Multi-year residence card

Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your temporary residence card is at the end of its validity. Under certain conditions, you can apply for a multi-year residence card for the same reason. You can also apply for a multi-year residence card for a reason other than that of your temporary residence card. We're taking a look at the regulations.

The multi-annual residence card shall be issued only after a temporary residence card or a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS).

It bears the same mention as the temporary residence card you are requesting to renew. However, status changes are possible.

You cannot apply for a multi-year residence card for the same reason if you have one of the following residence cards:

To be able to apply for a multi-year residence card, you must continue to meet the conditions for issuing the temporary residence card you have.

You must also fulfill the following conditions:

  • Respect the condition of integration by proving your attendance and the seriousness of your participation in the training provided by the republican integration contract, if you are subject to it
  • Commit to respect the principles of the Republic by signing the contract of employment provided for this purpose at the time of filing your file.
  • Attest to your knowledge of the French language at A2 level for delivery a first multi-annual residence card, unless you are over 65
  • Certify your success in civic examination entry ‘multi-annual residence card ” for the issue of a first multi-annual residence card, unless you are over 65

Warning  

The prefecture may refuse to deliver you your residence card if you have not complied with an obligation to leave the country (OQTF) or if you have committed any of the following acts:

  • Forgery and use of forged documents
  • Offenses severe or crimes (drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings, procuring, working conditions or undignified accommodation, among others)
  • Violence against elected officials, public officials or security agents.

Moreover, your presence must not constitute a threat to public order.

The regulations are different depending on the temporary card you have.

General case

You can apply for a multi-year residence card for a reason other than the one that justified the issue of your current card.

You must then fulfill the conditions for issuing the temporary residence card corresponding to the reason given.

You must also meet the following conditions:

  • Respect the condition of integration by proving your attendance and the seriousness of your participation in the training provided by the republican integration contract, if you are subject to it
  • Commit to respect the principles of the Republic by signing the contract of employment provided for this purpose at the time of filing your file.
  • Certify your success in civic examination entry ‘multi-annual residence card ” for the issue of a first multi-annual residence card, unless you are over 65
Employee or entrepreneur/liberal profession

To be able to request a residence card multi-annual employee or entrepreneur/liberal profession, you must already have a residence card temporary for one of these reasons.

At the end of your temporary residence card employee or entrepreneur/liberal professionYou will then be able to apply for a multi-year residence card for the same reason.

You must continue to meet the conditions for issuing the temporary residence card you have.

You must also fulfill the following conditions:

  • Respect the condition of integration by proving your attendance and the seriousness of your participation in the training provided by the republican integration contract, if you are subject to it
  • Commit to respect the principles of the Republic by signing the contract of employment provided for this purpose at the time of filing your file.
  • Attest to your knowledge of the French language at A2 level for delivery a first multi-annual residence card, unless you are over 65
  • Certify your success in civic examination entry ‘multi-annual residence card ” for the issue of a first multi-annual residence card, unless you are over 65

Submission of the application

The filing of the application depends on the temporary card you have.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

You have an employee, entrepreneur/liberal profession residence card

You must submit your application to the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your home, within 2 months before the end of validity of your residence card.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.

You have a residence card for private and family life or student

You must submit your application on the website of theANEF, at the earliest 4 months and at the latest 2 months before the end of validity of your residence card.

Apply online for a residence permit, a change of situation, a travel document, an application for ANEF naturalization

Documents to be provided

You must provide the documents required for the issuance of the temporary residence card corresponding to the reason given (private and family life, student, employee, entrepreneur/liberal profession).

You must also prove your attendance and the seriousness of your participation in the training provided for by the Republican integration contract (when you are subject to it).

And pledge to respect the principles of the Republic by signing the contract of employment provided for this purpose at the time of filing your file.

Cost

General case

You have to pay €225 (tax of €200 + stamp duty of €25) by tax stamps.

Proof of payment of the stamp duty is requested when the card is handed over.

Other situations

You have to pay €75 by tax stamps, for the following reasons:

  • Student
  • Student-mobility program
  • Private and family life if you receive an occupational health or illness pension.

General case

In principle, the multi-annual residence card obtained after a 1re year of stay has a validity period of 4 years.

The residence cards concerned include the following:

  • Multi-annual residence card "employee"
  • Multi-annual residence card "entrepreneur/liberal profession"
  • Multi-annual residence card “private and family life” issued to beneficiaries of family reunification, to foreigners who reach the age of 18 and have resided in France since the age of 13, or who have been entrusted to theAse: titleContent at the most at the age of 16, or who were born in France and have resided there for at least 8 years, and persons who have an annuity.
Other situations

Student

The multi-annual residence card student shall be issued for the remainder of the course of study in which the student is enrolled. This duration may therefore vary by 1 to 4 years.

The multi-annual residence card student-mobility program shall be of a duration equal to that of the program or agreement. This program or agreement must have a minimum duration of 2 years.

Private and family life

The period of validity of the multiannual residence card private and family life is of maximum 2 years for the following:

  • Spouse(s) of French
  • Parents of French children
  • Foreigners with personal and family ties in France
  • Sick foreigners (the length of the card corresponds to the length of care).

Conditions to be fulfilled

To renew your multi-year residence card, you must continue to meet the conditions for issuing it.

But you can also request the renewal of the multi-year residence card for another reason the person who justified the issuance of your card that is coming to the end of validity.

You must then provide the documents required for the issuance of the temporary residence card corresponding to the new reason for the stay invoked.

Warning  

Renewal of your multi-year residence card may be refused if you cannot prove that you have established your habitual residence in France.

You are considered to be habitually resident in France:

  • If you have transferred the center of your private and family interests there
  • And that you stay there for at least 6 months during the calendar year

It may also be refused:

  • If you have not complied with an obligation to leave the country (OQTF)
  • If you have committed forgery and use of forged documents
  • If you have committed offenses severe or crimes (drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings, procuring, working conditions or undignified accommodation, among others)
  • If you have committed acts of violence against elected officials, public officials or security agents

Submission of the application

The filing of the application depends on the temporary card you have.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

You have an employee, entrepreneur/liberal profession residence card

You must submit your application to the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your home, within 2 months before the end of validity of your residence card.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.

You have a residence card for private and family life or student

You must submit your application on the website of theANEF, at the earliest 4 months and at the latest 2 months before the end of validity of your residence card.

Apply online for a residence permit, a change of situation, a travel document, an application for ANEF naturalization

Documents to be provided

You must provide the documents corresponding to the reason you invoke to request the renewal of your residence card (private and family life, student, employee).

Cost

The cost is different depending on the reason for your card.

General case

You have to pay €225 (tax of €200 + stamp duty of €25) by tax stamps.

Proof of payment of the stamp duty is requested when the card is handed over.

Other situation

You have to pay €75 by tax stamps for the following reasons:

  • Student
  • Student-mobility program
  • Private and family life if you receive an occupational health or illness pension

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public

    • accès

      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.

    • horaires
      • 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

    • Request a call

      coût Service free
    • service

      The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.