How do you replace a lost French residency card and at what cost?

Reader Question: My husband lost his carte de séjour and we're not sure of how to obtain a replacement. We've also read that it will cost either €25 or €225. Is my carte de séjour (still safe and sound) affected, given that we are married and my status here is linked to him?

If your husband lost his carte de séjour abroad, he must report the loss to the local police, and then to the French consulate in the country in question.

He must then request a re-entry visa (visa de retour) from the consulate in order to return to France to avoid being seen as a non-resident by border control authorities.

If the card was lost in France, he can skip straight to replacing the card.

To replace the card you need to apply through France’s Interior Ministry website.

The replacement card is called a duplicata, and the process to be carried out varies depending on the type of residence permit.

You will need a sworn statement (déclaration sur l’honneur) explaining that you have lost your titre de séjour

Other documents that may be required include:

• A photocopy of the lost card if you have one
• Your passport
• Your birth certificate
• The carte de séjour or carte d’identité of their spouse and their marriage certificate if they are married
• Proof of address from the last three months
• Three photos of themselves
• Proof of payment for the new card (note if you are applying for a Brexit Withdrawal Agreement card these should be free of charge)

Further information on the documents to be provided can be found on the government website.

If you have to pay for the new carte this is done with timbres fiscaux (which can be obtained in a tabac or online here).

For a multi-year carte de séjour you will have to pay €225, but the price does vary depending on the type of card. Some residence permits do indeed cost €25 but this is not the case here.

There should be no effect on the validity of your own residency card.

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