Can we get a post-Brexit carte with no fixed address?

We do not own or rent a property but travel around France in our motorhome. I believe there are many people who either travel like this or stay on campsites that do not allow them to use the address for residential status. We can supply a postal address. Will we be able to obtain Brexit deal cards?

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Answer:

No, you would not be able to apply with just a postal address in France, and it would be best for you to look into establishing some form of domiciliation administrative (administrative residency), the section of the Interior Ministry dealing with foreigners’ residency told us.

You need to prove that your “main residence” is in France. A motorhome cannot be considered your domicile, though it might suffice if you were to own or rent a permanent parking space.

To apply for a standard residency card as an EU citizen, people are already required to supply proof of domicile and the ministry said it is needed for most administrative procedures, whether a carte de séjour, French driving licence, etc.

You should also be making an annual declaration to the tax centre of the area where you are resident, assuming you are in France on an
established basis.

If you are merely a visitor, you would not qualify for a Brexit deal card.

Ways to establish a postal address include using a friend or family member’s address, the poste restante service at a post office (but they keep mail for only 15 days), a campsite address, or online service courrier-du-voyageur.com. However, this does not suffice to be considered “administratively domiciled” in France.

One option for people with no fixed address is to apply to be attached to the centre communal d’action sociale (CCAS) of a commune to which you have some link. This option, used by homeless people, might be possible, for example, if it is the area where you are currently living, or where you have family. The status must be renewed annually and you must visit or telephone every three months. In some areas, the body is a CIAS (centre intercommunal d’action sociale) or an independent body accredited by the mairie.

Another option is to be asked to be domiciled with friends or family.

French international anti-poverty organisation ATD Quart Monde says a further option for those who travel around is to buy or rent a space such as a garage, where you keep some belongings.

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