Residence card for retired foreigner or retired spouse - Application in France
Verified 05 juillet 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
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
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 domicile 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: 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 domicile 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: 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:
- One administrative appeal (ex gratia appeal before the prefect and/or hierarchical remedy to the Minister of the Interior),
- And/or a litigation before the administrative court
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
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:
- One administrative appeal (ex gratia appeal before the prefect and/or hierarchical remedy to the Minister of the Interior),
- And/or a litigation before the administrative court
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.
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
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
Issuance of the "pensioner" and "pensioner's spouse" residence cards
Application for a "retired" and "retired spouse" residence card
Registration extract establishing retirement pension rights
Implicit refusal in case of silence kept for more than 4 months on a residence permit application (Article R432-2)
Refusal and withdrawal of the residence card
Renewal of residence permit
Taxes and stamp duty payable
List of documents to be supplied: point 55