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Visas, migration and life abroad

France: residence and citizenship

Living in France legally: the Talent Passport, permits for artists and entrepreneurs, the visitor status, and naturalisation compared with other EU states.

22 articles tagged France

Articles tagged “France”

Routes to a French residence permit

Long stays in France require a residence permit (titre de séjour) issued by the prefecture. The multi-year Talent Passport covers skilled employees, researchers, investors, founders and artists, while the visitor status suits people living on their own income without working.

French citizenship is usually obtained by naturalisation after several years of lawful residence, with a language requirement and an assessment of integration.

Newcomers usually first obtain a long-stay visa (VLS-TS or visa D), validate it online after arrival and only then apply for a residence permit. Most titre de séjour applications are filed through the ANEF online portal. The standard residence requirement for naturalisation is five years, which can be cut to two for people who completed two years of higher education in France. A refused permit can be challenged through an administrative appeal or before the administrative court, within strict time limits.