Immigration to France gives an opportunity to live in one of the most politically and economically stable countries in the world. First, the immigrant will need to obtain a residence permit – temporary and/or permanent, and then after living in France for 2-5 years can apply for citizenship.

Obtaining an EU passport in some countries of the association (Bulgaria, Slovenia, Romania) is available under a simplified program without long-term residence in the state. Ask a specialist of the Relocation Compass company what conditions should be met for immigration, obtaining an EU passport and subsequent relocation to France.

Advantages of moving to France for permanent residence

Moving to the French Republic and formalizing the status of permanent resident gives you the opportunity to travel around the EU and Schengen countries without a visa. Other advantages of immigration should include:

• improved financial situation – the average salary in the state after tax deduction is 2 630 EUR per month;
• access to the EU labor market and wide opportunities for career growth;
• high level of social protection;
• service in advanced clinics and medical care according to international protocols;
• opportunity to get higher education in prestigious universities;
• living in a country that ranks 12th in the world in terms of ecology in the rating of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy.

Ways of moving to France

A foreigner who has a legal basis for long-term residence can move to France and apply for a permanent residence permit. The validity of the first residence permit depends on the chosen basis for immigration – see the table for details.

Regardless of the chosen method of immigration, the residence permit card is subject to renewal. After 12 months of residence in France, applicants have the opportunity (except for students) to obtain a multi-year residence permit valid for 4 years. Subsequent legalization in the country after 5 years of stay is possible in two ways:

• by obtaining an EU long-term resident card;
• through obtaining permanent residence in France.

In this case, foreigners who arrived on the basis of family reunification, can request a residence permit earlier – after 3 years of residence.

Regardless of the method of immigration, applications for residence permit are considered by state authorities within six months. It takes 2 months to process requests for extension (including those for permanent/long-term resident status in the EU). Production and delivery of ID-card takes 21 days.

Holders of a French residence permit can also naturalize in the country. To obtain citizenship it is necessary to reside in the state for at least 5 years. Registration of a permanent residence permit is not a prerequisite – it is enough to have a residence permit. Earlier, namely after 2 years to naturalize have the right:

• graduates of local universities (if the curriculum provides for the issuance of a diploma after 2 years);
• persons who have rendered special services for the benefit of the country;
• immigrants who have contributed to the development of science, sport, the economy or other areas.

Exemption from long-term residence in France before applying for citizenship is available to:

• refugees;
• people from French-speaking countries (e.g., Belgium, Luxembourg, Vanuatu, Monaco);
• persons who have served in the country’s army or joined it (including the allied army) during an armed conflict;
• natives of French-speaking countries who have been educated in the country for at least 5 years;
• persons who, by government decision, have exceptional service to the country.

The easiest way to move to France is to participate in the Passeport Talent program, which gives the right to issue a multi-year residence permit without the need for annual renewal. You can find out more about this way of immigration to France by consulting Relocation Compass specialist.

Work

Labor immigrants can also move to France for permanent residence. To do this, it is necessary to find a job (for example, on a website with vacancies or with the help of the state employment service France Travail). Then it will be necessary to pass an interview with the French employer and sign an official contract. In order to obtain a residence permit, it is also necessary for the future employer to request a work permit for the applicant.

If the immigrant continues to work, he can extend his status in the country. In case of job loss, the applicant is entitled to compensation from the French public employment service and to a new residence card for a period of 12 months.

Self-employment

Immigration to France is available to foreigners who will carry out entrepreneurial activities in the country. For this purpose, it is necessary to register with the National Institute of Industry and Property, as well as to obtain a work permit. Before applying for a residence permit it is necessary to:

• draw up a business plan with projected profits for several years ahead;
• draft and approve the company’s articles of association.

Family reunification

It is possible to move to France on the basis of family ties. The inviting person can be a citizen or a resident of the state. In this case, a residence permit card for a year is issued to:

• spouse or cohabitant;
• parent of a minor child;
• children under 18 years of age.

Education

Students can also immigrate to France if they:

• enrolled as full-time students in one of the French universities;
• have a monthly income of at least 615 EUR.

They receive the first residence permit card for a period of 1 year and can extend it until the completion of a full course of study. This method of immigration does not entitle to a multi-year residence permit. However, it is possible to apply for residence status on another basis in the future, for example, employment.

Passport Talent

Passeport Talent is a multi-year residence permit that allows foreigners to move to France for up to 4 years. Depending on the applicant’s field of activity, additional requirements may apply. Including the salary level – see the table for more details.

Passeport Talent can also be applied for:

• businessmen investing at least 30,000 EUR in their own project;
• artists, painters and other cultural figures;
• internationally renowned persons who are engaged in the field of science, education, sports and/or literature.

A multi-year residence permit is granted to investors who invest in commercial enterprises under the following conditions:

• investment in a company that is at least 30% owned by the applicant, or the acquisition of at least 10% of the French company’s share;
• retention or creation of new jobs in the company for 4 years;
• investment of 300,000 EUR or more.

