Last verified: October 2026 — Sources: Service-Public.fr, ANEF
A titre de séjour (residence permit) is the document that authorises non-EU nationals to live legally in France. Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland do not need a residence permit — they enjoy freedom of movement. This guide covers the different types of permits, updated fees since May 2026, the application and renewal process and the documents you will need.
EU/EEA/Swiss citizen? No residence permit required
If you hold citizenship of an EU member state, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you may live and work in France freely with your national ID card or passport. You can apply for a residence card voluntarily, but it is not compulsory. The information below applies to non-EU nationals (also called third-country nationals).
Types of residence permit
1. Long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS)
The VLS-TS is a long-stay visa that serves as your first residence permit. It is obtained from the French consulate in your home country before departure. Once in France, it must be validated online via ANEF within the first 3 months.
- Duration: up to 1 year.
- Common grounds: employment, studies, family reunification, visitor.
- Validation tax (2026): €300 (standard rate) or €100 (reduced rate: students, au pairs, temporary stays).
2. Temporary residence permit (carte de séjour temporaire — CST)
A one-year renewable permit. It is applied for at the prefecture or online (ANEF). Main categories:
| Category | Key conditions |
|---|---|
| Employee / temporary worker | Employment contract with a work authorisation |
| Student | Enrolment in a higher-education institution |
| Private and family life | Spouse of a French citizen, parent of a French child, family reunification |
| Visitor | Sufficient resources to live without working |
| Entrepreneur / self-employed | Viable business plan, registered activity |
| Medical reasons | Serious illness with no treatment available in the home country |
3. Multi-year residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle — CSP)
A permit valid for 2 to 4 years. It is generally issued when renewing a first CST, subject to conditions:
- At least 1 year of legal residence with a CST.
- French language level A2 (mandatory since January 2026 for most categories).
- Compliance with the Republican Integration Contract (CIR).
- Stable and sufficient income.
4. Talent passport (passeport talent)
A multi-year permit of up to 4 years for skilled profiles:
- The « talent – salarié qualifié » route generally requires a qualifying French master’s-level degree (or eligible recognised diploma), an employment contract exceeding 3 months and gross annual pay of at least €39,582 (2026 reference).
- Researchers, artists, athletes.
- Business founders (project funding of at least €30,000, plus other conditions) and direct investors (investment of at least €300,000 with job-creation or job-preservation commitments).
- Intra-company transferees.
- EU Blue Card: at least 3 years of higher education or qualifying equivalent experience, an employment contract of 6 months or longer and gross annual pay of at least €59,373 (2026 threshold).
5. Resident card (carte de résident)
A 10-year renewable card that grants full work rights. Typical conditions:
- 5 years of continuous legal residence in France on a residence permit.
- Satisfactory republican integration (French language, knowledge of French values).
- Sufficient income.
- Automatic entitlement for certain profiles: spouse of a French citizen (3 years of marriage), recognised refugee, parent of a French child (subject to conditions).
6. Permanent resident card (carte de résident permanent)
An unlimited card that may be issued upon renewal of a 10-year resident card.
Updated fees from 1 May 2026
Since 1 May 2026, residence-permit fees have risen significantly (Article 128 of Finance Law No. 2026-103 of 19 February 2026). Amounts include the OFII tax and stamp duty:
| Procedure | Fee from May 2026 | Previous fee |
|---|---|---|
| First issue (CST, CSP, resident card) | €350 | €225 |
| First issue reduced rate (student, au pair, seasonal, family reunification) | €150 | €75 |
| Renewal (standard rate) | €250 | €225 |
| Renewal reduced rate | €100 | €75 |
| Duplicate (loss or theft) | €350 / €150 reduced | €225 / €75 |
| VLS-TS validation (standard) | €300 | €200 |
| VLS-TS validation (reduced) | €100 | €50 |
| Temporary residence authorisation (APS) | €100 (new fee) | Free |
Residence cards for British nationals under the Article 50 Withdrawal Agreement are exempt from fees.
