France has three types of resident’s cards
What they are and how to apply for one
1. Ordinary carte de résident:
This 10-year card is mostly for people with family links in France. It costs €225. You can apply online at Anef between four months and two months before your previous card’s expiry, if you are:
(1) Married to a French person and have been for at least three years and are still living with your spouse (if you got married abroad, the marriage must be registered with the French état civil register). You need to meet the language requirements (see the article on language levels in chapter 3). After a first year on a VLS-TS this group can normally immediately obtain a multi-year (two-year) vie privée et familiale card, for two years, subject to signing a CIR and meeting language requirements.
(2) The spouse or child of a foreigner who has a resident’s card and you have lived in France for at least three years (children should apply during the year after which they turn 18).
(3) A parent of a French minor who lives in France and you have held a vie privée et familiale card for at least three years.
(4) A young person who is the child and dependant of a French person, or you are the dependent parent of a French person.
(5)A young person turning 18 who would otherwise have the right to claim French nationality having lived in France for at least five years since age 11, but chose not to.
For supporting documents, click here.
2. Carte de résident de longue-durée UE
This is for non-EU nationals who have lived in France, supporting themselves and have held one of the various kinds of carte de séjour for at least five years.
It allows the holder to live and work in France unconditionally and to move to many other EU countries without first obtaining a long-stay visa. Exact benefits vary by country and they still have to apply for a residency card after settling, however, Germany, for example, states: “If you hold an EU long-term residence permit issued by another member state, a residence permit will be issued to you allowing you to work, study or undergo training.”
The card is valid for 10 years and is renewable.
Apart from having fulfilled the requirements of your previous cards, including supporting yourself and having income of at least the minimum wage and healthcare cover, you should show ‘continuity’ of residence in France.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances which require longer absences, you should not normally have been away for more than six months consecutively or 10 months in total in the five-year period. you also need proof of French language skills if under 65.
French government sites state that you should show (for a single person) at least the amount of the ‘gross’ Smic minimum wage, as opposed to the ‘net’ amount which is cited for the carte de séjour ‘visiteur.’ However the Interior Ministry said this is only relevant to workers, and ‘visitor’ cardholders can still refer to the net. Benefits such as family allowance and housing benefit are not counted towards the calculations. gross refers to the amount of a French salary before employee’s social charges are deducted – as of 2025 this is €1,802/month (net is €1,426).
Official sites request you to apply in the same way as you would to renew your current card (prefecture or Anef) within the usual four to two months before your previous card expires. It costs €225..
The ministry states that WA cardholders who want this card must give up their WA card, however they maintain WA rights and can apply to change back again.
3. Carte de résident permanent
Holders of 10-year cards coming up for renewal can request a carte de résident permanent, which is a permanent resident’s card.
This card gives the holder the right to stay permanently in France unless they are considered a public danger. It is generally offered to applicants who have already held two consecutive resident’s cards or are aged over 60.
The application can be made online via Anef between four and two months before the previous card’s expiry. The fee is €225, and supporting documents are minimal. The card is renewable every 10 years without any additional conditions.