Residence card of a retired (or inactive) EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen
Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you are European and whether you come to France as a retiree (or inactive), you do not need a residence card to live in France. However, you can request one. We present you the information to know.
What applies to you ?
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The first 5 years of stay
To apply for a retired (or inactive) EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen residence card, you must meet certain conditions and carry out certain procedures.
You are affected if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You are European
- You do not work in France
- You have health insurance
- You have sufficient resources.
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Up to 65 years
You must have sufficient resources. The amount depends on your personal situation.
The administration cannot require your resources to exceed the following amounts:
Conditions | Monthly amount | |
|---|---|---|
If you live alone | Without children | €646.52 |
With 1 child | €1,106.94 | |
With 2 children | €1,383.68 | |
With 3 children | €1,660.41 | |
With 4 children | €1,937.15 | |
If you live as a couple | Without children | €969.78 |
With 1 child | €1,163.73 | |
With 2 children | €1,357.69 | |
With 3 children | €1,616.29 | |
With 4 children | €1,810.25 | |
From 65 years
You must have sufficient resources.
The sufficiency of your resources is studied taking into account your personal situation. In any case, the administration cannot require that your resources exceed the following amounts per month:
Conditions | Amounts | |
|---|---|---|
If you live alone | €1,043.59 | |
If you live as a couple | €1,620.18 | |
FYI
The frontier worker a national ofEU Resident in France and working in another neighboring Member State is concerned by the EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen’s ‘inactive’ residence card.
You must make your request on the internet:
- Valid identity document or passport
- Indication concerning your domicile: provided by any means
- Proof of health insurance: certificate of coverage by an insurance of your health insurance costs and, possibly, maternity (for the 1re year of stay, the european health insurance card or the european form for continuity of care in the country of origin is accepted)
- Proof of resources: any document used to justify the reality of your resources and the duration for which you will have them, such as bank account statements, pension slips, etc.
- 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.
Issuance of the residence card EU/EEA/Swiss citizen is free of charge.
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
The card has a validity period determined according to the stability of the resources you justify.
It cannot exceed 5 years.
The approach is identical to that of the 1re ask.
Request for the card
You must make your request on the internet:
Documents to be provided
- Valid identity document or passport
- Indication concerning your domicile: provided by any means
- Proof of health insurance: certificate of coverage by an insurance of your health insurance costs and, possibly, maternity (for the 1re year of stay, the european health insurance card or the european form for continuity of care in the country of origin is accepted)
- Proof of resources: any document to justify the reality of your resources and the duration for which you will have them such as bank account statements, pension slips, etc.
- 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.
Cost
The issue of the EU/EEA/Switzerland Citizen Residence Card is free of charge.
Handing over the card
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
Duration of validity
The card has a validity period determined according to the stability of the resources you justify.
It cannot exceed 5 years.
After 5 years of stay
After 5 years of legal and continuous stay in France, you can apply for a residence card EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen - Permanent residence - All professional activities.
This card allows you to attest that you have the right to live in France permanently, without further conditions.
It facilitates your administrative procedures, since the administration will no longer have to ask you to prove that you have sufficient resources and health insurance.
You are affected if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You are European
- You have stayed in France for 5 continuous years (without exercising a professional activity or without continuing your studies)
- You continue to live in France.
You must make your request on the internet:
- Valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your domicile: provided by any means
- Proof of the continuity of your stay for 5 years in France: 1 document per semester (rent or charge receipts, invoices, etc.)
- Proof of your right to stay in France for the previous 5 years (pension slips, bank account statements, etc.).
- 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.
Issuance of the card EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen - Permanent residence - All professional activities is free of charge.
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
If your right to stay is permanent, the card is only valid 10 years. It must therefore be renewed.
The approach is identical to that of the 1re ask.
Request for the card
You must make your request on the internet:
Documents to be provided
- Valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your domicile: provided by any means
- Proof of the continuity of your stay for 5 years in France: 1 document per semester (rent or charge receipts, invoices, etc.)
- Proof of your right to stay in France for the previous 5 years (pension slips, bank account statements, etc.).
- 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.
Cost
Renewal of the card EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen - Permanent residence - All professional activities is free.
Handing over the card
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
Duration of validity
The card is valid 10 years. It is renewable.
Right to permanent residence
Residence card mention "EU/EEA/Swiss citizen - All professional activities"
Residence card mention "EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen - Permanent stay - All professional activities"