Updated on: December 24, 2024 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
If you have been a legal and uninterrupted resident of France for at least five years, or if you hold a European Blue Card, you may be eligible for a resident card with the designation of ‘long-term resident – EU,’ subject to certain conditions. This card allows you to reside in other EU countries. It is valid for ten years and is renewable.
This article is based on the personal experience of 10-years resident card application shared by Sanjay Kamath in the Indian Community in France Facebook group.
Myth Buster about French PR
- People who have completed 5 years of uninterrupted stay in France can apply for the standard 10-year resident card. It can either be a Carte de résident de 10 ans or Carte de résident de longue durée-UE based on your situation. However, a PR known as Carte de résident permanent can only be applied when renewing a previous 10-year resident card.
- Unlike a standard 10-years resident card, a PR can be renewed without any conditions. So, a PR card holder’s right to stay in France is no longer limited in time.
We have observed a lot of wrong information and personal opinions shared about this topic since our arrival in France. This includes people saying why it is harder than citizenship and more. So, thanks to Sanjay for writing a Facebook post to explain how simple it was to apply and how quickly he got it recently.
Note: Years spent on a student resident permit aren’t counted towards the 5 years eligiblity required for the 10-year cards. Often, Prefectures don’t count the APS Master duration too.
Applicant Summary
Basic Information about the applicant. In this example, details of Sanjay Kamath.
- Prefecture: Nanterre
- Previous Resident Permit: Passeport Talent – Carte Bleue Européenne (EU Blue Card)
- Application for: Carte de résident de longue durée-UE (Foreigner in France since 5 years)
- Stay in France: More than 5 years.
- French Tax Returns: Available for more than 5 years.
- Diploma: French master’s (2 years one) and a PhD from French Public Universities. His course was taught in English but the diploma is from a French public University which does not mention the language of instruction. So, it worked.
- French Language Test: None taken as it was not required for him because of the 2 years Masters degree in France. For more details, New language requirements for French resident permits & citizenship.
- Employment: More than 5 years. (very important)
List of Documents Required
To apply for a resident card in France, the following documents are commonly required:
- Birth Certificate: Apostilled and translated to French.
- Copy of Passport (pages showing civil status, validity dates, entry stamps, and visas). If not, other supporting documents (consular certificate, identity card, consular card, etc.).
- Proof of address less than 6 months old:
- Electricity bill (or gas, water, landline phone, internet access) and rental agreement of less than 3 months or rent receipt (if tenant) or housing tax proof (if own property).
- If hotel accommodation: certificate from the hotelier and invoice for the last month
- In case of accommodation with an individual: certificate of the host (attestation de l’hébergeant) dated and signed, copy of his/her identity card or resident card, and proof of his domicile if the address of the resident card is no longer up to date.
- E-photo with code: From a photographer or an approved photo booth machine (photomaton locations).
- Proof of Tax stamp (to be submitted when receiving the resident card). More details in Timbres Fiscaux: Tax stamp for French resident permits
- Declaration of non-polygamy: Déclaration sur l’honneur that you do not live in France in a state of polygamy (if you are married and a national of a State authorizing polygamy). An example template is available on Attestation de non-polygamie.pdf
- Proof of regular and continuous stay in France for the last 5 years: Resident permits, renewal receipts, school certificates, tax returns, payslips, etc.). Specific details:
- For European Blue Card holders, part of these 5 years can be spent in another EU country. However, the 2 years preceding the application must be in France.
- For refugees or subsidiary protection holders, the 5-year period starts from the asylum application date.
- Proof of your financial resources or couple if married:
- Sufficient, stable, and regular income proof for the last 5 years: pay slips, French tax returns, pension payment attestations, and work contracts.
- Your income must reach at least the French minimum wage, SMIC.
- Social benefits and other allowances are excluded, such as Paje, allocations familiales, complément familial, allocation de logement, AEEH, ASF, ARS, AJPP, RSA, ASS.
- If receiving AAH (Disabled Adults Allowance) or ASI (Supplementary Disability Allowance), provide supporting documents.
- Proof of Health insurance: Attestation des droits from Ameli.
- Proof of republican integration:
- Declaration of respect for the principles of the French Republic, Contrat d’engagement à respecter les principes de la République. An English translation is available for understanding the French contract.
- Proof of sufficient French language knowledge (if under 65 years old). A diploma or certification attesting to proficiency in French at a level at least equal to level A2 (updated to B1 gradually across Prefectures) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Please refer to the New language requirements for French resident permits & citizenship.
Application Process
The 10-year resident card application process varies across France. It can be online or offline.
First Application: The process is done either by sending the documents by post or making an appointment with the local prefecture or during the renewal application of your current resident permit.
