Section actions
Duration: The deposit window and instruction depend on the design and prefecture
Cost: Variable depending on the category; check the discounted rate on F2208 and the ANEF
Possible online
Who this guide is for
Section actions
- Holders of a temporary or multiannual residence permit who check their access to a resident card
- Residents comparing a 10-year card with the renewal of their current title
- Persons wishing to distinguish the resident card from naturalization by decree
To be prepared in advance
Section actions
- Passport, current residence permit and proof of previous steps if you have one
- Personalized list of pieces displayed by Service-Public and l'ANEF according to your pattern
- Proofs of residence, resources, taxes, family and employment only when requested
- Proof of domicile, e-photo and translations when provided for in the official form
- For a first card concerned: proof of French B1 and certificate of success at the civic examination
Step-by-step procedure
Section actions
- 1Distinguish the three titles. Resident card, EU long-term resident card and permanent resident card are different routes; the term "permanent residence" is not enough to establish your right.
- 2Check the rules of the first card. Some first resident cards require a level of French B1 and a civic exam; not all situations are affected and renewal does not usually require a new exam.
- 3Open the F2208 card and the customized ANEF list. Prepare the pieces indicated for your reason: a general list found in another file does not replace the administration's request.
- 4Respect the window displayed by the official route. For several applications described by F2208, filing takes 4 to 2 months before the expiry of the document, but this schedule should not be generalized to all categories.
- 5After an online deposit, download the deposit certificate and keep a copy out of ANEF. It proves the shipment, but does not necessarily produce the same effects as a receipt or certificate of extension of instruction.
- 6If a summons is provided, bring the originals and documents requested. The card is valid 10 years old and renewable; the discount and appointment depend on the route and the prefecture.
- 7Do not confuse the resident card with French nationality. The card allows you to stay and work according to its rules, while naturalisation by decree is a separate procedure.
Don't confuse five routes
Section actions
Scroll the table horizontally to display all columns.
| Route | What You Get | What the course does not give |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal of residence permit | Continuity of the current residence ground | It does not automatically transform the title into a 10-year card |
| Resident card | A long-term title valid for 10 years and renewable | She does not automatically give French nationality |
| EU long-term resident card | A 10-year title that facilitates a local title application in another EU country | It does not give nationality or an automatic right in the second country |
| Permanent resident card | A right to permanent residence with a card valid for 10 years and renewable | It does not constitute French nationality |
| Naturalization by decree | French nationality if the decision is favourable | It is not automatic after five years of residence |
Common mistakes
Section actions
- Consider the resident card as a permanent status or as a French passport. It is valid for 10 years and remains subject to the renewal rules.
- Believe that the EU long-term resident card automatically gives the right to live and work throughout the EU. It facilitates a stay of more than 3 months without a long-stay visa, but you must apply for a local title in the second country.
- Transpose the conditions from one motif to another. The current title, nationality and family situation change the list of coins and the course.
- Prepare the B1 and civic exam for any card without checking the application. These requirements apply to some early cards, not automatically renewals.
- Take the deposit certificate for a guarantee of work or return to France. Read the effects of the draft document actually issued.
- Place on the last day or do not keep evidence of an incident. Without date, capture and file number, it is more difficult to demonstrate an attempt in time.
- Do not update the address or leave for a long time without checking the consequences. An obsolete address may cause a summons to be missed and a long absence may affect the validity of the title.
Official sources
Section actions
Show sources in this section
- Service-Public.fr — Carte de résident de 10 ans (F2208)
- Service-Public.fr — carte de résident longue durée-UE (F17359)
- Service-Public.fr — carte de résident permanent (F11201)
- Service-Public.fr — français pour une première carte de résident (F34501)
- Service-Public.fr — examen civique pour une première carte (F39530)
- ANEF — portail officiel des démarches des étrangers
Important remark
The conditions depend on the reason, nationality, current document and date of filing. This guide helps to choose the next step; the list of exhibits and the decision come from the official procedure.
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