The EU family member's passport (and photocopies) may be required
• Translations of birth and marriage certificates not in French may be required
• Two stamped, self-addressed envelopes are sometimes, but not always, required

Non-EU family members receive the right to permanent residence on the same criteria as their EU family if they have resided together in France for over five years (for further details see EU-Citizens: Right to Permanent Residence, below). Application for the permanent residency card is obligatory, and must be made two months before the Carte de Séjour expires. The new permit, CE séjour permanent, toutes activités professionnelles is valid for ten years and must be renewed before expiry. 

Non-EU citizens who have been granted a right to residence based on their marriage to an EU citizen retain that right in the event of divorce or death of their EU spouse. 

EU Citizens: Definitions of Residence

Foreigners in France are either actif - working, or inactif - not working. Slightly different rules apply to each set and are defined as follows:

1. Actif: Anyone who is receiving an income in France from employment or self-employment.
   For details from the French Government: Click here (in French)

2. Inactif: Anyone who is not engaged in economic activity; is not employed or self-employed in France. They are classed as inactif regardless of whether they receive income from inside or outside France (from a pension, investments or other source). This category includes students, retirees and citizens of the New EU Accession countries for whom there are work restrictions.  
   For details from the French Government: Click here (in French)

1) Actif: rights of residence 

EU citizens have the same rights to work and employment protection as a French citizen. In order to exercise these rights, an actif EU citizen needs to be able to show proof of employment. 

This requires: proof of self-employment, or a job contract or letter from an employer declaring employment. There is a six-month unemployment grace-period following the ending of a work contract or after unemployment resulting from an accident at work.

Actif: Application for residence permit (carte de séjour), optional 

Employed or self-employed EU citizens living in France for a period of less than five years may apply for an "EC all occupations" (CE toutes activités professionnelles) residence permit. This may be valid up to five years and is issued for the duration of a job contract or anticipated period of self-employment.

Where each department accepts applications differs; it may be at the Préfecture, the sous-préfecture, the local Mairie or the police station of the place of residence. Contact the departmental Préfecture or the local Mairie for information on where to apply.

Documents required for the application are:

• Valid ID or passport 
• Job contract or a letter from the employer declaring employment, or
• If self employed, proof of registration in a trade from the Chambre de Métiers, or proof of registration in a profession from the Chambre de Commerce, or proof of registration as a Profession Libérale from URSSAF

• Valid ID or passport 
• Document proving family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate)
• Document proving financial resources (employment contract, job contract of family member, or proof of funds and health insurance)

There is no charge for the application and issue of the residence card. 

2) Inactif/Not working (retired, student, other)

EU-citizens moving to France with no income from employment (such as retired people and students) have the right to live in France, but need to show they have the financial resources to be self-supporting and not depend on the French state. 

This requires: proof of pension for the retired, or proof of sufficient financial resources to support themselves and dependent family members without requiring French social assistance or health insurance. Students must be enrolled in an educational institution or vocational training and have proof from a French bank of sufficient monthly revenue to support themselves and dependent family members.

• For guidelines on amounts from the French Government information Click here (in French)

Inactif: Application for residence permit (carte de séjour), optional 

Foreigners in France for a period of less than five years who aren't receiving income from employment, may apply for a CE Non-Actif residence permit. 

Where each department accepts applications differs; it may be at the Préfecture, the sous-préfecture, the local Mairie or the police station of the place of residence. Contact the departmental Préfecture or the local Mairie for information on where to apply.

Documents required for the application are:

• Valid ID or passport 
• Proof of medical insurance
• Proof of sufficient financial resources for the applicant and their dependent family members in France

• Valid ID or passport 
• Document proving family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate)
• Document proving financial resources (employment contract or proof of funds and health insurance)

Inactif: Student application for residence permit, optional 

A student resident in France for a period less than five years may apply for an CE étudiant residence permit which is valid for a maximum of one year and can be renewed. 

Where each department accepts applications differs; it may be at the Préfecture, the sous-préfecture, the local Mairie or the police station of the place of residence. Contact the departmental Préfecture or the local Mairie for information on where to apply.

Documents required for the application are:

• Valid ID or passport 
• Proof of enrolment in an educational institution
• Proof of medical insurance
• Declaration by the student (or their guardian) stating that they have sufficient financial resources to support themselves (and possible dependent family) in France. Note that a students parents are not included as "family"

There is no charge for the residency card application or card renewal.

EU-Citizens: Right to Permanent Residence (séjour permanent)

Any EU citizen who has been resident in France for five or more continuous years has the right to permanent residence and a residence permit and does not need to provide proof of income or employment. This also applies to citizens of the New EU Accession countries.

A person may be required to prove the continuity of their residence in France over the five years; this can be proven by any means and is not altered by absences of up to six months per year or an absence of up to a year for reasons of illness, study or a professional posting elsewhere. 

