EU/EEA/Switzerland worker residence card
Verified 25 October 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you are European and come to work in France, you can apply for a residence permit even if it is not mandatory. The regulations vary depending on your length of time in France.
We are taking stock of these regulations.
For the first 5 years
You are concerned if you are European and whether or not you are in an occupational activity (employed or not) in France.
You must have your request made on the Internet.
The documents to be provided vary according to your situation:
Employee
- Your valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- Employment certificate issued by your employer.
In case of involuntary cessation of your activity, you must justify the maintenance of your right of residence by providing according to your situation one the following documents:
- Certificate of unfitness for work issued by the occupational doctor
- Certificate of termination of activity or letter of dismissal, accompanied by a certificate of registration to France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) specifying the length of time your job has been occupied
- Proof of completion of a traineeship accompanied, in the case of traineeships not connected with the previous professional activity, by a proof of termination of activity or a letter of dismissal.
- e-photo : enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
Self-employed
- Your valid identity document or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- Justification for your activity: all documents on the regular, effective and sustainable exercise of your activity, such as, for example, according to its nature and the situation:
- Membership of professional bodies and social security bodies
- Insurance underwriting
- Minutes of Appointment
- Business Lease
- Hardware Purchase Invoices
- Sales contracts, service contracts
- Turnover declaration form
- Revenue and Purchase Book.
In case of involuntary cessation of your activity, you must justify the maintenance of your right of residence by providing according to your situation one the following documents:
- Certificate of unfitness for work issued by the occupational doctor
- Proof of completion of a traineeship, accompanied by a proof of cessation of activity specifying the conditions for such cessation, in the case of traineeships not connected with the previous professional activity
- Certificate of registration with France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) and proof of the period of exercise of the activity which has ended and of its cessation.
- e-photo : enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
Issuance of the residence card Citizen EU/EEA/Switzerland - All professional activities is free.
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
The period of validity of the residence card varies according to your situation:
Employee
The date of validity of this residence permit for a professional activity is equal to the duration of the professional activity (CDD)+ 6 months. It cannot exceed 5 years.
For a professional activity (CDI) the validity of the card is 5 years.
Self-employed
The date of validity of this residence permit is equal to the duration of the professional activity planned + 6 months.
It cannot exceed 5 years.
The approach is the same as for the 1era request.
Card Request
You must make your request on the Internet.
Documents to be provided
The documents to be provided vary according to your situation:
Employee
- Your valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- e-photo
- Employment certificate issued by your employer.
In case of involuntary cessation of your activity, you must justify the maintenance of your right of residence by providing according to your situation one the following documents:
- Certificate of unfitness for work issued by the occupational doctor
- Certificate of termination of activity or letter of dismissal, accompanied by a certificate of registration to France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) specifying the length of time your job has been occupied
- Proof of completion of a traineeship accompanied, in the case of traineeships not connected with the previous professional activity, by a proof of termination of activity or a letter of dismissal.
Self-employed
- Your valid identity document or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- e-photo
- Justification for your activity: all documents on the regular, effective and sustainable exercise of your activity, such as, for example, according to its nature and the situation:
- Registration in legal registers
- Membership of professional bodies and social security bodies
- Insurance underwriting
- Minutes of Appointment
- Business Lease
- Hardware Purchase Invoices
- Sales contracts, service contracts
- Turnover declaration form
- Revenue and Purchase Book.
In case of involuntary cessation of your activity, you must justify the maintenance of your right of residence by providing according to your situation one the following documents:
- Certificate of unfitness for work issued by the occupational doctor
- Proof of completion of a traineeship, accompanied by a proof of cessation of activity specifying the conditions for such cessation, in the case of traineeships not connected with the previous professional activity
- Certificate of registration with France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) and proof of the period of exercise of the activity which has ended and of its cessation.
Cost
Issuance of the residence card Citizen EU/EEA/Switzerland - All professional activitiesis free.
