EU long-term resident card (foreigner in France for 5 years)
Verified 01 May 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you have resided legally and continuously for at least 5 years in France or if you have a european blue card, you can get a resident mention card long-term resident - EU under certain conditions. This card allows you to stay in other countries of the European Union. It is valid for 10 years and is renewable. We present you the information to know.
Warning
Different rules apply if you are European or algerian.
To obtain the EU Long-Term Resident Card, you must be a foreigner no European and fulfill conditions regarding your length of residence in France. You must also justify resources, health coverage and your Republican integration.
Regular and uninterrupted stay of at least 5 years
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General case
You must have stayed at least 5 years in France with one or more of the following residence permits:
- Long-stay visa as a residence permit
- Temporary residence card visitor
- Temporary/multi-year residence card private and family life (excluding subsidiary protection, filing of complaints for certain offenses and testimony in criminal proceedings)
- Temporary/multi-year residence card employee
- Temporary/multi-year residence card entrepreneur/liberal profession
- Multi-year residence card talent (except employees on mission and their families)
- Resident card.
Your stay in France must have been uninterrupted. However, some absences are allowed (maximum absence of 6 consecutive months for a total of 10 months) and are taken into account in the calculation of the 5 years.
Please note
If you are a refugee or beneficiary of subsidiary protection, the 5 years of regular stay are counted from the date of filing of your asylum application.
European Blue Card
If you have a european blue card, for at least 2 years in France, you can apply for a long-term EU resident card, provided you have stayed regularly in France or in another country of the European Union (EU) before that period for at least 3 years with one of the following residence cards:
- European Blue Card
- National residence card issued to foreigners in highly skilled jobs
- Residence card “researcher”
- Residence card issued to foreigners enjoying refugee status or subsidiary protection.
The stay in the EU must have been uninterrupted. Periods of absence over the 5 years are however allowed. They must not last more than 12 consecutive months and exceed 18 months in total over the 5-year period.
Health insurance
You must have health insurance.
Resources
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General case
You must have stable, sufficient and regular resources to support yourself.
Your income must reach at least the amount of Smic: titleContent (€1,823.03 monthly gross). All your own resources are taken into account.
On the other hand, the following family benefits and allowances are excluded: Paje, family allowances, family supplement, housing allowance, AEEH, ASF, ARS, AJPP, RSA, ASS.
You perceive AAH or Asi
You don't have to justify your resources if you have the Disabled Adult Allowance (DAA) for a permanent incapacity rate of at least 80%, or the Supplementary Disability Allowance (Asi).
Integration into the French business
To get the card from long-term resident - EU, you must justify your republican integration into the french business.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General case
This condition shall be assessed in particular with regard to the following:
- Commitment to respect the principles governing the French Republic
- Effective compliance with these principles
- Sufficient knowledge of French which must be level B1
- Success at civic examination mention of ‘resident card’.
To assess your integration, the prefect also asks the mayor of your municipality of residence for advice.
You are over 65 years old
This condition shall be assessed in particular with regard to the following:
- Commitment to respect the principles governing the French Republic
- Effective adherence to these principles.
To assess your integration, the prefect will consult the mayor of your municipality of residence.
Resident card mention long-term resident - EU authorizes you to continue to stay in France after having stayed regularly for five years.
This map, if it was issued to you in France, allows you to work.
It also allows you to stay for more than 3 months, without a long-stay visa, in another European Union member country.
You will need to apply for a residence permit in the 2e host country depending on the reason for your installation.
The application for the EU long-term resident card can be made at the time of renewal of your residence permit or at any time as soon as you meet the conditions:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
At the time of renewal
The deadline for submitting your application for a long-term EU resident card depends on whether your card is renewed in the prefecture or on the ANEF website.
Renewal in the prefecture
If the renewal of your residence card is done in prefecture, you must file your application in the 2 months before the end of validity.
Warning
It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.
Renewal carried out on the ANEF website
If the renewal of your residence card is done on the ANEF website, you must submit your application as soon as possible 4 months and no later than 2 months before it expires.
