🇫🇷EU / International

Carte de séjour (France)

French Residence Permit for Non-EU Nationals

Hard~30 minResidence PermitFranceImmigration

/ What is this form?

Non-EU/EEA nationals staying in France for more than 3 months must apply for a titre de séjour (residence permit) at the local Préfecture. Different categories exist: salarié (employee), étudiant (student), vie privée et familiale (private and family life), and talent (skilled professionals).

Most applications are now made online through the ANEF portal. The permit is a biometric card valid for 1 year, renewable annually. After 5 years of legal residence, you can apply for a carte de résident (10-year permit).

People who arrive with a VLS-TS long-stay visa must validate it online within 3 months of arrival — this is a separate step from applying for renewal.

/ Who needs this form?

Non-EU/EEA nationals staying in France for more than 3 months
People with long-stay visas (VLS-TS) who need to validate and then renew
Family members of EU citizens may have a different procedure

/ What you need before you start

Valid passport and long-stay visa

Proof of address in France (rental contract, utility bill)

Proof of income or financial means

Health insurance proof

3 recent passport photos (35x45mm)

Proof of purpose of stay (employment contract, university enrollment letter)

/ Step-by-step guide

1Validate VLS-TS Visa Online

If you arrived with a long-stay visa (VLS-TS), validate it online at administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr within 3 months of arrival.

2Create an ANEF Account

3Complete Application

Fill in personal details, reason for stay (salarié, étudiant, vie privée et familiale, talent), and upload all required documents.

4Attend Prefecture Appointment

Some applications require an in-person appointment at the Préfecture. You'll be notified if this is necessary.

5Receive Titre de Séjour

The residence permit is issued as a plastic card (biometric) valid for 1 year, renewable.

/ Key fields explained

Field	What to enter	Common mistake
Motif du séjour	The reason for your stay: travail (work), études (studies), vie privée et familiale (private/family life), talent, etc.	Applying for the wrong category — each has specific requirements and conditions.
Justificatif de domicile	Proof of address: rental contract, utility bill, or accommodation certificate.	Providing a document more than 3 months old — proof of address must be recent.

/ Common mistakes to avoid

Not applying within 2 months of arrival — this puts you in irregular status.

Not validating the VLS-TS visa online within 3 months — this is a separate mandatory step.

Providing incomplete documentation — Préfectures return incomplete files, causing delays.

/ Frequently asked questions

How long is it valid?

Usually 1 year, renewable annually. After 5 continuous years of legal residence in France, you can apply for a 10-year carte de résident.