Permanent residency in France | The complete guide!

France permanent residence

If you intend to live in France for an extended period, or even permanently, you can be eligible to apply for a France permanent residence permit or French citizenship after five years. This time is reduced in certain situations, such as marriage to or becoming a parent of a French national. Whether you select French citizenship or French permanent residence, both options allow you to stay in France indefinitely. Yet some significant variations between the two can help you decide which is the best option. Learn about the requirements and what you need to know to apply for French citizenship or permanent residency in France.

Benefits of permanent residency in France for students

Opportunities for advanced degree students are plenty in France. France, and particularly Paris, is a hotbed for start-ups, with several prospects for growth and expansion. If you have a student visa, you can work up to 20 hours per week.

Students with a master’s or higher degree from a French university can work part-time in France for up to two years after finishing their studies. Students on a student visa in France can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week), providing them time to look for better jobs that match their degrees and talents.

Should you choose France permanent residence or French citizenship?

You can stay in France for ten years if you have a French permanent residency visa. It is renewable so you can stay in France permanently with this status. While you have many of the same rights as French citizens, you do not have all of them. You cannot, for example, vote in elections or occupy public office.

If you become a French citizen, you will also become a European Union citizen. As a result, you have the flexibility to travel throughout the EU member nations. If you become a French citizen, you do not have to give up your original nationality; you can have French dual citizenship.

In either scenario, a continuous presence in France for a specific number of years is normally required for getting French citizenship. If you leave France for more than six consecutive months,  then your permit might get terminated; exceptions are there for particular situations. Enquire with your local government or the prefecture (French administrative offices representing the government at a local level). Exemptions include significant sickness, pregnancy, military duty, study, or research.

France PR requirements

You can apply for a carte de resident after living in France for five years. This is a ten-year renewable permanent residency visa that allows you to live in France.

The reason for your stay, work, and financial stability, how successfully you integrate into French society, and your language proficiency, will determine whether or not you receive this.

If you leave France for more than two years in a row, you lose your right to permanent residency.

Citizens of the EU/EEA/Switzerland

• Any EU/EEA/Swiss citizen who has lived in France for five years or more can apply for permanent residency without having to prove income or a job.
• France permanent residence permit is no longer required for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. However, without it, individuals are ineligible for public benefits, such as housing and financial assistance.

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals

After five years, non-EU/EEA/Swiss family members can seek permanent residency. You can keep the permit even if you divorce or if your EU citizen spouse dies.

Exemptions for family members or partners

If you are joining a family member in France who already has permanent residence, or if you are the parent of a child with French nationality who has a temporary residence then the five-year residency requirement is reduced to three years. Anyone who meets the requirements for French citizenship by birth has the right to permanent residency.

If you have been married to a French national for more than three years, you are eligible to apply for permanent residency right away, even if you have not lived in France during that time. If you have married within the last three years, you can apply after three years of having a carte de séjour (residence permit).

France pr process

If you meet the requirements listed above, you can apply for French citizenship at your local préfecture.

To apply, you must submit a declaration (demande d’acquisition par déclaration) that includes the following information-

• Two copies of the application for French nationality
• Copies of the applicant’s and spouse’s identification
• Address verification
• Birth certificate (if not in French, a certified translation)
• A marriage certificate obtained within the last three months
• A statement of honor signed by both spouses at the préfecture or consulate (Attestation sur l’honneur des deux époux).
• Birth certificates for the french national’s spouses’ children, a mortgage contract, a joint tax notice, property deeds, or a combined bank account are all examples of evidence of the relationship.
• In the case of married candidates, evidence that the spouse was a French citizen at the time of marriage
• Proof that the applicant has a competent command of the French language
• Evidence proving you have no criminal history
• Evidence of work or financial support
• Any previous marriage certificates and certified divorce paperwork
• Proof that you have lived in France for at least three years since your marriage (if you have lived abroad, a document proving that you have resided in France for at least three years after your marriage or a document proving your spouse’s registration in the French registry during your time abroad)

Final procedure

• The police, the mayor’s office, and other government agencies process the applications.
• There could also be a police interview.
• The entire procedure can take up to two years.
• Unless you have an official language certificate, are disabled, or are over 60, you will be interviewed to establish your French proficiency.
• You will be granted French citizenship at a naturalization ceremony if you successfully pass the interview. You will be given a national ID card and a  French passport. Single dependents who live with you instantly become French and are included in the naturalization decree.

Key takeaways

• If you want to live in France for an extended period or want to permanently settle there, then you can be eligible for France permanent residency or French citizenship after living there for five years.
• There are many opportunities available for advanced degree students in France. Paris is the hub for start-ups and provides several prospects for employment growth and expansion. 
• You can apply for a residency permit after living in France for five years. It is a ten-year renewable permanent residency visa that allows you to live in France. Your reason for staying, work, financial stability, your integration into French society, and your language proficiency decide whether you receive the permit.

Did you find this blog informative? If so, please share your thoughts in the comments section below. Click here to contact us for more information on France permanent residence permit. We would be happy to assist you with your queries.

Liked this blog? Read next: A complete guide on how to be a permanent resident of the UK.

FAQs

Q1. How do I get a 10-year card in France?

Ans- Foreign nationals in France can apply for this form of 10-year residency visa under specified conditions. It is frequently issued to those with family ties in France, at the start of their first title of stay or the expiry of a temporary or multi-year stay card.

Q2. Can I buy a house in France as a non-resident?

Ans- Yes, foreigners can buy property in France with no limitations. Even if you are not a resident, you can buy and own French property and rent it out if you want to.

Q3. Is there a golden visa for France?

Ans- There is no golden visa scheme in France. Foreign nationals and their family members who wish to remain in France must apply for a visa or a residence permit.