At any time
The request is made directly to your prefecture, as soon as you meet the conditions. Visit its website to find out the practical conditions for submitting your application.
Warning
It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.
The documents to be provided are different depending on whether the application is made at the time of renewal of your card or at any time:
At the time of renewal
The documents to be provided are different depending on whether your current card is renewed in the prefecture or on the ANEF website:
Renewal made in the prefecture
You must provide the following:
- Proof of civil status (unless you already have a residence card): full copy of birth certificate with the most recent information
- Proof of nationality: passport (pages concerning civil status, dates of validity, entry stamps and visas), or other documentary evidence with photo (consular certificate, identity card, consular card, certificate of nationality, etc.)
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
- Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and from a country that allows it
- 3 identity photographs
- Proof of regular and uninterrupted stay in France for 5 years (residence permits, renewal receipts, school certificates, tax notices, etc.):
- If you have an EU Blue Card: part of these 5 years may take place on the territory of another EU Member State. Nevertheless, you must have completed the 2 years of stay preceding the application for the issuance of the resident card in France
- If you have an EU Blue Card: part of these 5 years may take place on the territory of another EU Member State. Nevertheless, you must have completed the 2 years of stay preceding the application for the issuance of the resident card in France
- Proof of your resources or those of your couple if you are married:
- Proof of sufficient, stable and regular resources over the last 5 years: pay slips, tax assessment, pension payment certificate, employment contract. Social benefits and allowances are excluded
- If you perceive theAAH: titleContent or theAsi: titleContent : you must attach the supporting documents
- Proof of health insurance: health insurance card or health insurance certificate
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
- Proof of your Republican integration:
- Proof of your sufficient knowledge of the French language at level B1 (diploma, test or linguistic attestation)
- Certificate of Success at civic examination mention of ‘resident card’.
Renewal on the ANEF website
You must provide the following:
- Proof of civil status (unless you already have a residence card): full copy of birth certificate with the most recent information
- Proof of nationality: passport (pages concerning civil status, dates of validity, entry stamps and visas), or other documentary evidence with photo (consular certificate, identity card, consular card, certificate of nationality, etc.)
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
- Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and from a country that allows it
- e-photo : enter the e-photo code (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
- Proof of regular and uninterrupted stay in France for 5 years (residence permits, renewal receipts, school certificates, tax notices, etc.):
- If you have an EU Blue Card: part of these 5 years may take place on the territory of another EU Member State. Nevertheless, you must have completed the 2 years of stay preceding the application for the issuance of the resident card in France
- If you have an EU Blue Card: part of these 5 years may take place on the territory of another EU Member State. Nevertheless, you must have completed the 2 years of stay preceding the application for the issuance of the resident card in France
- Proof of your resources or those of your couple if you are married:
- Proof of sufficient, stable and regular resources over the last 5 years: pay slips, tax assessment, pension payment certificate, employment contract. Social benefits and allowances are excluded
- If you perceive theAAH: titleContent or theAsi: titleContent : you must attach the supporting documents
- Proof of health insurance: health insurance card or health insurance certificate
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
- Proof of your Republican integration:
- Proof of your sufficient knowledge of the French language at level B1 (diploma, test or linguistic attestation)
- Certificate of Success at civic examination mention of ‘resident card’.
At any time
You must provide the following:
- Proof of civil status (unless you already have a residence card): full copy of birth certificate with the most recent information
- Proof of nationality: passport (pages concerning civil status, dates of validity, entry stamps and visas), or other documentary evidence with photo (consular certificate, identity card, consular card, certificate of nationality, etc.)
