Residence card as a family member of a European
Verified 12 April 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
If you are a family member of a European come to settle in France, you can accompany him or join him. If you are a European yourself, the residence permit is not mandatory. However, if you are non-European, you must request a residence card. Other persons may also be allowed to come (cohabiting partner, dependent, etc.), but this is not an automatic right.
European
You are concerned if you are a family member of a European who has settled in France.
Family members include the following:
- Spouse(s)
- Partner
- Child under 21 years of age or dependent on the European or his/her spouse or partner
- Father or mother of the European or of his spouse or partner
You may also be affected if you are not a family member, but meet one of the following conditions:
- You were part of the household or were dependent on a European in the country where you resided before coming to France
- You have serious health problems and the European with whom you are related (brother, sister, grandparent) must take care of you
- You have long-term private and family ties with a European (cohabiting partner)
You do not have to hold a residence card.
However, if you wish, you can ask for a residence card. During the first 5 years of your stay, it will be marked family member of a Union/EEA/Swiss citizen-All professional activities.
You must make your request on the ANEF website (Digital Administration of Foreigners in France).
- Valid identity card or passport
- Indication of domicile: provided by any means
- 3 identity photos
- Proof of family relationship
- For the spouse: extract of marriage certificate
- For the child: Birth certificate (full copy or extract with filiation)
- For the ascendant: birth certificate of the child in your care (full copy or extract with filiation)
- Proof of the right of residence of the European you are joining in France (e.g. employment contract, proof of resources, health insurance, student card)
When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.
The residence card family member of a Union citizen is free.
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
The card has a validity period equivalent to that of the right of residence of the European you join in France (Up to 5 years).
It shall be renewable.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You have one or more residence cards for less than 5 years
The card is renewable under the same conditions as for the 1re delivery.
You have had a residence card(s) for at least 5 consecutive years
After 5 years of legal and uninterrupted stay in France, you can obtain a renewal of a residence card Citizen EU/EEA/Switzerland - Permanent residence - All professional activities.
You must submit your application on the ANEF (French Digital Administration of Foreigners) website.
- Valid identity document or passport
- Indication of domicile: provided by any means
- 3 identity photos
- Proof of the continuity of the stay during the previous 5 years: receipts of rent or expenses, invoices, bank documents, tax documents, etc.
- Proof of family relationship:
- For the spouse: extract of marriage certificate
- For the child: birth certificate with filiation
- For the ascendant: birth certificate of the child in your care (full copy or extract with filiation)
- Proof of the right of residence of the European you are joining in France (e.g. employment contract, proof of resources, student card)
When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.
Special cases
If the European person you are joining is a worker and has acquired a right to permanent residence before 5 years of residence in France. One of the following documents must be submitted:
- Any document on the acquisition of this right (retirement pension, proof of permanent incapacity for work, etc.)
- In the event of the worker's death after more than 2 years' residence in France, death certificate + proof of the employment exercised + proof of the right of residence as a worker
- Accident at work accident at work In the event of the worker's death as a result of an occupational disease: death certificate + attestation of the employment exercised + certificate of death or occupational disease
The residence card Citizen EU/EEA/Switzerland - Permanent residence - All professional activities is free.
It is valid 10 years and is renewable.
Other nationality
You are affected if you are a family member of a European settled in France.
Family members include the following:
- Husband(s)
- The partner
- The child under 21 years of age or dependent on the European or his/her spouse or partner
- The father or mother of the European or his spouse or partner
You may also be affected if you are not a family member but meet one of the following conditions:
- You were part of the household or were dependent on a European in the country where you resided before coming to France
- You have serious health problems and the European with whom you are related (brother, sister, grandparent) must take care of you
- You have long-term private and family ties with a European (cohabiting partner)
If you are non-European, you must request a residence card. She's obligatory, even if you don't want to work.
During the first 5 years of your stay, the card bears the mention family member of a Union/EEA/Swiss citizen.
You must make your request on the ANEF website (Digital Administration of Foreigners in France) within 3 months of your entry into France.
Warning
in case of illegal stay (application filed more than 3 months after entry), a visa fee for regularization of €200 to be settled by tax stamps will be required when handing over the card.
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Spouse, child or ascendant
If you are a spouse, a child under the age of 21 (or a dependent) or a dependent direct ascendant, you must provide the following documents:
- Valid passport
- Indication of domicile: provided by any means
- 3 identity photos
- Proof of family relationship:
- For the spouse: extract of marriage certificate
- For the child: birth certificate with filiation
- For the ascendant: birth certificate of the child in your care (full copy or extract with filiation)
- If you are dependent on the European host, any document proving the material and financial support provided by the host in the country of origin or provenance: documents from public administrations or private bodies (social services, tax administration, banking institutions, insurance, social protection or other bodies) or private persons (certificates, letters or other) showing the effectiveness of care or living within the household
- Proof of the right of residence of the European you are joining in France (e.g. employment contract, proof of resources, health insurance, student card)
When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.
