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Residents » Documents » Residence Visa

To begin the residency process, you are obliged to go to your local préfecture de police office within one week of your arrival in France. If your request is accepted you will be granted a receipt (récépissé). It is likely that you will have to return to the préfecture several times before finally being given your receipt. When you do receive your récépissé you will be legal to either work or study (depending upon your request) for three months. It is possible (even likely) that you will have to return to renew your receipt before your final card is ready.

Under normal circumstances you will be granted a carte de séjour temporaire which is valid for one full year. There are seven variations of these cards – visiteur, salarié, étudiant, vie privée, commerçante, scientifique and artistique. Each, of course, requires different supporting documentation. When your card expires it will be necessary to return to the préfecture and demonstrate that you are continuing to meet the card’s initial requirements.

At the time of your third carte de séjour renewal you may apply for a 10 year carte de resident and after your tenth renewal you have the legal right to that card. Remember that upon arriving in France it is crucial to begin the process immediately.

When you arrive at the préfecture make sure that you have the following documentation:

• A valid passport

• A minimum of three passport photos (it is best to have these done in France so that you don’t risk the wrong angle or size.)

• A justificatif de domicile proving where you live. A utilities bill is preferred.

• A medical certificate issued by a French doctor.

• A full translation of your medical insurance. The translation must be made by a traducteur assermenté.

• Your registration documentation if you’re a student.

• Proof of resources. For employees this means a copy of your contract (contrat de travail) and, if possible, your three most recent payslips (bulletins de paie).

• If you are self-employed you must provide evidence such as memberships to trade unions and VAT numbers.

• If you are retired you must provide evidence that you can support yourself financially. You will need notarised account documents and proof of comprehensive health insurance which covers you in France. Remember that all documents must be translated by an official translator.

It is not necessary to be a citizen or a resident of France to purchase property here. This may change as there is increasing anger over sky-rocketing Paris real-estate prices and many blame wealthy for...

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This excerpt was taken from

Paris Explorer
Series: Complete Residents Guides