France Residence Permit Types and Application Processes

The French Republic is a country located in Western Europe, bordered by Italy, Switzerland and Germany to the east, Luxembourg, Belgium and the English Channel to the north, the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay to the west, and Spain and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

According to the 2022 Better Life Index, France is a country above the European average in areas such as work-life balance, security, social connections. According to OECD data, France has a 7.9% unemployment rate and is the 7th best country in the world in education according to Times Higher Education data.

Because France has good living standards and is one of the best countries in the world in terms of education, foreign nationals want to obtain a residence permit in France.

A residence permit is a type of permission given to people who want to reside in a country longer than the visa period determined by the countries, and all foreign nationals who plan to stay in France for more than 90 days are required to obtain a residence permit.

To Whom Are French Residence Permits Granted?

French residence permit is given to people who want to settle in France for purposes such as working, studying, settling with a family member or spouse or partner living in France, or starting a business.

France has multiple types of residence permits and applicants must apply for the type that best suits them.

Who does not need a French residence permit?

Citizens of countries that are members of the European Union or the European Economic Area, as well as Swiss citizens, do not need a residence permit to study, work or live with family members living in France.

What are the Requirements for a Residence Permit in France?

France immigration application requirements are listed below.

Be over 18 years old
Entering France with a valid D visa that allows residence for more than 3 months
To have valid reasons if applying for asylum in France
Willing to study long-term in France
Willing to work in France for a long or temporary period
Being a child of a French citizen or marrying a French citizen

What are the types of French residence permits?

The types of French residence permits are listed below.

French residence permit (Carte de Sejour)
France Settlement Permit (Carte de Resident)
France EU long-term residence card

What is a French Residence Permit (Carte de Sejour)?

A French residence permit (Carte de Sejour) is a type of residence permit provided to those who will reside in France with a long-term French visa. The French residence permit (Carte de Sejour) residence period can be extended up to 3 or 4 years depending on the reason for obtaining the residence permit.

In order to obtain a French residence permit (Carte de Sejour), an application must be made within 3 months of arriving in France.

French residence permit (Carte de Sejour) categories are listed below.

Temporary residence permit
VLS-TS
Residence permit for private and family life
Residence permit for employees or temporary workers
France visitor card (France residence card)
Residence permit for qualified workers
Residence permit for seasonal workers
Residence permit for IT workers
Residence permit for retirees
Residence permit for family members of European citizens
Residence permit for students or interns

What is a French Settlement Permit (Carte de Resident)?

A French settlement permit (Carte de Resident) is a residence permit type that can be applied for by spouses of French citizens, parents of a French-born child, immigrants who have retired to France, or those who have renewed their French residence permit (Carte de Sejour) for more than three consecutive years. A French settlement permit allows residence in France for 10 years and it is possible to renew the French settlement permit.

Persons who can apply for a French settlement permit (Carte de Resident) are listed below.

Persons with family ties in France
Children of French citizens
Refugees or stateless persons
Veterans and legion members
Foreign nationals victims of human trafficking or women trafficking
Foreign nationals who have a protection order against them
Persons under 18 years of age who have acquired French citizenship

What is the EU Long-Term Residence Card?

The EU long-term residence card is a type of long-term residence permit that can be applied for by people who have lived in France continuously for 5 years with a residence permit, and it gives the holder the right to live in France for 10 years.

The application requirements for the EU long-term residence card are to live in France continuously for 5 years with a residence permit, to have health insurance, to earn at least the minimum wage (€20,147.40 per year as of August 1, 2022) and to integrate into French society.

How to Get a Residence Permit in France?

In order to obtain a French residence permit, you must first enter France with a long-term French visa.

Long-term France visas are divided into two groups in terms of their structures: VLS-TS featured and non-VLS-TS featured. The long-term France visa with VLS-TS is a visa that also includes a residence permit, and people who enter France with a VLS-TS featured visa do not need to obtain a residence permit for 1 year, but if they want to continue to stay in France at the end of 1 year, they must obtain a residence permit.

Long-term French visa holders who do not have VLS-TS features must apply for a residence permit within 2 months after entering France.

What is the France VLS-TS Visa Equivalent to a Residence Permit?

France VLS-TS visa ===> related article

VLS-TS is the abbreviation of Visa de Long Sejour - Titre de Sejour. VLS-TS is a type of permit equivalent to a residence permit provided for long-term visit categories to France for various purposes.

VLS-TS is applied to passports as a stamp or sticker and provides residence in France for 1 year.

Persons who can apply for a VLS-TS permit are listed below.

Foreign spouses of French citizens
Foreign students and interns
Foreign nationals with indefinite-term employment contracts
Foreign nationals with fixed-term employment contracts
Foreign visitors with sufficient financial resources

It is possible to extend the VLS-TS permit period. In order to extend the VLS-TS permit period, an application for renewal must be made 2 months before the expiry date of the VLS-TS visa.

