Residence card for retired foreigner or retired spouse 

Verified 05 July 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you are a foreigner and retired, you can obtain a residence card mention pensioner, subject to conditions. Your spouse can obtain a residence card retired spouse if he or she has legally resident with you in France. Attention: this page does not concern you if you are European or Algerian.

Application in France

The residence card mentions pensioner or retired spouse allows you to enter France at any time for stays of one maximum duration of 1 year. You don't have to apply for a visa.

She doesn't allow work in France.

Warning  

this card does not allow you to bring your family to France.

Once you have the residence card mention pensioner, 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're a foreigner
  • You have resided in France with a resident card (resident card or long-term resident card - EU or former 3-year ordinary resident card or 10-year privileged card)
  • You have established (or are establishing) your habitual residence abroad
  • You receive a retirement pension from a French basic social security scheme

This residence card does not allow you to bring your family to France. However, your spouse can obtain a residence card retired spouse if he or she has legally 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 menu does not change the country of residence.

You must file your application within 2 months of the expiry date of your resident card.

Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact

Warning  

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

If your file is complete, you will receive a receipt awaiting the response of the prefecture.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

For the "retired" card

  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas). Otherwise, other supporting documents (e.g. consular certificate, identity card, consular card).
  • 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: enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board).
  • Declaration 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 notice of payment from the pension fund (supplementary pensions of Arco type are excluded)

For the card "spouse of retiree"

  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas). Otherwise, other supporting documents (e.g. consular certificate, identity card, consular card).
  • 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: enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board).
  • Declaration 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 pensionable status: copy of his/her residence card marked "retired" or his/her certificate of residence "retired"
  • Proof of legal residence in France with your spouse(s): copy of the old residence card (whatever its period of validity)

You need to pay €25 (stamp duty) by tax stamps.

The stamps are requested at the time of agreement on your request or the delivery of your card. Ask your local prefecture.

Acceptance or refusal to issue a residence card

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Your request is accepted

If your application is accepted, you are summoned to the prefecture for the issue of the title.

Your request is denied

If the prefect has notified you of the refusal

The decision of the prefect is yours notified by reasoned letter (explicit decision). Except in exceptional circumstances, such refusal shall be accompanied by a obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) setting the country to which you will be returned.

You can form a litigation before the administrative court (within 48 hours, 15 days or 30 days depending on the type of OQTF).

No reply from the prefect on your request

If the prefecture has not responded after 4 months, this is an implicit refusal.

You can then train within 2 months of this refusal:

Warning  

if your receipt expires and you don't have a response from the prefecture, the processing time may be longer. In this case, you can obtain the renewal of your receipt. Find out more on your prefecture's website.

The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.

The menu pensioner (or retired spouse) is valid 10 years.

It shall be renewable.

You must submit your card application within 2 months of the expiry date of your card pensioner.

Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact

Warning  

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

Documents to be supplied:

  • Identity card and travel document
  • Residence card pensioner (or retired spouse) expiring
  • Honor certificate that each of your stays in France, with this residence card, has not exceeded 1 year
  • 3 identity photos

Cost : you must pay €25 (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 the €180.

If your file is complete, you will receive a receipt awaiting the response of the prefecture.

Acceptance or refusal to issue a residence card

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Your request is accepted

If your application is accepted, you are summoned to the prefecture for the issue of the title.

Your request is denied

If the prefect has notified you of the refusal

The decision of the prefect is yours notified by reasoned letter (explicit decision). Except in exceptional circumstances, such refusal shall be accompanied by a obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) setting the country to which you will be returned.

You can form a litigation before the administrative court (within 48 hours, 15 days or 30 days depending on the type of OQTF).

No reply from the prefect on your request

If the prefecture has not responded after 4 months, this is an implicit refusal.

You can then train within 2 months of this refusal:

Warning  

if your receipt expires and you don't have a response from the prefecture, the processing time may be longer. In this case, you can obtain the renewal of your receipt. Find out more on your prefecture's website.

The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.

Abroad

The residence card mentions pensioner or retired spouse allows you to enter France at any time for stays of one maximum duration of 1 year. You don't have to apply for a visa.

She doesn't allow work in France.

FYI  

once you have the mention residence card pensioner, 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're a foreigner
  • You have resided in France with a resident card (resident card or long-term resident card - EU or former 3-year ordinary resident card or 10-year privileged card)
  • You have established (or are establishing) your habitual residence abroad
  • You receive a retirement pension from a French basic social security scheme

Your spouse can obtain a residence card retired spouse whether he or she has resided legally resident with you in France.

You must submit your card application to the French consular authorities in your country of residence.

The consulate will send your request to the prefecture of the place where you want to establish your temporary residence in France. The residence card will then be sent to you via the consulate.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

For the "retired" card

  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas). Otherwise, other supporting documents (e.g. consular certificate, identity card, consular card).
  • 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: enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board).
  • Declaration 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 (supplementary pensions of the ARRCO type are excluded)

For the card "spouse of retiree"

  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas). Otherwise, other supporting documents (e.g. consular certificate, identity card, consular card).
  • 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: enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board).
  • Declaration 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 pensionable status: copy of his/her residence card marked "retired" or his/her certificate of residence "retired"
  • Proof of legal residence in France with your spouse(s): copy of the old residence card (whatever its period of validity)

You need to pay €25 (stamp duty) by tax stamps.

The stamps are requested at the time of agreement on your request or the delivery of your card.

The residence card pensioner (or retired spouse) is valid 10 years.

It shall be renewable.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

If you are in France

You must submit your card application to the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home (inquire on the prefecture's website) within 2 months before the expiry date of your card pensioner (or retired spouse).

Who shall I contact

While waiting for your case to be processed, you will receive a receipt.

If your prefecture or sub-prefecture has not replied to you within 4 months, your card request is refused.

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 the €180.

If you are abroad

You must submit your card application to the French consular authorities in your country of residence.

You must apply for a renewal from French consular authorities in your country of residence.

Documents to be supplied:

  • Identity card and travel document
  • Residence card pensioner (or retired spouse) expiring
  • Honor certificate that each of your stays in France, with this residence card, has not exceeded 1 year
  • 3 identity photos

You need to pay €25 (stamp duty) by tax stamps.

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
      • Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15

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