The right to permanent residence is lost after a person has not lived in France for more than two consecutive years.

The permanent residence permit "EC permanent stay all occupations" (CE séjour permanent, toutes activités professionnelles) is valid for twenty years and fully renewable. Acquiring this card is optional.

 Non-EU Citizens Moving to France

There are many variables for non-EU citizens applying for residency in France. These depend on the purpose for stay (employment, study, retirement), duration of planned stay and many other factors. Details on application requirements are available from the  French Embassy in the home country. Non-EU individuals and families intending to move to France must apply for their long stay visa (visa long séjour) prior to leaving the home country. 

• Guidelines are available from France Diplomatie: Click here 

Application for a visa

Visas can only be applied for at the French Embassy of the non-EU national's home country before departure (unless the national has a French spouse or holds a valid residency permit from another EU country, in which case, application can be made at the Préfecture). 

Application for residence permit (Carte de Séjour)

Once in France, foreigners over 18 years of age who hold a valid visa may apply for residency. Application should be made within two months of arrival in the country at the Service des étrangers section of the local Préfecture (or the Préfecture de Police if in Paris).

This requires: proof of identity, family situation, address and other factors that correspond with the reason for staying (work, study, retirement/other). 

• To see a sample of the Titre de Séjour application form: Click here (PDF in French)

Documents required for the application include:

It is recommended to take the documents, in original form, with two photocopies of each item.

• Valid passport 
• Valid long stay visa (which is in the passport)
• Proof of family situation (birth certificate, marriage certificate, birth certificates of dependent children)
• Proof of permanent address in France (EDF electricity bill or the house deed of sale (acte de vente) for a house bought in France or a signed lease agreement for the French address)
• Recent medical certificate issued by ANAEM (Agence Nationale d'Accueil des Etrangers et des Migrations)
• Three recent identity photographs (there are photo booths in most shopping centres and Préfectures) 

Additional documents specific to an application:

Requirements vary depending on the particular situation of the applicant. Initial advice can be sought from the French Embassy in the home country. Information will also be available from the Préfecture or ANAEM. Documents required will include:

• Worker: job contract issued by the employer
• Visitor: ID and a declaration (attestation) signed by a host person/family member; proof of financial resources or pension provision; proof of health insurance 

• Details of parents, and mother's maiden name will be requested; have the information at the ready
• Translations of birth and marriage certificates not in French may be required
• Two stamped, self-addressed envelopes are sometimes, but not always, required
• Any certificates not in French should be translated by an official, court-certified translator (contact information available from Préfectures, Consulates and police stations)

Once an application has been made, the applicant will be given a temporary receipt (récépissé), valid for three months and renewable once, which permits them to stay in France while the application is being processed. Notification will be sent by post; if successful, take the notification and the récépissé to the governmental office specified (the local Police Municipale, Mairie or Préfecture) in exchange for the plastic laminated Carte de Séjour. 

The period of validity will depend on various factors concerning employment/study arrangements.

Renewal of the Carte de Séjour

Similar documents are generally required for a renewal as for the original application. In addition, proof of health insurance or registration with the French social security system (a Carte Vitale or an attestation) may be required. The documents proving family status are not needed, but proof of funds/income is: either salary receipts from the prior three months or the previous year's tax declaration. Bank statements from the prior three months may also be requested.

The 10-year residence card is not automatically renewed; renewal will depend on the "degree of integration" into French culture and society made by the card holder. 

• Full details of the law and links to the decree are available on the Government website: Click here  (in French)

Changing the address on a Carte de Séjour

Go to the Prefecture taking:

• Copy of the applicant's passport
• Copy of the Carte de Séjour
• Proof of address (justificatives): EDF or GDF bill, rental contract or rent receipt in the name of the Carte de Séjour holder
• Three ID photographs

A new Carte de Séjour is issued.

Paris only: 

Go to the Commissariat overseeing the new address. Take:

• Passport
• Proof of address (justificatives): EDF or GDF bill, rental contract or rent receipt in the name of the Carte de Séjour holder

A declaration of change of address is issued; a new Carte de Séjour is not issued, the original must be kept until it expires.

French Embassy Websites

Australian Citizens

• French Embassy in Australia
• Details and application forms for visa information: Click here

Canadian Citizens

• French Embassy in Canada 

New Zealand Citizens

• French Embassy in New Zealand

South African Citizens

• French Embassy in South Africa 

US Citizens 

• French Embassy in the United States
• Full details specific to moving to or visiting France: Click here

Further Information

• Service Public Government Service website
• ANAEM (Agence Nationale d'Accueil des Etrangers et des Migrations)
  At: 44 rue Bargue, 75732 Paris
  Tel: 01 53 69 53 01
  Fax: 01 53 69 53 23
  Website
• France Diplomatie
• Préfecture de Police, Paris 
  Tel: 01 53 71 51 68
  Website

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