The steps to follow for France VLS-TS application are listed below

Obtaining one of the long-term visa types that grant a residence period of 4 months to 1 year
Arrival in France
Conversion of the obtained French visa to a VLS-TS visa from the French Immigration and Citizenship Office (OFII)

To apply for a France VLS-TS visa, the OFII application form must be filled out and submitted to the French Immigration and Citizenship Office along with the applicant's passport. France VLS-TS visa applications can be made via e-mail.

What are the VLS-TS Visa Types?

France VLS-TS visa categories are listed below.

France working VLS-TS visa
France temporary VLS-TS visa
France research scientist VLS-TS visa
France student VLS-TS visa
France intra-company transfer (ICT) VLS-TS visa
France talent passport VLS-TS visa

What types of visas can be used to obtain a French residence permit?

The types of visas that can be obtained for a French residence permit are listed below.

France student visa
France work visa
France talent visa
France investor visa
France family reunification visa
France marriage visa

How to Get a Residence Permit in France with a Student Visa?

A French student visa is a long-term visa type that can be applied for by people who apply to an educational institution in France and receive a letter of acceptance.

In order to obtain a French student visa, it is necessary to have an acceptance letter from an educational institution in France, to have sufficient financial resources to support oneself during the period of study in France, to have health insurance, to prove the intention to return to the country of origin after the end of the study period and to have a place to live during the period of study.

French student visas issued for programs longer than 6 months are VLS-TS, meaning residence permit-specific, and people entering France with a VLS-TS student visa do not need to apply for a residence permit for the first year. Students who wish to continue to stay in France after their visa expires must apply for a temporary residence permit 2 months before their VLS-TS expires.

Applications for a student visa and a French residence permit can be made online through the French Ministry of the Interior's website.

How to Get a Residence and Work Permit in France with a Work Visa?

France has a wide variety of work visa types.

Some of the France work visa types have VLS-TS features and people who enter France with a VLS-TS work visa do not need to apply for a residence permit for the first year. People who want to continue to stay in France after the work visa expires must apply for a temporary residence permit 2 months before the VLS-TS expires.

Holders of a work visa that does not have the VLS-TS feature must apply for a residence permit within 2 months of entering France. To apply for a French residence permit, those residing in Paris must make an appointment at the police station, and those residing in other regions must make an appointment at the governor's office of the region where they reside.

Application for a French residence permit can be made online or physically, depending on the region of residence, and it is necessary to examine the website of the region of residence to learn the procedure for obtaining a residence and work permit in France, depending on the region.

Applicants who have an appointment for a residence and work permit in France must go to the prefecture with the necessary documents and, in some cases, purchase a tax stamp.

How to Get a Residence Permit in France with a Talent Visa?

A talent visa is a type of visa given to people who want to work in France for more than 3 months and is granted for a maximum of 4 years.

In order to obtain a French talent visa, one must be a qualified worker who has received a job offer from an organization or company operating in France, a freelancer who has established a business, made an investment or worked on a publicly recognized project in France, a person who has national or international recognition in his/her field and wants to continue his/her activities in France, and a performer who has produced works in the literary or artistic field.

Since the France talent visa is not VLS-TS specific, talent visa holders must obtain a residence permit within 2 months of entering France. Applicants who wish to obtain a residence permit with a France talent visa must make an appointment at the police station if they reside in Paris, or at the governor's office of the region where they reside if they reside in another region.

How to Get a French Residence Permit with an Investor Visa?

The French investor visa is a subtype of the talent visa and gives the holder the right to live and work in France for a maximum of 4 years.

People who can obtain a French investment visa are those who will invest directly in the economy, either personally or through a company they control or through a company in which they own at least 30% of the shares.

In order to obtain a France investor visa; it is necessary to create a workforce in France for 4 years following the investment, to invest at least 300,000 euros and not to make an investment of only financial investment. Since the France investor visa is not VLS-TS specific, investor visa holders must apply for a residence permit by making an appointment at the police station if they reside in Paris, or at the governor's office of the region they reside in if they reside in another region, within 2 months of entering France.

How to Get a Residence Permit in France with a Family Reunification Visa?

A French residence permit with family reunification visa is a long-term visa type that can be applied for by people who have a sponsored relative living in France.

Sponsors for a France family reunification visa are divided into three groups: French citizens, citizens of EU or EEA member countries, and citizens of countries other than EU or EEA member countries, and their family members such as spouse, child, parent, close relative, etc. can obtain a French residence permit with a family reunification visa.

The family reunification visa is granted according to the citizenship status of the sponsoring family member residing in France, and can be either VLS-TS or normal. VLS-TS family reunification visa holders do not need to obtain a residence permit for 1 year, but if they wish to continue living in France after 1 year, they must apply for a temporary residence permit by making an appointment with the governor's office of the region they reside in at least 2 months before the visa expires.

