Family reunification - General case

Verified 01 mai 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

Your situation

You're in a different situation
You have another residence permit

Regular stay

The foreigner that made the request for consolidation must have resided in France for at least 18 months with one of the following titles:

Residence permit of at least 1 year (mention salaried worker, private and family life, student, visitor, etc.)
Resident Card or EU long-term resident (issued by France) of 10 years
Received request for renewal of one of those certificates

The foreigner polygamous residing in France with a 1^re wife, can't apply for family reunification to bring her 2^e wife.

The residence card of the polygamous foreigner may be withdrawn in the following cases:

He brought more than one wife to France
He brought the children of the wife who does not live with him in France, without proving that she is dead or that she no longer has parental authority over her children

Conditions of resources

General case

The foreigner must be able to demonstrate that it has sufficient and stable resources to provide a safe reception for his family.

These resources must reach a certain net amount, which varies according to the size of the family:

Tableau - Resources to be justified by the applicant
Family size	Minimum Monthly Resources
2 or 3 people	Average monthly net minimum growth wage (Smic), i.e. on average €1,383.08, in the last 12 months preceding the application
4 or 5 people	On average €1,501 in the last 12 months preceding the application
6 or more people	On average €1,637.27 in the last 12 months preceding the application

The applicant's resources may come from income derived from paid or self-employed work, from the management of assets, from retirement pensions, etc.

The spouse's resources are also taken into account, provided that he has income which will continue to be paid to him when he leaves his country.

The following resources of the couple are excluded:

Family benefits
Income from active solidarity (RSA)
Solidarity allowance for the elderly (Aspa)
Temporary Standby Allowance (Ata)
Specific solidarity allowance (SSA)
Pension equivalent allowance (AER)

Person who touches the AAH or Asi

No means test is required if the applicant is entitled to the Disabled Adults Allowance (AAH) or the supplementary invalidity allowance (Asi).

Person over 65

There is no means test if the applicant meets the following 4 conditions:

He is over 65 years old
He has been a regular resident of France for at least 25 years
He has been married for at least 10 years
The application for family reunification concerns the spouse

Housing conditions

The applicant must have (or justify that he will have at his family's arrival date) accommodation considered normal for a comparable family living in the same geographical region.

The accommodation must satisfy certain health and safety conditions.

Depending on the geographical area in which the dwelling is situated, it must have a total living space of at least:

In zones A bis and A: 22 m² for a couple without children or two people. You must add 10 m² for each additional person up to 8 people in total and 5 m² for each additional person over 8 people
In zones B1 and B2: 24 m² for a couple without children or two people. You must add 10 m² for each additional person up to 8 people in total and 5 m² for each additional person over 8 people
In zone C: 28 m² for a couple without children or two people. You must add 10 m² for each additional person up to 8 people in total and 5 m² for each additional person over 8 people

This simulator makes it possible to know the type of zone (A, A bis, B1, B2 or C) on which the housing depends.

Know the area of his commune: A, Abis, B1, B2 or C

The family must reside abroad. However, the family already present in France may exceptionally benefit an on-the-spot grouping.

The spouse or children may be excluded from family reunification if their presence in France constitutes a threat to public order.

The family reunification procedure collectively concerns:

The adult spouse (at least 18 years) of a foreigner residing in France
Minor children (under 18 years)

Children may be

From the couple, provided that they have a legally established filiation or are adopted by virtue of a judicial decision
From a previous union of the applicant or his spouse:
- if the other parent has died or lost parental rights
- or if parental authority is exercised by one or other of the parents by virtue of a decision of a foreign court

A request for partial family reunification may be exceptionally authorized in the interests of children.

The family reunification procedure does not apply to ascendants foreigner. They may eventually come to live in France under the visitor status if they have sufficient resources.L

The age of the spouse and children shall be assessed at the date of submission of the application for reunification.

Knowing the list of documents for a family reunification case

The applicant must complete form cerfa n°11436.

Application for family reunification

The applicant must send his file (completed form and attachments) by mail (registered delivery with recommended acknowledgement of receipt) to the territorial directorate of theOfii: titleContent competent.

Who shall I contact

French Office for Immigration and Integration (Ofii)

Warning

the applicant must attach to his application a copy of the supporting documents corresponding to his situation.

The documents to be attached are as follows.

