France EU long-term resident card

Non-European nationals who meet the qualifying residence, resources, health insurance and integration conditions while living in France.

• Be a non-European national

  The guidance is for foreign nationals who are not European; it says different rules apply to Algerian nationals.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Have qualifying residence

  Generally, have lived in France for at least five years with one or more of the listed long-stay visas or residence cards. An EU Blue Card holder may instead qualify after at least two years in France, preceded by at least three years of lawful residence in France or another EU country with one of the specified cards. For refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, the five years are counted from the asylum application date.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the absence limits

  For the general five-year route, absences must not exceed six consecutive months or ten months in total. For the EU Blue Card route, absences during the five years must not exceed 12 consecutive months or 18 months in total.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Have health insurance

  You must have health insurance.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Have sufficient resources

  Resources must be stable, sufficient and regular, with income of at least the minimum wage stated on the page as €1,867.02 gross per month. The listed family benefits and allowances are excluded. You do not have to justify resources if you receive the specified adult disability allowance with at least 80% permanent incapacity, or the supplementary invalidity allowance.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Show integration

  You must show a commitment to respect, and actual respect for, the principles governing the French Republic.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Know French

  In the general case, French knowledge must be at B1 level. The page's separate conditions for people over 65 do not include this requirement.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• Pass the civic exam

  In the general case, you must pass the civic exam marked « carte de résident ». The page's separate conditions for people over 65 do not include this requirement.

  service-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource

• First issueservice-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource€350 per person
• Issue when you already hold a valid residence permitservice-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource€250 per person
• Additional regularisation fee for a late application, subject to the stated exceptionsservice-public.fr · checked 5 days agoSource€180 per person

1. Get ready

   • Check your qualifying residence

     Confirm that your residence documents cover the required period under the general or EU Blue Card route.

     You’ll need: Residence cards or long-stay visa, Renewal receipts where applicable

   • Check your absences

     Check that absences during the qualifying period stay within the limits for your route.

     You’ll need: Evidence of regular, uninterrupted residence

   • Gather financial and insurance evidence

     Collect proof of resources over the last five years, or proof of the stated allowance exemption, and proof of health insurance.

     You’ll need: Payslips, tax notices, pension statements or employment contract, Health insurance card or certificate, Allowance evidence if applicable

   • Prepare your integration evidence

     Sign the commitment to respect the Republic’s principles and, unless the over-65 conditions apply, obtain proof of B1 French and a pass in the « carte de résident » civic exam.

     You’ll need: Signed commitment, B1 diploma, test or certificate where required, Civic exam pass certificate where required

   • Gather your identity documents

     Prepare the identity, nationality and recent address documents listed for your application method, together with photographs or an e-photo as applicable.

     You’ll need: Birth certificate where required, Passport or other accepted proof of nationality, Proof of address less than six months old, Photographs or e-photo as applicable, Non-polygamy declaration if applicable

2. Apply

   • Submit your application

     Apply through the prefecture once eligible, or apply when renewing your current card within the prefecture or ANEF filing window that applies to you.

     You’ll need: Completed application, Supporting documents

   • Pay with fiscal stamps

     Pay the applicable card charge using fiscal stamps, plus the additional charge if you apply late and no stated exception applies.

     You’ll need: Fiscal stamps

Renewal of the card or an application for a permanent resident card.

• Carte de résident de longue durée-UE (étranger en France depuis 5 ans) | Service Publicservice-public.frOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.