Holders of a family reunification visa that does not have the VLS-TS feature must make an appointment at the governor's office of the region of residence within 2 months of entering France and apply for a temporary residence permit with documents such as a biometric photograph and a birth certificate showing family tree.

How to Get a French Residence Permit with a Marriage Visa?

Marriage visa, also known as spouse visa, is a type of visa granted to people who are married to a French citizen or a foreign national residing in France. The France marriage visa is a subtype of the family reunification visa and provides the holder with a residence permit in France.

The process of obtaining a residence permit with a France marriage visa varies for visas with and without VLS-TS features, depending on whether the spouse residing in France is a French citizen or not.

VLS-TS marriage visa holders do not need to obtain a residence permit for 1 year, but if they want to continue living in France after 1 year, they must apply for a temporary residence permit by making an appointment with the governor of the region where they live at least 2 months before the visa expires.

Holders of a French marriage visa that does not have a VLS-TS feature must make an appointment at the governor's office of the region of residence within 2 months of entering France and apply for a temporary residence permit with the necessary documents such as a biometric photograph and marriage certificate.

What are the documents required to obtain a French residence permit?

The documents required to obtain a residence permit in France are listed below.

Passport: A passport with a long-term French visa sticker and a photocopy of the processed pages of the passport must be submitted.
Visa: The visa sticker on the passport must be presented.
Birth certificate: A birth certificate from the country of origin showing the applicant's family tree must be submitted.
Photo: 1 biometric photograph must be submitted.
Proof of residence: Proof of residence such as electricity bill, declaration of residence, rent receipt must be submitted.
Proof of source of income: If the applicant is employed, they must provide proof of employment contract and receipts of last salary; if they are self-employed, retired or unemployed, they must provide proof of income proving that they have sufficient financial means to live in France.
Health insurance: French health insurance is required.

How Long Does It Take to Get a French Residence Permit?

A French residence permit takes an average of 45-60 business days to be issued.

The time it takes to obtain a French residence permit may be extended depending on the workload of the French Consulate or if it requests additional documents.

How Much Does a French Residence Permit Cost?

The French residence permit fee is 200 euros.

There is an extra stamp duty of 25 euros when collecting the French residence permit fee, and as of 2022, in addition to the 225 euros, an additional 99 euros will be charged when approving the residence permit.

How Long Is a French Residence Permit Granted?

The maximum duration of a French residence permit is 4 years for a French residence permit (Carte de Sejour) and 10 years for a French settlement permit (Carte de Resident).

Can a French Residence Permit Be Renewed?

Yes, the French residence permit can be renewed.

How to Renew a French Residence Permit?

The procedure for renewing a French residence permit is different for carte de sejour and carte de resident.

To renew the Carte de sejour residence permit, it is necessary to make an online appointment via administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr at least 3 months before the residence permit expires and to go to the governor's office of the place of residence with supporting documents such as a birth certificate, 3 biometric photographs, and health insurance on the day of the appointment and make the payment.

In the process of renewing the French residence permit for Carte de Resident, it is necessary to go to the governor's office of the place of residence at least 3 months before the permit expires, pay a fee of 225 euros and apply. The renewal process for Carte de Resident is carried out at the end of 10 years and in this renewal, the holder is given a permanent residence permit.

How to Get a Permanent Residence Permit in France?

A permanent residence permit in France is granted to holders of a French settlement permit (Carte de Resident) if they apply to renew their settlement permit at the end of 10 years.

In order to obtain a permanent residence permit in France, you must go to the governor's office of the place of residence at least 3 months before the permit expires and submit documents such as 1 biometric photograph, marital status document, proof of at least A2 level French, residence document and pay a fee of 225 euros.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequently asked questions and answers to our center regarding the French residence permit are given below.

What Rights Does a French Residence Permit Provide to the Holder?

The rights granted to the holder of a French residence permit include working in a salaried job or being self-employed, living in France during the validity period of the residence permit, and travelling within the Schengen area.

The work permit for a French residence permit holder covers the region where the document was issued and is not valid in other regions of France.

Which Countries Can I Visit Visa-Free with a French Residence Permit?

France is one of the member countries of the Schengen area and French residence permit holders can travel to Schengen countries without a visa.

Countries that can be visited without a visa with a French residence permit are Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Greece, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

When Can Those Who Have a Residence Permit in France Apply for Citizenship?

Those who have a residence permit in France can apply for citizenship after residing in France for 5 years.

In order to apply for French citizenship, it is necessary to reside in France for at least 5 years without interruption, to have knowledge of French culture and history, to know French at least at A2 level and to have sufficient financial resources to live in France.

Persons who were the perpetrators of actions contrary to public order while residing in France cannot apply for French citizenship.

Is It Difficult to Get a Residence Permit in France?

Obtaining a French residence permit is not difficult if the necessary conditions are met and the application process is carried out correctly.

Can I Get a Residence Permit by Buying a House in France?

No, a residence permit in France is not given to those who buy a house. Buying a house in France is not a qualification for obtaining a residence permit.

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