1- Residence permit

Photocopy of residence permit of the valid applicant (front/back):
- Resident Card
- Resident card bearing the endorsement Long-term resident - EU issued in France
- Multi-annual residence permit
- Temporary residence permit of 1 year or more
- Certificate of residence of 1 year or 10 years
Certificate of application for renewal of residence permit

If you are applying for family reunification for your spouse who resides in France: residence permit of your spouse
If you are applying for family reunification for your spouse residing in a State separate from his or her country of origin: residence permit issued by your spouse's country of residence

2- Civil status documents

They must be accompanied by a translation into French prepared by a certified translator or certified as compliant by a French consular or diplomatic authority:

Full copy of marriage certificate with marginal mentions (with supplementary judgment if mentioned in the act)

Full copy of your birth certificate with marginal mentions (+ additional judgment if mentioned in the birth certificate)
Full copy of your beneficiary spouse's birth certificate with marginal notes (+ additional judgment if mentioned in the certificate)
Full copy of the birth certificate of each of your children and/or your spouse with marginal notes. This also applies to your children already residing in the accommodation in France (+ additional judgment if mentioned in the act).

If you are a national of a country whose laws allow polygamy:

Divorce judgment(s) concerning you and/or your spouse (irrevocable or final judgment if divorce abroad)
Declaration on Honor certifying that family reunification will not create a situation of polygamy on French territory

If family reunification is requested for one or more children, depending on your situation:

Divorce judgment(s) concerning you and/or your spouse (irrevocable or final judgment if divorce abroad)

Judgment conferring parental authority (unless otherwise specified in the divorce judgment)
Judgment conferring custody of the children (unless otherwise specified in the divorce judgment)
Letter from the other parent authorizing the child to come to France (whose signature is authenticated in the form provided for by the legislation of the country of residence or by the competent French consulate)
Adoption judgment
Kafala Algerian judicial system
Death certificate of your spouse, your 1^er spouse or other parent
Judicial decision to withdraw parental authority of the other parent
Declaration of abandonment of the child by the other parent, disappearance or absence of the other parent in court
Family booklet
Certificate from your spouse authorizing the beneficiary child's residence at home
Movement document for minor foreigners (DCEM) and/or school certificate for children present in France

3- Letter of explanation of family reunification

If family reunification is not requested for the whole family, you must justify your request in the interests of the child(ren).

4- Proof of resources (to be submitted for the last 12 months)

You're a salaried employee

Last tax notice (or non-tax notice) or, if not, the previous year's tax notice or last tax return filed with tax services
Company-stamped signed employment contract or employer's certificate of employment of less than 3 months (for temporary assignments, provide only the employer's certificate of employment)
Work certificate (if more than one employer, produce certificates for each)
Salary slips (for acting assignments, provide only the employer's employment certificate)
If you are an employee of CONSTRUCTION: titleContent : proof of payment of paid leave by the PTO Fund,
Proof of payment of daily social security benefits in the event of sickness, maternity leave, parental leave or an accident at work

You're a merchant

Last tax notice (or non-tax notice) or, if not, the previous year's tax notice or last tax return filed with tax services
Extract of less than 3 months of registration in the Commercial and business Register (RCS)
Last balance sheet of accounting activity and profit and loss account for the financial year or statement of income drawn up by the tax department

You're a craftsman

Last tax notice (or non-tax notice) or, if not, the previous year's tax notice or last tax return filed with tax services
Extract of less than 3 months of registration in the trade register
Last balance sheet of accounting activity and profit and loss account for the financial year or statement of income drawn up by the tax department

You are a professional

Last tax notice (or non-tax notice) or, if not, the previous year's tax notice or last tax return filed with tax services
Extract of less than 3 months registration in the directory Sirene: titleContent
Last balance sheet of accounting activity and profit and loss account for the financial year or statement of income drawn up by the tax department

You're self-employed

Last tax notice (or non-tax notice) or, if not, the previous year's tax notice or last tax return filed with tax services
Declaration of the creation of your activity at the company Formalities Center (CFE)
Revenue Book, Purchase Register and Income Tax Certificate

You're a job seeker

Last tax notice (or non-tax notice) or, if not, the previous year's tax notice or last tax return filed with tax services
Status report summarizing entitlements and compensation payments by Pôle emploi

