French residency permits – what you need to know

Wherever you are from in the world, moving to France is an exciting step. Perhaps you’re on a fixed work contract and plan to return to your home country in a couple of years, or maybe you want France to become your forever home. The most important aspect for your move is to ensure you have the right residency card for your situation. Be prepared, there will be paperwork to complete, and you will need a visa in the first instance and a residency permit – a titre, or carte, de séjour – to demonstrate that you are in the country legally. We asked Eric Donjon of The European Concierge, a company that has helped many expats start a new life in France, to explain the ins and outs of French residency permits – what you need to know.

Where do I start with applying for a French residency permit?

Navigating the complexities of obtaining a residency permit (of which there are several types) can be challenging. There are strict deadlines you need to observe and specific paperwork you will need to submit. Requesting a French residency permit starts with your visa application. The difficulty is determining which visa you need, its validity and the appropriate time to request your residency card or renew to avoid penalties.

I’ve already got a visa, so why do I need a residency card?

The visa is what allows you to enter France legally, and generally, to remain for the first year. The residency permit allows you to stay beyond the validity of your visa. A visa can be issued for all sorts of reasons (study, salaried work, retired, business activity, talent visas), there are several different types of visa. The chances are that if you plan to stay for any length of time, you will be applying for a long-stay visa. This will be valid for between three months and one year.

Depending on the visa you have applied for, you will need to request your residency card within two months of your arrival in France to obtain your residency permit titre de séjour. This is often the case for salaried visas, and Talent Passport visas.

Once I have my visa, what should I do next?

For residency cards, as well as for the validation of VLS-TS non-working visas, and for renewals – the process starts online via L’Administration Numérique pour les Etrangers en France (ANEF), with financial penalties in place for missing deadlines.

The validation process for your visa is very important as this triggers the Office français de l’immigration et de l’intégration (OFii) to call you in for your appointment. Certain residency visas have language requirements and during your meeting at the OFii you will be given a written and oral test to establish your level of French, as well as to sign your contract of republican integration. You might, in some cases, be offered up to 200 hours of free French classes.

What is a titre de séjour, and what will I be asked for when I apply for one?

A titre de séjour is a French residency permit – it has many names but they all mean the same document. It is your identity document, and it is your proof that the French authorities have granted you the right to remain in France for a certain number of years or permanently. To be granted this residency permit, you must demonstrate that you are eligible for it. This includes proving your identity, date of birth and current address. It may also involve proving you have employment or sufficient financial resources to support yourself and dependent family members and have healthcare cover in France. It is also likely to include declaring any criminal convictions.

This may all sound straightforward, but some or all of the documents requested may need to be translated into French by an approved translator. And documents issued in a different country may not contain everything the French authorities wish to see. For instance, some UK birth certificates don’t include the full names of both birth parents, which is a requirement of the application process in France.

What if I want help to get my French residency card?

There are lots of experienced companies who can help you: from visas to residency cards, health cards, and much more. The European Concierge team have years of experience helping people to navigate the often confusing and time-consuming forms and documents required in many aspects of life here. For British citizens, applying for visas and some of the processes involved in living in France have changed significantly since Brexit, and it can seem incredibly daunting. But for Americans, Australians and many other countries – the process has long been this way and Eric is very experienced in dealing with the administration of moving to France as his clients are from around the world.

“I’ve been doing this for many years” he says, “and I know the processes inside out. I know how the systems work, what the quirks and issues are, and how to ensure everything goes smoothly. Most people have never applied for this kind of permit before, and even if you speak fluent French, it can all be very confusing. If you don’t speak French, the whole process can be fraught with difficulty.”

How can The European Concierge help?

Often, the first step is a clarification meeting where you can ask questions and ensure you meet the criteria for visa and residency applications. Eric will then complete and process the application with you. when you receive any letters or notifications online, he will explain what’s needed and progress the application on your behalf, writing letters and submitting paperwork as needed as well as making any follow-up calls and ensuring your file is being processed correctly. This is a stress-free solution for clients who don’t have the time, confidence or French language skills to tackle the process alone.

It’s having this kind of support that can help you achieve a successful French residency permit with minimal stress and frustration.