Can a family already in France benefit from family reunification?
Verified 23 December 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The situation differs depending on whether the applicant is from the Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), sub-Saharan Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo) or another country.
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Maghreb or Sub-Saharan Africa
Yes, the foreigner's spouse and children under 18 years of age, already in France, may be reunited with their families there.
The spouse must live in France in a situation regular, with a residence card d'1 year minimum or a card of multiannual stay.
The applicant foreigner must live in France, in a situation regular, since At least 18 months (12 months for Algerians). The applicant foreigner must have a residence card of at least 1 year (or the receipt of the application for renewal of his residence permit). This is particularly the case when the foreigner is staying in France under the status of employee, temporary worker, of student or visitor.
The other conditions to be fulfilled by the applicant and the group beneficiaries are the same as for the standard procedure.
On the other hand, since the right to family reunification is granted without recourse to the introduction procedure, the spouse and the children do not have to prove a long-stay visa as residence permit (VLS/TS) obtained from the French consulate abroad.
Where family reunification is granted, spouses and adult children from the Maghreb or sub-Saharan Africa shall receive a resident card valid for 10 years if the merging foreigner has such a title. Otherwise, they receive a 1-year residence permit.
Minor children receive a Minor foreigner Movement Document (MRD).
Other nationality
Yes, the foreigner's spouse and children under 18 years of age, already in France, may be reunited with their families there.
The spouse must live in France in a situation regular, with a residence permitMinimum 1 year or a card of multiannual stay.
The applicant foreigner must have been legally resident in France for at least 18 months. The applicant foreigner must have a residence card of at least 1 year (or the receipt of the application for renewal of his residence permit). This is particularly the case when the beneficiary spouse stays in France under the status of employee, temporary worker, of student or visitor.
The other conditions to be fulfilled by the applicant and the group beneficiaries are the same as for the standard procedure.
On the other hand, since the right to family reunification is granted without recourse to the introduction procedure, the spouse and the children do not have to prove a long-stay visa as residence permit (VLS/TS) obtained from the French consulate abroad.
If family reunification is granted, the beneficiary spouse and adult children receive a temporary residence card private and family life valid for 1 year.
Minor children receive a minor foreigner movement document.
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Maghreb or Sub-Saharan Africa
Yes, the foreigner's spouse and children under 18 years of age, already in France, may be reunited with their families there.
The spouse must live in France in a situation regular, with a residence card d'1 year minimum or a card of multiannual stay.
The applicant foreigner must live in France, in a situation regular, since At least 18 months (12 months for Algerians). The applicant foreigner must have a residence card of at least 1 year (or the receipt of the application for renewal of his residence permit). This is particularly the case when the foreigner is staying in France under the status of employee, temporary worker, of student or visitor.
The other conditions to be fulfilled by the applicant and the group beneficiaries are the same as for the standard procedure.
On the other hand, since the right to family reunification is granted without recourse to the introduction procedure, the spouse and the children do not have to prove a long-stay visa as residence permit (VLS/TS) obtained from the French consulate abroad.
Where family reunification is granted, spouses and adult children from the Maghreb or sub-Saharan Africa shall receive a resident card valid for 10 years if the merging foreigner has such a title. Otherwise, they receive a 1-year residence permit.
Minor children receive a Minor foreigner Movement Document (MRD).
Other nationality
Yes, the foreigner's spouse and children under 18 years of age, already in France, may be reunited with their families there.
The spouse must live in France in a situation regular, with a residence permitMinimum 1 year or a card of multiannual stay.
The applicant foreigner must have been legally resident in France for at least 18 months. The applicant foreigner must have a residence card of at least 1 year (or the receipt of the application for renewal of his residence permit). This is particularly the case when the beneficiary spouse stays in France under the status of employee, temporary worker, of student or visitor.
The other conditions to be fulfilled by the applicant and the group beneficiaries are the same as for the standard procedure.
On the other hand, since the right to family reunification is granted without recourse to the introduction procedure, the spouse and the children do not have to prove a long-stay visa as residence permit (VLS/TS) obtained from the French consulate abroad.
If family reunification is granted, the beneficiary spouse and adult children receive a temporary residence card private and family life valid for 1 year.
Minor children receive a minor foreigner movement document.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
To obtain information about your residence permit
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
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- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
For information on family reunification
French Office for Immigration and Integration (Ofii)
Issuance and withdrawal of the residence permit
Family reunification scheme
Family reunification on site
Service-Public.fr