If you dream of coming to live or work on the French Riviera, here’s a quick guide on how to obtain a French residency permit depending on your current nationality.
1. How to obtain French residency if you’re a citizen of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA)
If you are a European citizen or your country belongs to the European Economic Area, count yourself lucky! You and your family members (you may want to check out the rules that apply for family) have the right to live and work in France. If you are a European resident or a national from Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you have the right to come to France and look for employment for a period of 3-6 months prior to settling here.
2. How to obtain French residency if you’re a non-European Citizen
If you are a non-European citizen staying in France for longer than three months, you’ll need what’s known as a VLS-TS Visa de Long Séjour (Long Stay Visa Residence Permit). It will be valid for an initial period of 12 months. You will have to choose the category to apply for depending on whether you are planning to work or just visiting. Following your stay, you can renew your visa or apply for a Carte de Séjour, which will allow you to live in France for 5 years.
Please note that you must apply for the long-stay visa in your current country of residence before you leave for France. And you must allow plenty of time for the application process to ensure you obtain your visa before travelling.
Finally, a word of warning, France is well known for its lengthy rules and regulations. So make sure you read everything carefully to avoid bureaucratic hassles. And if all else fails, you can always hire an immigration lawyer to guide you through the process.
For more information, please visit: https://www.service- public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/N19804?lang=en
