Visa Information

EU Nationals

Nationals of most other EU countries, namely Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, the UK, Eire, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Sweden, Finland and Austria, have a right to settle permanently in France. Despite Switzerland's non-EU status, Swiss nationals are afforded similar entitlements to those granted to EU Nationals.

It is not sufficient to be the holder of a passport of an EU country: one must also possess right of abode in that country. This will be indicated in the passport, in the case of a UK national, by the wording 'British Citizen'. Those who fulfil this criterion should follow the procedure for EU Nationals outlined below. Anyone in any doubt as to their status should check this with the passport authorities in their own country and with the French Consulate.

Passports

In order to take up residence in France nationals of most countries including the UK and USA must possess a current passport. Nationals of Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy and the Netherlands require only their national identity card.

Entry for EU Nationals

Alternatively, nationals of Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, the UK, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy can travel to France first and then apply to take up permanent residence. They do not have to seek any permission or a visa before leaving for France or at the point of entering France. In other words, there is no difference at this stage whether one is entering France as a tourist or as a potential resident. Registration with the police or any other French authority on arrival is unnecessary.

Those who have a job to go to in France, or who intend to look for one on arrival, must apply for carte de sejour (residence permit) within three months of entering the country. Acceptance criteria vary according to whether a person is retiring to France to live there permanently or semi-permanently, or going there to work. These issues will be dealt with later in this chapter.