Other grounds

French temporary resident card and subsequent immigration to the country is available to:

• The recipient of an accident pension.
  It is necessary that the level of permanent disability of the foreigner is at least 20% and the fact of receiving a pension from a French organization is confirmed.
• A person in need of medical treatment.
  For immigration, the applicant should confirm that his health condition will become critical without medical intervention. It is also necessary to prove that the person cannot receive appropriate assistance in the country of origin.
• Victim of crime.
  The basis for the request may be domestic violence, threat of forced marriage, undignified living conditions, human trafficking and/or pimping. The applicant is required to provide evidence that a crime has been committed against him/her.
• Volunteers.
  In order to relocate, the applicant must prove continuous employment for 3 years with an organization that provides assistance to stranded persons. Proof may include diplomas, volunteer certificates, and other documents.
• Persons proving the necessity of stay.
  The grounds for immigration can be work, professional qualification, provision of special services in the field of culture, sports, economy, service in the French army. Residency status may also be granted for humanitarian reasons.

Immigration procedure in France: from visa to French citizenship

The process of moving to France in order to obtain citizenship, consists of seven stages:

1. Selection of an immigration company.
   For successful naturalization it is necessary to have a reason for moving. This determines the period of compulsory residence in France and the required documents for the petition. To develop an individual immigration strategy based on the applicant’s personal situation will help a specialist of a specialized company.
2. Obtaining a visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS).
   Permission is requested at the French embassy or consulate in the country of residence/citizenship 3 months before the proposed date of relocation. The application is submitted on the France-Visas portal (there you can also make an appointment at a diplomatic mission). The application fee for VLS-TS is 99 EUR (50 EUR for students), which is non-refundable in case of refusal.
3. Entry and confirmation of VLS-TS.
   The procedure must be completed no later than 3 months from the date of arrival in France. Otherwise, immigration to the country will be considered illegal. The service can be obtained remotely on the portal of the Directorate General for Foreigners.
4. Issuance of a residence card.
   The application for a residence card must be submitted after the move and a maximum of 60 days before the expiration of the VLS-TS to the prefecture of the place of residence. A state fee of 200 EUR and stamp duty of 25 EUR are payable upon submission of the file.
5. Citizenship request and interview.
   You can apply online using the FranceConnect identifier on the portal of the General Directorate for Foreigners (provided that the service is available in your place of residence) and by sending a letter to the prefecture. Once the request has been processed, the applicant is invited to the public body for an interview and the immigrant then signs a charter of rights and obligations of citizenship.
6. Waiting for a decision.
   If you submit your application online, you can track the progress of the application in your personal profile on the portal of the General Directorate for Foreigners. If the application was submitted by mail, you should send an e-mail to the Ministry of Interior and Foreign Affairs to clarify the details. The standard period for processing the application is 18 months, but the period may be extended up to 90 days. The naturalization decree is published on the website of the Official Journal of the French Republic and the immigrant is notified by mail.
7. Issuance of internal documents.
   On the basis of the naturalization decree, an internal identity card (ID card) and a passport are requested from the city administration. Both documents are valid for 10 years. The ID-card is issued free of charge, and a fee of 86 EUR must be paid for the passport. When the documents are delivered to the state body, the applicant will receive an SMS to the number specified in the application form.

Myths about moving to France

Some people mistakenly believe that registration of permanent residence status in France is possible on the basis of the purchase of commercial or residential real estate. At the same time, there are no such programs for immigration in the state, and investors can be legalized only after investing in a local enterprise. Another common myth about moving to France is the possibility of obtaining a residence permit by opening a fictitious company. In practice, the country’s authorities carefully check the financial statements of the company, so in case of deception, the applicant faces a fine, deportation and/or entry ban.

Many people also mistakenly believe that France has a high level of immigration, and locals leave en masse to other countries in order to obtain higher incomes. In fact, the average salary is enough to cover living expenses (954 EUR), and rent (the cost of a monthly rent of a one-room apartment is 777 EUR on average). Also, different categories of citizens in France can claim social assistance.

There is a perception that only large investors or wealthy foreigners can move to France for permanent residence. In fact, every year immigrants with different levels of income move to the country, including pensioners, students, aspiring entrepreneurs and salaried workers. The main reason is the loyal legislation, which provides many immigration programs for different categories of foreigners.

Another myth is that the French have a poor command of English, so only those foreigners who can boast a good level of French should consider moving. In fact, the command of the state language is an important part of immigration and integration into society, and English is well known to residents of large cities (Paris, Marseille, Nice and others). In addition, some universities in France, such as the Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Toulouse or the University of Lille, offer programs of study in English.

Second and dual citizenship

French legislation gives a foreigner the right to retain the first citizenship. This option is possible if the government of the applicant’s country of origin allows him/her to be a citizen of several countries at the same time. If no agreement on dual citizenship is signed between the states, it means that at immigration the natives of such countries continue to be considered citizens of their state, retain the obligations imposed on them by the government, and also acquire them in France.

EU passport holders can immigrate to France without the need for a temporary/permanent residence permit. To obtain EU citizenship it is not necessary to reside in one of the countries of the association for a long period of time – for example, repatriation programs allow you to obtain a passport in the period from 4 months. Fill out the contact form to receive a consultation from our immigration specialist.