Residency in France for non-Europeans

November 18, 2007

The endless opportunities in 25 member states have encouraged Europeans to consider the possibility of residing in a neighbouring country. But with so many people migrating across Europe, where does this leave the rest of the world who may wish to live and work there as well? No longer does the iron curtain separate a Europe, but rather the EU and the rest of the world. So what does one do to reside in France as a non-EU citizen?

Two cartes permit residency in France for non-Europeans: the titre de séjour (commonly called carte de séjour) and the carte de résident.

Titre de séjour
The titre de séjour permits temporary residency in France for a planned stay for up to 12 months. It is granted for a specific purpose such as study, employment or research. Once obtained, the titre de séjour is not automatically reissued; it will depend upon the reasons given for renewal.

To obtain the titre de séjour, non-EU individuals need to apply for a long-stay visa through the French consulate in their home country before arriving in France. Once in France, without it, it is necessary to return to your country of origin to obtain the long-stay visa before you will be issued with a titre de séjour. The long-stay visa validates the reason for applying for a titre de séjour.

The long process involved in the application for the long-stay visa includes : criminal record checks, proof of savings, proof of health insurance, proof of enrolment in a university (if student), proof of employment (if worker). Contact or view the website of the French consulate in your country for more details.

Generally speaking, you have a window of time from your arrival in France to apply for the titre de séjour ; otherwise, your application may not be received. (Note that the time period can be as short as eight days!) Check with the mairie, or the préfecture upon arrival. It can take several weeks (sometimes months) to process a carte de séjour. There are rules that regulate whether, where and for how long you can leave France, and they vary depending on the status of your titre de séjour. Be sure to ask which rules apply to you at the préfecture before planning a trip abroad.

To apply for the titre de séjour, you will need to collect several documents and then present them at the mairie or the préfecture. Among others, you may be required to present :

Students (for first-time application).

1 Justicatif d’Identité: passport, original copy of birth certificate and a translated copy.

2 Visa de séjour en France: Photocopy of passport with visas, stamps.

3 Justificatif de domicile à Paris (proof of fixed address, if student lives in Paris) : A lease agreement or the like. If you do not have your own fixed address, but are staying in a residence, home or similar accommodation arrangement, it is possible to obtain from the owner an attestation d’herbergement or an attestation de foyer (declaration that you are reside at the address).

4 Justicatif des resources: Proof of a minimum income of 430€ per month (ie, a bank statement to indicate sufficient funds that has been certified by the French consulate in your country).

5 Justificatif des études suivies: Proof of enrolment (originial and photocopy).

6 Justificatif de la réalité et du serieux des études suivies l’année précedente: Proof of ongoing studies. Essential for renewing the titre de séjour.

7 Trois photographies d’indentité tête nue: 3 passport photographs. Without headgear

8 A visa allowing the bearer to work (activité salariée) less than 20 hours per week and more during vacation periods. This is provided by les services de la main d’œuvre étrangère.

Workers:
Work in France should be arranged before arrival. There are specific long-stay visa application for positions such as an au pair and language assistants. There are different employment contracts, and the length of stay allowed by the titre de séjour will depend on the contract. The documents for the titre de séjour for employment are similar to those listed for students, except that proof of employment rather than enrolment will be required. Finding permanent employment in France is difficult, as preference is given to nationals rather than EU citizens. It is possible to search for employment without the titre de séjour, but illegal to work without it. If on the off-chance you find employment in France, your carte is more likely to be processed if the employer can confirm to the mairie / préfecture that they are interested in employing you.

Spouse of a French national:
If you have married in France, or you have moved to France after your marriage, then it is possible to receive the titre de séjour. For spouses, there are added benefits, for it permits more than one function ; eg, residency with or without employment or study.

1 Extrait d’acte de naissance et traduction: original birth certificate with translation,

2 Photocopie du livret de famille : the blue family booklet given at the civil marriage ceremony

3 Acte de mariage: marriage certificate (with translation) dated less than three months.

4 Visa d’entrée en France: photocopy of passport with visas and stamps.

5 Date d’entrée sur le territoire français: date of entry into France or French territories

6 Date d’arrivée sur la commune: date of arrival in the town.

7 Photocopie recto-verso de la carte nationale d’identité française: Photocopy both sides of spouse’s ID card, as proof of French nationality

8 Quatre photographies d’ndentité tête nue: 4 passport photos, with head uncovered

9 Photocopie de la dernière quittance le loyer ou d’éectricité ou télécom: Photocopies of the last rent, electricity or phone bill

10 Photocopie bail ou contrat de location ou titre de propriété: Photocopy of lease agreement or title deeds of residence if owned

11 Déclaration de vie commune : a document signed by the couple at the mairie

12 Photocopies du contrat de travail et fiches de paie: employment contract and pay slips

13 Imprimé de visite médicale OMI à remplir et signer à la mairie : document that certifies that the applicant has had a medical check-up (the préfecture can supply names of approved doctors) that needs to be filled out and signed at the mairie.

Note: All translations need to be done by an official translator. The préfecture can supply names of these.

Carte de résident
The carte de résident allows you to reside permanently for periods of 10 years.and to follow the occupation of your choice in all the French territories. Warning: obtaining this card is not easy ; there are many variables which can influence a non-EU citizen’s receiving permanent residency in France, and they are more strictly scrutinised than for the titre de séjour: For instance, the purpose of the stay, the duration, personal circumstances, the country of origin, the degree of integration and status in French society and mastery of the French language are factors which will determine if permanent residency is granted.

  Depending upon your eligibility, most people who seek the carte de résident must justify a continuous and regular residence in France for at least 5 years counting from the age of 11. This period can be interrupted if the person leaves France (for holidays, for example).

The term of residency is reduced to two years in two situations:

first, when a family member seeks to join their family in France whose members already have a carte de résident, and second, if the parent of a child with French nationality has temporary residence in France. If you have been married to a French national for three years or more, you can apply for the carte de résident directly. If you have been married for less than three years, then you must hold the carte de séjour for three years, renewing it every 12 months before applying for the carte de résident. Proof of vie commune, ie, living together, needs to be demonstrated ( a rental receipt, joint bank account, tax declaration etc). Eligibility for the carte de résidence is extended to those who have received refugee status, or who have served in the French foreign legion for a designated period. There are also other categories not mentioned here.

Apply directly to the préfecture for the carte de résident, not the mairie. The following is only a guide as to what you may require :

1 Passport

2 Documents proving residence

3 Proof of identity, family record book (livret de famille), birth certificate

4 Three passport-size photographs

5 Proof of living together

6 Proof of integration in the community

7 A contract of employment or a promise of recruitment,

8 If a married applicant is employed part-time or is without employment, the income of the spouse can be taken into consideration

9 Provide any document proving the stability of your situation in France: real estate purchase, bank statements and presence of your family in France.

10 A medical certificate issued by the Agence nationale de l’accueil des étrangers et des migrations (ANAEM).

If you exit France for a period equal to or exceeding three years, the carte de résident is terminated and must be applied for again, and the second time around is likely to be harder than the first. To find out if you are eligible for the carte de résident, speak directly with the préfecture in your département.

I managed to get it so bonne chance!

For more details, see www.prefecture-police-paris.interieur.gouv.fr.

by Emma Moore

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