Resident for less than 5 years and employed

This is an archived page.
The application window and the online portal are now closed and all remaining applications must be made to your local préfecture.
The basic information provided on this page however remains relevant.

This is covered in Article 13 of the decree, which you can read here.

Applying if you've been resident for less than 5 years and you are employed

On this page we take you through the process of completing the online application form if you have been resident in France for less than 5 years and you are employed. We look at how to apply and what evidence you need to provide when you apply.

The previous 2 pages gave an overview and set the context for your application, and looked generally at the process of making your application. It's a good idea to read these first.

Applying for permanent residence with less than 5 years residence

(1) If you have just finished work

In certain situations, if you cease working as either an employee or a self-employed person in France, another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK you can apply for permanent residence status with less than 5 years residence. This is covered in Article 22 II 1° to 4° of the decree. You can do this if:

You have worked in France for at least the previous 12 months, you have reached the age at which you can legally claim a retirement pension, and you have been resident for at least 3 years; or
You have worked in France for at least the previous 12 months, you have taken early retirement, and you have been resident for at least 3 years; or
You have been declared permanently incapable of work and you have been resident for at least 2 years; or
You have been declared permanently incapable of work following an accident at work or an occupational disease which leads to the right to receive a social security pension. In this situation you can apply for permanent residence status without any minimum residence period.

In one further situation, you can acquire permanent residence status after 3 years of work and residence in France if you are going to work in another EU or EEA country, or in Switzerland, or in the UK. In order to benefit from this you need to remain a resident in France and return to France once each week.

Periods of involuntary unemployment which are on record at Pôle Emploi, or periods where your activity has ceased for reasons that are beyond your control, or absence from work or stoppage of work due to illness or accident are counted as periods of work for the purposes of these paragraphs.

If one of these situations applies to you, you should follow the 'less than 5 year - inactive' route described here.

Note that these dispensations are part of your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, which replicates the permanent residence rights provided for in Article 17(1) of Reg EC 2004/38, the EU free movement directive. However, under the directive the dispensations apply only if you have worked in your host country. The French government has chosen to take a more generous approach and apply the dispensations to those who have just finished work not just in France, but in another EEA country, Switzerland, or the UK.

(2) If you are married to a French citizen

If you are married to a French citizen, you will automatically qualify for permanent residence when you apply for your new status and card, providing your life together has continued since your marriage, and your spouse has retained their French nationality, and - if you were married outside France - your marriage has been registered in France. You will follow the specific route for this on the application form. This applies however short a time you've lived in France.

If you are working and married to a French citizen and you've been in France for less than 5 years, it is therefore better for you to apply through this route as you will be given a 10 year card.

YOU ARE EMPLOYED IN FRANCE ON A CDI OR A CDD

Start your application

Note that this section only relates to those who have been resident in France for less than 5 years. If you have lived here for 5 years or more, you will complete a different part of the application form and don't have to provide the details in this section. If you've been in France for 5 years or more and already hold a CdS permanent, go to this page. If you've been in France for 5 years or more and don't hold a CdS permanent, go to this page.
It also relates only to those who are employed in France. If you are resident in France but work in another country, please navigate to the page that covers this situation (coming soon).
Begin your application by navigating to either the French or the English version of the application form on the French government website.
Follow the instructions on the previous page to complete the introductory pages of your application if you haven't already done so, then return to this page.

Continuing your application

First of all, you'll be asked for the date you first settled in France.
Next, you'll be asked to choose your current situation. You'll need to select "I practise a salaried or self-employed professional activity".
A drop down box will open up asking you to select one of several options. You will select "I practise a salaried professional activity in France". Then click the Suivant button.

The next page takes you through all the documents you need to upload, firstly your passport.
After that, you'll be asked to upload proof of your residence in France in 2020 ((in other words, before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2025). Suggested proofs are a utility bill (electricity, gas, water, landline phone, internet) or a rental agreement or rent receipt or a taxe d'habitation bill that is less than 6 months old, although you can also use something else that proves your residence. You can upload several documents if you're not sure. If you live in someone else's house you'll need an attestation d'hébergement from the person who is accommodating you (dated and signed), along with a copy of their identity card or passport or residence permit, and proof of their address if the address on their identity card, passport or residence permit is no longer up to date or doesn't appear. You can find a model attestation d'hébergement here.
You'll then be asked to upload a copy of the front of any residence card that you hold, even if it is expired. If you have a one year or a five year card, upload that here.
Finally on this page you'll need to upload proof of your employment situation: an employment certificate, your last payslip or salary statement, a recent employment contract or a firm promise of employment.

On the following page you are asked to identify yourself, give your name and marital status, your date and place of birth, and your passport details.
If you use a different name from your birth name - for example, your spouse's name - enter this as your Preferred name.
Use the Issuing Authority details from your passport - for example, for a passport issued in the UK use UKPA, and for one issued in Paris use FCO.

Finally you're asked for your address details, email address and a phone number, either mobile or landline. An email address and at least one phone number are obligatory.

The last box on the form asks whether you have any additional observations to make. This is where you should now add your reasons for not applying before the original deadline of 30 June 2021. You can also use this box if, for example, you would like to attend the préfecture at the same time as your spouse or another family member (add their names here); if you have mobility difficulties and would like your préfecture to get in touch to see if alternative arrangements can be made; or for any other comments on your application. Please write in French, otherwise your comments may not be fully understood. If your French isn't good enough you can use this site to translate what you want to say: www.deepl.com/en/translator.

When you click on Suivant, you'll be taken to a page where you can see all the information you have input and verify whether it's correct. If so, you can go on and validate your application (press Valider); before you do this you'll have to answer a simple anti-spam question.
You will receive (usually in under an hour) an email which is your attestation d'enregistrement and contains your unique application number. Keep this email very safe as you won't be able to get a copy. It is your proof that you have made your application. If you travel outside France after 31 December 2025 you'll need to take it with you until you receive your new card so that you are treated as a resident and not as a tourist when you return.
In due course your préfecture will contact you with an appointment for fingerprinting and to present your photo - see this page for details.
Your new card will then be sent to your home by post. You will receive a 5 year card.