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
- Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and from a country that allows it
- 3 identity photographs
- Proof of regular and uninterrupted stay in France for 5 years (residence permits, renewal receipts, school certificates, tax notices, etc.):
- If you have an EU Blue Card: part of these 5 years may take place on the territory of another EU Member State. Nevertheless, you must have completed the 2 years of stay preceding the application for the issuance of the resident card in France
- If you have an EU Blue Card: part of these 5 years may take place on the territory of another EU Member State. Nevertheless, you must have completed the 2 years of stay preceding the application for the issuance of the resident card in France
- Proof of your resources or those of your couple if you are married:
- Proof of sufficient, stable and regular resources over the last 5 years: pay slips, tax assessment, pension payment certificate, employment contract. Social benefits and allowances are excluded
- If you perceive theAAH: titleContent or theAsi: titleContent : you must attach the supporting documents
- Proof of health insurance: health insurance card or health insurance certificate
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
- Proof of your Republican integration:
- Proof of your sufficient knowledge of the French language at level B1 (diploma, test or linguistic attestation)
- Certificate of Success at civic examination mention of ‘resident card’.
€350 : stamp duty of €50 + tax of €300 to be paid by tax stamps
If you submit your application after the deadline, except in cases of force majeure or presentation of a valid visa, you will have to pay, in addition to the cost of the card, a visa fee for regularization of €180.
The map of long-term resident - EU is valid 10 years. It is renewable.
Warning
The resident card no longer valid if you leave France for a period of 6 consecutive years.
Renewal of your credit card long-term resident - EU, you can:
- Renew your credit card long-term resident - EU
- Make a 1re application for a credit card permanent resident.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Renewal of the long-term resident card - EU
Conditions
Your card of long-term resident - EU must not be out of date. The card is expired if you are in one of the following situations:
- Residence outside the territory of the member countries of the European Union for a period of more than 3 consecutive years
- Residence outside France for 6 consecutive years
- Acquisition of long-term resident status in another european country.
Approach
You must submit your card application on the internet as soon as possible 4 months and at the latest 2 months before the expiry of your residence document (visa, VLS-TS or title):
If you submit your application after the deadline, except in cases of force majeure or presentation of a valid visa, you will have to pay, in addition to the cost of the card, a visa fee for regularization of €180.
Documents to be provided
- Valid EU Long-Term Resident Card
- Proof of civil status: full copy of birth certificate with the most recent information
- Proof of nationality: passport (pages concerning civil status, dates of validity, entry stamps and visas), or other documentary evidence with photo (consular certificate, identity card, consular card, certificate of nationality, etc.)
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
- Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and from a country that allows it
- e-photo : enter the e-photo code (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
- If you were the holder of a resident card not marked "long-term resident-EU": a sworn statement stating that you have not stayed more than three consecutive years outside France in the last ten years
- If you were the holder of a residence card bearing the words "long-term resident-EU": a sworn attestation stating that you have not resided more than three consecutive years outside the European Union or six years outside France in the last ten years, or that you have not acquired long-term resident-EU status in another Member State of the European Union.
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
Cost
You have to pay €250 (stamp duty of €50 + tax of €200) by tax stamps.
Proof of payment of the stamp duty is requested when the card is handed over to the prefecture or sub-prefecture (depending on the place of deposit).
If you submit your application after the deadline, except in cases of force majeure or presentation of a valid visa, you will have to pay, in addition to the cost of the card, a visa fee for regularization of €180.
Permanent Resident Card
You can apply for permanent resident card.
The approach varies depending on whether the refusal was notified or results from a lack of response to your request.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
If the prefect has notified you of the refusal
The prefect's decision is yours notified by reasoned letter (explicit decision). Except in exceptional cases, this refusal shall be accompanied by a obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) determining the country to which you will be returned.
You can form a litigation before the administrative court (within 48 hours, 15 days or 30 days depending on the type of OQTF). The use of a lawyer is not mandatory.
No response from the prefect on your request
If the prefecture hasn't responded after 4 months, this is an implied refusal.
You can then train within 2 months from this refusal :
- One administrative appeal (ex gratia before the prefect and/or hierarchical redress before the Minister of the Interior)
- And/or a litigation before the administrative court. The use of a lawyer is not mandatory.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Issuance of the long-term resident card - EU
Issuance of the long-term resident card - EU
Taxes and stamp duty payable
Contract of commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
List of documents to be supplied: items 58 and 64
Service Public
European Commission