Civil partnership Partner
If you have concluded a Civil partnership (or the foreigners equivalent), you can apply for a residence card family member of a Union/EEA/Swiss citizen-All professional activities.
The minimum period of communal life required (in France and/or in another country) is 1 year.
You must provide the following:
- Valid passport
- Indication of domicile: provided by any means
- 3 identity photos
- Proof of family relationship: birth certificate and Civil partnership agreement + certificate of non-dissolution of the Civil partnership (or birth certificate and foreigner partnership certificate + certificate of non-dissolution of the foreigner partnership)
- Supporting documents establishing the 1-year common life: bank statements, tax documents, insurance certificate, joint loan certificate, etc.
- Proof of the right of residence of the European you are joining in France (e.g. employment contract, proof of resources, health insurance, student card)
When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.
Cohabiting partner
The minimum period of common life required (in France and/or in another country) is 5 years (with exceptions).
You must provide the following:
- Valid passport
- Indication of domicile: provided by any means
- 3 identity photos
- Proof of family relationship: birth certificate, foreigner partnership certificate, certificate of non-dissolution of the foreigner partnership, cohabitation certificate (documents corresponding to the situation at the time of application)
- Supporting documents establishing the 5-year common life: bank statements, tax documents, insurance certificate, joint loan certificate, etc.
- Proof of the right of residence of the European you are joining in France (e.g. employment contract, proof of resources, health insurance, student card)
When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.
Seriously ill person
You can obtain a residence card if you have serious health problems requiring the mandatory and personal support of the European citizen you are joining in France.
You must provide the following:
- Valid passport
- Indication of domicile: provided by any means
- 3 identity photos
- Medical Certificates Establishing the Severity of Your Health Condition
- Any document proving the material and financial support provided by the European host in the country of origin or provenance: documents from public authorities or private bodies (social services, tax authorities, banking establishments, insurance, social protection or other bodies) or private persons (certificates, letters or other) showing the effectiveness of care or living within the household
- Proof of the right of residence of the European you are joining in France (e.g. employment contract, proof of resources, health insurance, student card)
When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.
The residence card family member of a Union citizen is free.
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
The residence card is valid for 5 years. However, if the European person you are joining is planning to stay less than 5 years, the duration of the card corresponds to that of that stay.
It shall be renewable.
The renewal of the card must be requested between 4 and 2 months before its end date.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You have one or more residence cards for less than 5 years
The card is renewable under the same conditions as for the 1re delivery.
You have had a card(s) for 5 years or more consecutive
You must apply for a residence card Directive 2004/38/EC - Permanent residence - All professional activities. She's obligatory, even if you don't want to work.
You must submit your application on the ANEF (French Digital Administration of Foreigners) website.
Documents to be provided
- Valid passport
- Indication of domicile: provided by any means
- 3 identity photos
- Proof of the continuity of the stay during the previous 5 years: receipts of rent or expenses, invoices, bank documents, tax documents, etc.
- Proof of family relationship:
- For the spouse: extract of marriage certificate
- For the child: birth certificate with filiation
- For the ascendant: birth certificate of the child taking you in charge
- Proof of the right of residence of the European you are joining in France (e.g. employment contract, proof of resources, student card)
When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.
Special cases
If the European person you are joining is a worker and has acquired a right of permanent residence before 5 years of residence in France, you must present one of the following documents:
- Any document on the acquisition of this right (retirement pension, proof of permanent incapacity for work, etc.)
- In the event of the worker's death after more than 2 years' residence in France, death certificate + proof of the employment exercised + proof of the right of residence as a worker
- Accident at work accident at work In the event of the worker's death as a result of an occupational disease, death certificate + attestation of the employment exercised + certificate of death or occupational disease
The residence card is given to you for free, by the prefecture or sub-prefecture where the application was lodged.
It is valid 10 years and is renewable.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Cost: free service
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.
The service is available at the following times:
- Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
- Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Articles L231-1 to L237-1Residence card "family member" of a European citizen
- Code of entry and residence of foreigners and right of asylum: Articles R231-1 to R237-1Residence card "family member" of a European citizen
- Circular of 10 September 2010 on the right of residence of European and Swiss citizens and their family members (PDF - 1.3 MB)