What does a British person or family member have to do to live in France?
Verified 30 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The Withdrawal Agreement, which entered into force on 1er February 2020, provides for specific provisions for the right of residence of UK citizens. The rules differ depending on your situation.
You retain your acquired rights as a European citizen.
This measure also applies to your family members.
In application of the withdrawal agreement, you had to apply for a specific residence permit "UK withdrawal agreement from the EU" before October 4, 2021.
However, you still have the possibility to apply for a residence permit "UK withdrawal agreement from the EU". You must have a legitimate reason justifying the late submission of your application (health reasons, force majeure, difficulties in returning to France due to the pandemic, professional reasons for example).
If you arrived before 31 December 2020 while a minor, you will need to apply for a residence permit "UK withdrawal agreement from the EU" within one year of your 18the birthday.
To know how to make your request, you must consult the website of your prefecture or sub-prefecture (if you are in Paris, on the website of the police prefecture).
You wish to join a British member of your family who is a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement.
You are concerned if you are in one of the following cases:
- The family relationship existed before the 1ster January 2021 and you are in one of the following situations: direct descendant under the age of 21 (or dependent on the British national you are joining) or direct dependent ascendant or spouse or partner in a long-term and duly documented relationship or direct dependent ascendant or descendant of his spouse
- You are a child born after 1er January 2021 of a British beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement or was lawfully adopted after 1er January 2021
FYI
the family relationship must always exist at the time of the application for a residence permit.
How to apply for a residence permit?
You must submit your application for a residence permit to the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home (find out more on the prefecture's website).
This request must be made within 3 months your entry into France or, for people who have just reached their majority, in the year following their 18thè birthday.
What are the documents to be provided?
You must provide the following:
- Valid passport (pages regarding civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
- Residence permit if you have one (even if it is expired)
- 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.
- Proof of your duly attested family relationship, registered partnership or cohabiting relationship with a UK national who is a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement (links prior to 1er January 2021, unless you are the child of a UK national who is a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement or their spouse)
- Proof of current residence in France
- Residence permit of the UK national beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement with whom you have a family relationship
- Proof of your assumption by the UK national beneficiary of the withdrawal agreement with whom you are linked, only if you are:
- Child over 21 years of age of a UK national who is a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement or of his/her spouse
- Father or mother of a UK national who is a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement or of his spouse
- If you arrived in France during your minority: proof establishing the date of your installation in France
How is the residence card issued?
The card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your home (depending on the place where your application is submitted).
What is the cost of the residence card?
The residence card is free.
What is the validity period of the residence card?
The validity of the card is 5 years.
It is 10 years in case of stay in France for more than 5 years.
You are not covered by the United Kingdom's withdrawal agreement from the European Union.
You must hold a residence permit that does not come under these provisions.
At the end of its validity, you will have to apply for its renewal in the prefecture.
You must complete the procedure on the website of your prefecture or sub-prefecture.
You have to ask for a long-stay visa to the French consular services in the United Kingdom.
This visa will allow you to subsequently obtain a residence permit in the prefecture.
You have to ask for a long-stay visa to the French consular services in the United Kingdom.
This visa will allow you to subsequently obtain a residence permit in the prefecture.
The seniority of at least 5 years of your stay in France allows you to apply for a residence card marked “Permanent stay - Article 50 TEU/Article 18(1) Withdrawal agreement of the United Kingdom from the EU”. This map is valid for 10 years.
How to apply for a residence permit?
You must consult the website of the prefecture from your home.
This site will show you the simplified procedures put in place locally that will allow you to complete the process of applying for renewal of your residence card. Depending on the local situation, your application may be submitted either:
- by internet,
- by post,
- at the prefecture's ticket office after an appointment has been made.
The request for renewal of your residence permit must be made within 2 months prior to the expiry of your 5-year residence permit.
What are the documents to be provided?
You must provide the following:
- Passport valid
- Proof of address
- 3 identity photos
- Residence permit coming to the end of validity
- In case of change in your situation (divorce, marriage, widowhood): proof of this change.
How is the residence card issued?
The card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your home (depending on the place where your application is submitted).
What is the cost of the residence card?
The residence card is free.
What is the validity period of the residence card?
The residence card is valid for 10 years.
Prime Minister