You are retired or disabled

Last tax notice (or non-tax notice) or, if not, the previous year's tax notice or last tax return filed with tax services
Decision to award an old-age or invalidity pension drawn up by the paying agency and supplementary pensions
Notice of payment by the paying agency or certificate of payment (specifying the title of each pension)

You receive the Disabled Adult Allowance (DHA) or the Disability Supplementary Allowance (DHA)

Last tax notice (or non-tax notice) or, if not, the previous year's tax notice or last tax return filed with tax services
Allocation decision
Last payment certificate of the paying agency

Other situations

Last tax notice (or non-tax notice) or, if not, the previous year's tax notice or last tax return filed with tax services
Bank certificate and statements of account proving the origin of the income and its periodicity
Maintenance paid or received pursuant to a court decision
If you live in a couple: proof of resources from your spouse, partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent or common-law partner

5- Proof of accommodation

If you are a tenant

Proof of residence of less than 3 months (last electricity, gas, water or fixed telephone bill) or proof of home insurance (if recent entry into the dwelling)
Lease
Last rent receipt

If you are a sub-tenant

Proof of residence of less than 3 months (last electricity, gas, water or fixed telephone bill) or proof of home insurance (if recent entry into the dwelling)
Sublease Commitment
Justification that this sublease is authorized by a lease for you and your family

If you own

Proof of residence of less than 3 months (last electricity, gas, landline, water bill) or proof of home insurance (if recent entry into the dwelling)
Deed of ownership or notarial certificate

If you are hosted for free

Proof of residence of less than 3 months (last electricity, gas, water or fixed telephone bill) or proof of home insurance (if recent entry into the dwelling)
Title of ownership in the name of the host
Proof of family relationship with the host
Proof of domicile issued by the host granting you and your future family accommodation and specifying the duration of the authorized accommodation
If the accommodation is made available by the company: attestation from the employer, granting the accommodation to you and your future family, and specifying the length of the permitted accommodation
Proof of the host's identity (copy on the front/back of the valid residence permit or French national identity card)

Other

Proof of residence of less than 3 months (last electricity, gas, water or fixed telephone bill) or proof of home insurance (if recent entry into the dwelling)
Promise to rent a home
Proof of future acquisition of a dwelling

Checking the file

L'Ofii: titleContent check the folder.

If the file is complete, the applicant shall receive by post a certificate of filing specifying the date of filing. The prefect of the department of residence is informed by the Ofii.

If the file is incomplete, it is returned to the applicant by the Office to complete it.

Study of the demand

Ofii confides, in a 1^er time, the processing of the file to the mayor of the municipality of the applicant's domicile (or to the mayor of the municipality where the foreigner intends to establish itself).

The mayor checks whether the conditions of resources and housing are fulfilled. Specially authorized officers may visit the dwelling to verify that it meets the minimum conditions of comfort and habitability.

Where the applicant does not yet have the accommodation at the time of the application, the verification shall be carried out in the light of the information provided in form cerfa No 11437:

Proof of the provision of accommodation in the framework of family reunification

The foreigner and the owner or seller of the dwelling must include the following information:

Availability Date
Area
Set of housing characteristics

If the conditions are met, family reunification may be authorized.

The mayor can also check, at the request of the prefect, that the foreigner respects the fundamental principles of family life in France.

The mayor must give his opinion on all these conditions, within 2 months of receiving the file or the request of the prefect. In the absence of a reply within this period, the Mayor's opinion is favorable.

The mayor then forwards the file with his reasoned opinion on the conditions of resources and accommodation to the relevant Ofii delegation. The latter completes, if necessary, the investigation and sends the file to the prefect for decision.

Decision of the Prefect

It is the prefect of the applicant's department of residence (in Paris, the police prefect) who accepts or refuses the application for family reunification.

His decision must be notified to the applicant within 6 months of the submission of the complete file to the Ofii. In the event of a refusal, the decision must be substantiated.

If the prefect has not replied within 6 months, the request is refused (implicit refusal).

The foreigner may challenge the decision by administrative appeal before the prefect and/or the interior minister.

It may also file, within certain time limits, a litigation before the administrative court with territorial jurisdiction.

Visa application

As soon as the family abroad has received the Ofii deposit certificate and the civil status documents that you sent, each family member must make a request for long-stay visa as residence permit (VLS-TS).

Warning

the family must enter France within 3 months of the issue of the visas. Travel expenses are paid by the family.