Long stay of a European in France
Verified 01 janvier 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
As a citizen of a country of the European Economic Area (EEA) or if you are Swiss, you have the possibility to settle in France beyond 3 months. The residence card giving out your rights is not mandatory, but can be useful. You can then acquire a permanent right of residence after the first 5 years of a regular and uninterrupted stay in France.
The stay of a citizen of the European Economic Area or of a Swiss beyond the period of 3 months is not completely free. A refusal of residence may be granted.
Entry to France
To enter France, you must meet the following 2 obligations:
- Have a valid identity document or passport
- Do not pose a threat to public order.
Conditions of residence
In order to have a right of residence as a worker, you must be able to justify the exercise of a professional activity in France.
However, even if you are no longer in business, you can retain your right to stay in certain situations, including:
- Temporary incapacity in case of illness or accident
- Involuntary unemployment.
FYI
You may engage in any activity as an employed or self-employed person (except certain public posts and, subject to conditions, certain regulated professions).
Application for a residence card
You do not have to have a residence permit.
However, you have the right to request a EU/EEA/Switzerland Citizen residence card - All professional activities.
Right of permanent residence
After 5 years of legal and uninterrupted residence in France, you obtain a right to permanent residence.
You can prove your right to stay over the previous 5 years by any means (employment contract, unemployment certificate, registration in the commercial and business register, etc.).
You then no longer need to justify the conditions of your stay (worker status or not).
You can stay permanently in France, provided you do not pose a serious threat to public order.
You can ask for a residence card Citizen EU/EEA/Switzerland - Permanent residence - All professional activitiesBut it's not mandatory.
You lose your right to permanent residence if you leave France for more than 2 consecutive years.
Some absences are allowed:
- Temporary absences not exceeding 6 months per year
- Absence for the performance of military duties
- Absence of a maximum of 12 consecutive months for an important reason such as serious illness, study or professional posting abroad for example.
Please note
In some situations, you can obtain a right of permanent residence before the 5-year period. This is the case, under certain conditions, if you are a frontier worker or if you stop working because of a permanent incapacity for work or to collect your pension.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
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
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Right to residence and work during the first 5 years
Right of permanent residence after 5 years
Maintenance of the right of residence