French Residence Permit – A Quick Guide

A VLS-TS (long-stay visa) doubles as your residence permit for the first year — after you arrive and validate it, you’ll get a PDF by email confirming your status (titre de séjour), no physical card yet. When you renew the following year, you’ll get your first physical card (carte de séjour), which becomes your proof of residency going forward.

You should start your residence permit renewal between 4 months and 2 months before your current permit expires. Apply too late, and you risk a €180 regularization fee. Starting early keeps you in compliance and avoids any gap in your legal residency status.

1. Criteria to Check Your Qualification

• Legal residence in France with valid visa or residence permit.
• Continued eligibility for visa/permit type.
• Sufficient financial resources. Ensure you have funds exceeding the minimum requirement (e.g €1,867.02/month in June 1, 2026)
• Valid health insurance covering stay in France.
• No threat to public order or prior overstays.
• Compliance with integration requirements (e.g., OFII civic training, A2 French level for some permits).

2. Documents You Need to Prepare

• Valid passport (issued <10 years, 2 blank pages, valid 3 months beyond stay), photocopy of all pages. You can use a tool (PDFsam Basic) to combine all pages into one PDF file.
• Copy of your current residence permit or VLS-TS.
• Completed application form.
• Recent passport-sized photos provided as a 22-digit e-photo number, taken in accordance with French standards by an authorized photographer or approved photo booth.
• Proof of residence in France (e.g., utility bill, lease agreement, or rent receipt).
• Proof of sufficient financial resources (e.g., bank statements, payslips). (You should show the amount above the minimum wage requirement.)
• Proof of health insurance (download the Attestation de droits from Ameli.fr or get one from a private insurance).
• You will usually need to provide a copy of your birth certificate along with a French translation. If you do not have a birth certificate, you must submit other identity documents and an official document that lists your parents’ names, translated into French by a sworn translator.
• Marriage certificate (if applicable, translated into French by a sworn translator).

3. Website to Submit the application

• Submission: ANEF (the same site for online VLS-TS validation) to submit your application. Please note that you must submit your renewal application no earlier than 4 months and no later than 2 months before the expiry date of your current residence permit.
• Alternative: Contact local prefecture or sous-préfecture for in-person submission.

4. Processing Time

• First-time residence permit card: ~4-8 months (depending on permit type and prefecture).
• Residence permit card renewal: ~3–5 months (depending on permit type and prefecture).
• Late applications: Additional €180 regularization fee may apply.

5. Next Steps

• Track application status on the ANEF portal or prefecture website.
• Submit additional documents online as requested by the prefecture.
• You may receive Certificates of Extension (Attestation de prolongation) if your renewal has not been issued before the expiration date.
• Receive the Certificate of favorable decision (Attestation de décision favorable) by email if you get approval.
• Receive a notification (text message) to schedule an appointment with the prefecture.
• Pay tax stamp (€100–€350) at the official site or local tobacco stores. (The fee has increased since May 1, 2026.)
• Attend the appointment at the local prefecture to collect your new residence permit. Please bring the required documents, such as the appointment confirmation, the tax stamp receipt, passport, and your current residence permit.
• Update any changes (such as your address or personal status) through the prefecture or the ANEF online portal, if applicable.

FAQ