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Long-term stay of a European in France
Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
As a citizen of a the European Economic Area (EEA) or if you are Swiss, you have the possibility to settle in France beyond 3 months. The residence card giving effect to your rights is not mandatory, but may be useful. You can then acquire a right of permanent residence after the first 5 years of a regular and uninterrupted stay in France.
What applies to you ?
The stay of a citizen of the European Economic Area or a Swiss beyond the 3-month period is not completely free. A refusal to stay may be pronounced.
Entry into France
To enter France, you must comply with the following 2 obligations:
- Have a valid identity document or passport
- Do not pose a threat to public order.
Conditions of stay
To have a right to stay as a worker, you must be able to justify the exercise of a professional activity in France.
However, even if you no longer work, you may still have the right to stay in certain situations, including:
- Temporary incapacity in case of illness or accident
- Involuntary unemployment.
FYI
You may pursue any professional activity as an employed or self-employed person (except certain public jobs and, under certain conditions, certain regulated professions).
Request for residence card
You do not have to have a residence permit.
However, you have the right to request a Residence card EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen - All professional activities.
Right to permanent residence
After 5 years of legal and uninterrupted residence in France, you get a right to permanent residence.
You can prove your right to stay for the previous 5 years by any means (employment contract, unemployment certificate, registration in the trade and businesses register, etc.).
You then no longer need to justify the conditions of your stay (worker status or not).
You can stay permanently in France, provided you do not represent a serious threat to public order.
You can request a residence card EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen - Permanent residence - All professional activitiesBut it's not mandatory.
You lose your right to permanent residence if you are absent from France for more than 2 consecutive years.
Some absences are allowed:
- Temporary absences not exceeding 6 months per year
- Absences for the performance of military obligations
- Absence of up to 12 consecutive months for a major reason such as a serious illness, studies or a professional secondment abroad for example.
Please note
In some situations, you can obtain a right to permanent residence before the 5-year period. This is the case, under certain conditions, if you are a frontier worker or if you stop working as a result of a permanent incapacity for work or in order to receive your pension.
The stay of a European beyond the 3-month period is not completely free. A refusal to stay may be pronounced.
Entry into France
To enter France you must comply with the following 2 obligations:
- Have a valid identity document or passport
- Do not represent a threat to public order.
Conditions of stay
You must meet the following 3 conditions:
- Be enrolled in an institution to pursue, as a principal, education or vocational training
- Have health and maternity insurance
- Ensure that you have sufficient resources for yourself and, possibly, for your family members, so as not to become a burden on the French social assistance system.
Your educational institution can be public or private. It must operate in accordance with regulatory conditions (including approval or registration with the rectorate).
Request for residence card
You do not have to have a residence permit.
However, you have the right to request a european student residence card
Right to permanent residence
After 5 years of legal and uninterrupted residence in France, you can obtain a right to permanent residence.
You must prove your right to stay for the previous 5 years by any means (for example, university enrollment, bank statements, previous tax notices).
You then no longer need to justify the conditions of your stay (studies, resources).
You can stay permanently in France, provided you do not represent a serious threat to public order.
You can request a residence card EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen - Permanent residence - All professional activities, it is optional.
You can prove the continuity of your stay over the 5 years by any means (for example, regarding your resources: bank statements, various administrative documents and tax notices).
You lose your right to permanent residence if you are absent from France for more than 2 consecutive years.
Some absences are allowed:
- Temporary absences not exceeding 6 months per year
- Absences for the performance of military obligations
- Absence of up to 12 consecutive months for an important reason such as pregnancy, serious illness or studies.
The stay of a citizen of the European Economic Area or a Swiss beyond the 3-month period is not completely free. A refusal to stay may be pronounced.
Entry into France
To enter France, you must comply with the following 2 obligations:
- Have a valid identity document or passport
- Do not represent a threat to public order.
Conditions of stay
As an inactive or retired person, you must meet the following 2 conditions:
- Have health and maternity insurance
- Have sufficient resources not to become a burden in the French social assistance system.
Your right to stay over these 5 years can be proved by any means (for example regarding your resources: bank statements, various administrative documents and tax notices).
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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 | |
Request for residence card
You do not have to have a residence permit, as the application is optional.
However, you have the right to request a EU/EEA/Switzerland Citizen Residence Card - Not active.
Right to permanent residence
After 5 years of legal and uninterrupted residence in France, you can apply for a right to permanent residence.
You can prove your right to stay for the previous 5 years by any means (bank statements).
You then no longer need to justify the conditions of your stay (resources).
You can stay permanently in France, provided that you do not present a serious threat to public order.
You can request a residence card EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen - Permanent residence - All professional activitiesNo, it's not mandatory.
You can prove the continuity of your stay over the 5 years by any means (for example, regarding your resources: bank statements, various administrative documents and tax notices ...).
You lose your right to permanent residence if you are absent from France for more than 2 consecutive years.
Some absences are allowed:
- Temporary absences not exceeding 6 months per year
- Absences for the performance of military obligations
- Absence of up to 12 consecutive months for an important reason such as a serious illness.
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.
Right to stay and work for the first 5 years
Right to permanent residence after 5 years
Retention of the right of residence