- Exception: If your resident permit can be renewed online via ANEF website, you can submit an application for the 10-year card online during the same renewal process.
- Example: You have a Carte de Séjour Passeport Talent, you can submit the renewal application online 120 days to 60 days before the expiry date. During this application, add all the documents including the ones required for the 10-year card. Also, add a note that you need the 10-year card. The prefecture will consider your application for the 10-year card automatically, instead of renewing your existing card.
- Note: During the above process on ANEF, you will not see any separate boxes for attaching the additional documents. So, you must use one of the existing boxes to attach the documents (as single pdf) such as A2 language certificate, Contrat d’engagement à respecter les principes de la République, Tax returns, etc.
For Renewals: The process is done online via ANEF website. Please refer to, ANEF: Renewal of 10 years resident card in France
Before starting the offline applications, it might be wise to check with your local Prefecture and avoid any unnecessary complications. For more details, How to contact the prefecture in your city?.
Example: Nanterre Prefecture
Direction des Migrations et de l’Intégration
Bureau du Séjour des Etrangers – Voie Postale – Salarié vers CR / VPF vers CR / Visiteur vers CR / Passeport talent vers CR
167-177 avenue Joliot Curie
92013 NANTERRE CEDEX
- The issue of a first 10-year resident card is usually considered when you renew your residence permit. Consider adding the required documents to your file (French language proof, tax notices for the last 5 years, etc.).
- How to apply for a resident card on ANEF?
During your renewal application, you can simply add the documents necessary to obtain a resident card: a test of French language, French tax returns for the last 5 years, etc. There is no dedicated section for these documents. So, you can download them in the section of your choice (up to 3 documents per section, otherwise merge your supporting documents into a single PDF document). - Fore details about the process in Toulouse, Obtenir une première carte de résident de 10 ans.
Common Misconceptions
When you apply for Passeport talent (previously having 4 years card) renewal or salarié visa renewal (previously having 4 years card), they will give you a 10-year card.
- This is not completely true.
- During the renewal of your existing resident permit via ANEF, you must request for a 10-year card explicitly by submitting the additional documents required.
- If your resident permit cannot be renewed online via ANEF, then you must do the above offline as per your local Prefecture. For example: CdS Salarié to Carte de resident.
Documents required are a lot and it is better to go for nationality than this.
- Yes there are a lot of documents needed, but a 10-year card only needs documents about you and not your parents or police clearance certificates from your country (Ex: India).
- You can simply send the documents and get the 10-year card.
Renewal Application
- Starting 10th July 2024, applications for renewal of 10-year resident cards across France must be submitted online via the ANEF portal.
- You no longer have to visit the prefecture to submit your application or send it by post.
- During the renewal, you can request for the same card or a Carte de résident permanent (PR).
- For more details, please refer to my detailed article ANEF: Renewal of 10 years resident card in France.
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Sources & References
- Carte de résident de 10 ans service-public.fr
- Carte de résident de longue durée-UE (Foreigner in France since 5 years) service-public.fr
- Carte de résident permanent service-public.fr
- Carte de résident: How can you justify your knowledge of French? service-public.fr
- Sanjay Kamath’s Facebook post facebook.com/groups/indiancommunityfrance
Hello
Is it possible to apply for the carte de resident de 10 ans en logne svp ?
Merci d’avance
Hello,
As explained in the article, the 10-year card can only be applied by post or an appointment. Only, the renewals can be done online via ANEF website.
Hello,
Thanks for the details. Super useful !!
In the article you mentioned about two documents which were missed and sent later
1) Declaration on polygamy : I see that you provided a link to Declaration generation. It would be helpful, if the content of the Declaration can be provided.
2) Declaration on adherence to French Republic values : Any specific template to be used?
Thanks
Hello,
There are so many templates available online.
1. ATTESTATION DE NON POLYGAMIE https://www.alpes-maritimes.gouv.fr/contenu/telechargement/33954/263798/file/Attestation%20de%20non%20polygamie.pdf
2. Contrat d’engagement à respecter les principes de la République https://www.immigration.interieur.gouv.fr/content/download/136569/1080994/file/Modele-de-contrat-engagement-16072024.pdf
An English translation is available for understanding the contract in Frenc.https://www.immigration.interieur.gouv.fr/content/download/136640/1081419/file/AGREEMENT%20TO%20RESPECT%20THE%20PRINCIPLES%20OF%20THE%20REPUBLIC%20(ANGLAIS)-2.pdf
Hello,
Thanks for the detailed explanation of the procedure.
To apply for the 10-yr Visa through ANEF, for proof of the Language, with the master’s degree/PhD, how to justify this?
Thanks
Hello,
You can upload your Masters and/or PhD degree obtained in France.
But, I have already explained in the article that the application process cannot be done via ANEF.