Card Delivery
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
Card Duration
The period of validity of the residence card varies according to your situation:
Employee
The date of validity of this residence permit for a professional activity is equal to the duration of the professional activity (CDD)+ 6 months. It cannot exceed 5 years.
For a professional activity (CDI) the validity of the card is 5 years
Self-employed
The end date of the card corresponds to the end of the planned professional activity + 6 months.
It cannot exceed 5 years.
After the first 5 years:
After 5 years of legal and continuous residence in France, you can ask for a residence card Citizen EU/EEA/Switzerland - Permanent residence - All professional activities.
This card allows you to attest that you have the right to live in France in a permanent, without further conditions.
It makes your paperwork easier, since the administration will no longer have to ask you to prove that you have a job.
You are affected if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You are European
- You have worked in France for 5 continuous years
- You continue to live in France (with or without a professional activity).
You must make your request on the Internet.
The documents to be provided vary depending on your situation:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General case
- Your valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- Proof of the continuity of your stay for 5 years in France: 1 document per semester (rent or expenses receipts, invoices, etc.)
- Proof of the previous 5 years of your right to stay in France (employment contract, etc.)
- e-photo : enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
You have ceased your activity in France
You are retired (including early retirement)
- Your valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- 1 certificate of employment (including periods of involuntary unemployment, periods of involuntary cessation of activity and absence from work or cessation for sickness or accident) or 1 certificate of professional activity for the last 12 months
- Sickness/maternity insurance documents
- Proof of your right of residence as an employed person for more than 3 years
- e-photo : enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
You are a worker permanently incapacitated for work
- Your valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- Proof of incapacity and your right to stay for more than 2 years as an employed person or proof of incapacity resulting from an accident at work or an occupational disease giving entitlement to a pension from a social security body
- e-photo : enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
You are a cross-border worker
- Your valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- Proof of 3-year professional activity (including periods of involuntary unemployment, periods of involuntary cessation of activity and absence from work or cessation for sickness or accident) in another European country and of your continued habitual residence in France (return at least once a week)
- e-photo : enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
Issuance of the card Citizen EU/EEA/Switzerland - Permanent residence - All professional activities is free.
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
If the right of residence is permanent, the card is valid only 10 years. So it has to be renewed.
The approach is the same as for the 1era request.
Card Request
You must make your request on the Internet.
Documents to be provided
The documents to be provided vary depending on your situation:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General case
- Your valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- e-photo
- Proof of the continuity of your stay for 5 years in France: 1 document per semester (rent or expenses receipts, invoices, etc.)
- Proof of the previous 5 years of your right to stay in France (employment contract, etc.)
You have ceased your activity in France
The documents to be provided vary depending on your situation:
You are retired (including early retirement)
- Your valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- e-photo
- 1 certificate of employment (including duly recorded periods of involuntary unemployment, periods of involuntary cessation of activity and absence from work or cessation for sickness or accident) or 1 certificate of professional activity for the last 12 months
- Sickness/maternity insurance documents
- Proof of your right of residence as an employed person for more than 3 years
You are a worker permanently incapacitated for work
- Your valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- e-photo
- Proof of incapacity and your right to stay for more than 2 years as an employed person or proof of incapacity resulting from an accident at work or an occupational disease giving entitlement to a pension from a social security body
You are a cross-border worker
- Your valid identity card or passport
- Indication concerning your residence less than 6 months old: provided by any means
- e-photo
- Proof of 3-year professional activity (including periods of involuntary unemployment duly recorded, periods of involuntary cessation of activity and absence from work or cessation for sickness or accident) in another European country and of your continued habitual residence in France (return at least once a week)
Cost
Renewal of the residence card EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen is free.
Card Delivery
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
Right of permanent residence
Provisions applicable to EU citizens and their family members
Residence card with "EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen - All professional activities"
Residence card with "EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen - Permanent residence - All professional activities"