How to apply for a residence permit
First application
- Obtain your visa: in most cases, a VLS-TS issued by the French consulate in your country is required before travel.
- Validate your VLS-TS online: within the first 3 months of arrival, log in to ANEF and pay the validation tax.
- Before your VLS-TS expires: submit your residence-permit application via ANEF or at your prefecture.
Renewal
- Timing: check the deadline for your permit category: many ANEF renewals are filed 2 to 4 months before expiry, but other procedures have different deadlines.
- Platform: many renewals are processed online via ANEF.
- Documents: upload updated supporting documents (proof of address, proof of activity or income, e-photo, etc.).
- Receipt (récépissé): depending on the procedure, a complete application filed on time may lead to a récépissé (prefecture) or an attestation de prolongation d’instruction (ANEF). The initial ANEF submission confirmation does not itself prove lawful residence.
- Collection: the new card is sent by post or collected at the prefecture.
Processing times
There is no guaranteed official processing time. Processing times depend on the prefecture, permit category and individual file. There is no verified single average applicable to all requests; check the status of your application and the rules for your permit.
Required documents (general checklist)
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Valid passport | Valid passport; check the exact rules for your permit category |
| Digital ID photo | ICAO / ANTS format |
| Proof of address | Dated within the last 6 months, according to Service-Public |
| Birth certificate | If required for your application; check the specific document-date and translation rules |
| Proof of activity or income | Employment contract, enrolment certificate, bank statements, etc. |
| Health insurance | Affiliation to the Sécurité sociale or private coverage |
| Tax stamp (timbre fiscal) | Amount depends on the permit type |
| Category-specific documents | Marriage certificate, degree, contract, etc. |
Some foreign-language documents require an official French translation, depending on the document and application. Check the relevant official document checklist before ordering translations.
Summary by situation
| Your situation | Permit type | Duration | Fee (from May 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA/Swiss citizen | Not required | — | — |
| Employee (non-EU) | VLS-TS → CST → CSP | 1 year → up to 4 years | €300 (VLS-TS) → €350 (CST) → €250 (renewal) |
| Student (non-EU) | VLS-TS student → CSP | 1 year → 2-4 years | €100 (VLS-TS) → €150 (CST) → €100 (renewal) |
| Spouse of a French citizen | VLS-TS → CST “private life” → resident card | 1 year → 10 years | €300 → €350 → €350 |
| Skilled professional | Talent passport | Up to 4 years | €350 (first issue) → €250 (renewal) |
| 5+ years of residence | Resident card | 10 years | €350 |
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I don’t renew on time?
Filing before expiry does not automatically produce a residence receipt. Depending on the process, you may receive a récépissé or an attestation de prolongation d’instruction; an ANEF filing confirmation alone does not prove lawful residence. If you miss the deadline, you risk falling into irregular status. File your application as soon as possible, even if late, and contact your prefecture for guidance.
Can I work with a receipt (récépissé)?
It depends on the grounds of your permit. A renewal receipt for a work-authorised permit normally carries the note “autorise son titulaire à travailler” (authorises the holder to work). Check the wording on your receipt.
Can I travel outside France with a residence permit?
Your residence permit (together with your passport) allows you to leave and re-enter France. Some permits also allow travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Travelling on a receipt alone can be more complicated — check with your prefecture before planning a trip.
Related guides
- Health insurance in France
- Driving licence in France
- Social security number in France
- Your first 30 days in France
- Proof of address in France
Official sources
- Service-Public — Talent permit and EU Blue Card
- Service-Public — ANEF: attestation de dépôt et prolongation d’instruction
- Service-Public — Justificatif de domicile
- Service-Public.fr — Foreigners in France
- ANEF — Online application platform
- Service-Public.fr — New fees May 2026
Conditions, fees and required documents may change. Always check the official sources and the ANEF platform for your specific situation.