Residence card for a retired foreigner or retired spouse
Verified 01 May 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you are a foreigner and retired, you can get a residence card mention retiredunder certain conditions. Your spouse can obtain a residence card spouse of pensioner if he/she has regularly resident with you in France. We present you the information to know.
Warning
This page does not apply to you if you are European or Algerian.
Demand in France
The residence card mention retired or spouse of pensioner allows you to enter France at any time for stays of one maximum duration of 1 year. You do not have to apply for a visa.
She does not allow to work in France.
It does not allow you to bring your family to France.
FYI
Once you have the residence card mention retiredHowever, if you wish to establish your habitual residence in France again, you have the right to request a resident card.
You are concerned if you fill in all the following conditions:
- You are a foreigner
- You have resided in France with a resident card (resident card or long-term resident card - EU or former 3-year regular or 10-year preferred resident card)
- You have established (or are establishing) your habitual residence abroad
- You receive a retirement pension from a basic French social security scheme.
This residence card doesn't allow you to bring your family in France. However, your spouse can obtain a residence card spouse of pensioner which confers the same rights if he/she has regularly resident with you in France. This card allows him to enter France at any time for stays of one maximum duration of 1 year without having to apply for a visa. But the card does not change his country of residence.
You must submit your application within 2 months before the end date of your resident card.
Warning
It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.
If your file is complete, you will receive a receipt pending the response of the prefecture.
The documents to be provided are different depending on whether you apply for the “retired” or “retired spouse” residence card:
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"Retired" card
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
- Or consular certificate with photo
- Or photo ID
- Or consular card with photo
- Or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
- Proof of habitual residence outside France (rent receipt, electricity or gas receipt, etc.)
- Certificate of habitual residence outside France drawn up by the municipal authorities of the country of habitual residence
- 3 photos
- If the request is made on the internet: indicate the code of the e-photo (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.
- Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and are a national of a country that allows it
- Proof of your regular residence in France with a resident card
- Proof of payment of a retirement pension, direct or in reversion : last payment notice from the pension fund (Arrco-type supplementary pensions are excluded)
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
"Retired spouse" card
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
- Or consular certificate with photo
- Or photo ID
- Or consular card with photo
- Or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
- Proof of habitual residence outside France (rent receipt, electricity or gas receipt, etc.)
- Certificate of habitual residence outside France drawn up by the municipal authorities of the country of habitual residence
- 3 photos
- If the request is made on the internet: indicate the code of the e-photo (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.
- Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and are a national of a country that allows it
- Proof of your spouse's pensioner status: copy of his/her residence card marked "pensioner" or his/her certificate of residence "pensioner"
- Proof of legal residence in France with your spouse: copy of the old residence card (regardless of its validity period)
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
You have to settle €50 (stamp duty) by tax stamps.
The stamps are requested at the time of the agreement on your request or the delivery of your card.
Your request may be accepted or refused.
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Your request is accepted
If the prefect grants you the issuance of the residence card, you will be summoned to pick it up in the prefecture.
Your request is denied
The refusal decision the prefect may:
- Either be written, by reasoned letter which is yours notified,
- Either result from the lack of response of the administration after 4 months.
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.
The map retired (or spouse of pensioner) is valid 10 years.
It is renewable.
Documents to be provided
You must provide the following:
- Identity card and travel document
- Residence card retired (or spouse of pensioner) expiring
- Certificate on honor that each of your stays in France, with this residence card, has not exceeded 1 year
- 3 photo id
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
Submission of the application
You must apply for your card within 2 months before the end date of your card retired. Its renewal cannot be refused.
Warning
It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.
If your file is complete, you will receive a receipt pending the response of the prefecture.
Cost of the residence card
You have to settle €50 (stamp duty) 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.
Handing over the card
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
Abroad
The residence card mention retired or spouse of pensioner allows you to enter France at any time freely for stays of one maximum duration of 1 year. You do not have to apply for a visa.
She does not allow to work in France.
It does not allow you to bring your family to France.
FYI
Once you have the residence card mention retiredHowever, if you wish to establish your habitual residence in France again, you have the right to request a resident card.
You are affected if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You are a foreigner
- You have resided in France with a resident card (resident card or long-term resident card - EU or former 3-year regular or 10-year preferred resident card)
- You have established (or are establishing) your habitual residence abroad
- You receive a retirement pension from a basic French social security scheme.
This residence card does not allow you to bring your family to France. However, your spouse can obtain a residence card spouse of pensioner if he/she has regularly resident with you in France. This card allows him to enter France at any time for stays of one maximum duration of 1 year without having to apply for a visa. But the card does not change his country of residence.
You must submit your card application to the French consular authorities in your country of residence.
The consulate will forward your request to the prefecture of the place where you wish to establish your temporary residence in France.
The residence card will then be sent to you via the consulate.
Who shall I contact
The documents to be provided are different depending on whether you apply for the “retired” or “retired spouse” residence card:
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"Retired" card
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
- Or consular certificate with photo
- Or photo ID
- Or consular card with photo
- Or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
- Proof of habitual residence outside France (rent receipt, electricity or gas receipt, etc.)
- Certificate of habitual residence outside France drawn up by the municipal authorities of the country of habitual residence
- 3 photos
- If the request is made on the internet: indicate the code of the e-photo (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.
- Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and are a national of a country that allows it
- Proof of your regular residence in France with a resident card
- Proof of payment of a retirement pension, direct or in reversion : last payment notice from the pension fund (ARRCO-type supplementary pensions are excluded)
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
"Retired spouse" card
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
- Or consular certificate with photo
- Or photo ID
- Or consular card with photo
- Or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
- Proof of habitual residence outside France (rent receipt, electricity or gas receipt, etc.)
- Certificate of habitual residence outside France drawn up by the municipal authorities of the country of habitual residence
- 3 photos
- If the request is made on the internet: indicate the code of the e-photo (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.
- Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and are a national of a country that allows it
- Proof of your spouse's pensioner status: copy of his/her residence card marked "pensioner" or his/her certificate of residence "pensioner"
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
You have to settle €50 (stamp duty) by tax stamps.
The stamps are requested at the time of the agreement on your request or the delivery of your card.
Your request may be accepted or refused.
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Your request is accepted
If the prefect grants you the issuance of the residence card, you can pick it up from the consular authorities.
Your request is denied
The refusal decision the prefect may:
- Either be written, by reasoned letter which is yours notified,
- Either result from the lack of response of the administration after 4 months.
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.
The residence card retired (or spouse of pensioner) is valid 10 years.
Its renewal cannot be refused.
You must submit your card application to the French consular authorities in your country of residence.
Who shall I contact
Documents to be provided:
- Identity card and travel document
- Residence card retired (or spouse of pensioner) expiring
- Certificate on honor that each of your stays in France, with this residence card, has not exceeded 1 year
- 3 photo id
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
You have to settle €50 (stamp duty) by tax stamps.
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 residence card "pensioner" and "spouse of pensioner"
Taxes and stamp duty payable
Contract of commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
Submission of the application for a "retired" and "retired spouse" residence card
Entry Extract Establishing Retirement Pension Rights (D254-4)
Implied refusal in case of silence kept for more than 4 months on an application for a residence permit (Article R432-2)
Refusal and withdrawal of the residence card
Renewal of the residence permit
List of documents to be supplied: item 55