How is a french ‘carte de résident’ different to a ‘carte de séjour’?

WE EXPLAIN THE THREE 10-YEAR RESIDENT’S CARDS AVAILABLE IN FRANCE AND WHO IS ELIGIBLE A resident’s card (_carte de résident_) in France is different from the more general term _carte de

séjour_ ('residency card') and gives the holder a more secure status. This is mainly because the holder’s right to live in France is not dependent on conditions such as means or

healthcare, or how they earn (or do not earn) a living. Holders also no longer need an _autorisation de travail_ work permit to hold a work contract (note we making a comparison here with

ordinary_ cartes de séjour_ issued to non-EU citizens, not the special kind of 'article 50' _carte de séjour_ that were issued to Britons living in France before Brexit). There are

three versions of these resident's cards: an ordinary _carte de résident_, a _carte de résident de longue-durée - UE _and a _carte de résident permanent_. They all cost €225 and are

valid for 10 years. Minimal paperwork is needed for renewal, and especially for the ‘permanent’ kind. People who meet requirements can apply two months before a previous non-EU citizen

_carte de séjour_ expires. READ MORE: 100 BRITISH AND 70 AMERICANS ORDERED TO LEAVE FRANCE DURING 2023 WHAT LEVEL OF FRENCH LANGUAGE? Applicants must demonstrate a certain level of French –

for example, by taking and passing a test such as the TCF (_test de connaissance du français_) and reaching an overall level of at least A2. This is a ‘basic’ level, but not complete

beginner in most cases. This is set to rise to B1 (lower intermediate) level before 2026 – no more precise date has been set. People aged 65 or above do not have to show any language skills.

READ MORE: FRENCH LANGUAGE TESTS HARDEN: WHAT CHANGES AND HOW TO KNOW YOUR LEVEL WHAT ARE THE THREE RESIDENT'S CARDS AND WHO CAN HAVE ONE? 1. THE ORDINARY _CARTE DE RÉSIDENT_ In most

cases, this is for people with family links in France. For example, if you are married to a French person, you may initially obtain a two-year card called _vie privée et familiale_ and then,

before it expires, you can apply online for the _carte de résident_, as long as you meet the language requirements. Spouses or children of a foreign person in France who holds a resident’s

card who have lived with them in France for three years can also apply. 2. THE _CARTE DE RÉSIDENT DE LONGUE-DURÉE - UE_ This is for non-EU nationals who have lived in France, supporting

themselves, with a visa/residency card for at least five years. It allows the holder to continue to live and work in France unconditionally but also to move to some other EU countries

without first obtaining a visa. They would then apply for a residency card to remain there long-term, based on their reason for moving. Apart from living in France and fulfilling the

requirements of previous cards, including supporting yourself and having income of at least the French minimum wage and healthcare arrangements, you are asked to demonstrate ‘continuity’ of

residency in France. Apart from exceptional circumstances, you should not normally have been away for more than six months consecutively, or 10 months in total in the five-year period. You

apply to your prefecture two months before your last card’s expiry. 3. THE _CARTE DE RÉSIDENT PERMANENT_ Holders of 10-year resident’s cards coming up for renewal can ask to change to a

_carte de résident permanent_ – a permanent resident’s card. This gives a right to stay permanently in France unless the person is deemed to be a public danger. It is systematically offered

to people who have already had two other consecutive resident’s cards, and applicants aged over 60. You should apply to your prefecture two months before your current card expires. The

supporting documents are minimal. It is renewable every 10 years without any conditions. WHERE DOES THE BREXIT WA CARD FIT IN? Brexit WA cards are comparable to _cartes de résident_ as they

give strong residency protections and an unconditional right to work. Similarly to a_ carte de résident permanent_, a 10-year WA card is renewable with light formalities. However, as with

the _carte de résident de longue-durée - UE_, the residency right conferred can be lost after a certain period away. In the case of the WA card, this is five consecutive years of being away

from France. For the_ longue-durée _card, it is three consecutive years outside the EU or six consecutive years outside France. The European Commission says there is nothing to stop British

nationals living in an EU country with a Brexit WA card also applying for an additional status via the_ résident de longue-durée_ card, if they wish. This would give a limited form of EU

free movement. The EU has been discussing reinforcing and standardising the entitlements. RELATED ARTICLES UPDATED: ‘VISAS AND RESIDENCY CARDS FOR FRANCE’ HELP GUIDE FRANCE’S ‘DROIT DU SOL’

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