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Residence permits in France
Study, work, talent, visitor, business and family routes: choose the right basis and timeline.
See the essentials at a glance
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key points: VLS-TS · ANEF · Carte de séjour · Renouvellement
Read the document you hold first
The visa wording determines the first three months.
Validate within 3 months
ANEF validation and tax; it acts as the permit.
Apply for the card
Use the stated channel within two months.
Do not wait for expiry
Open the exact status window.
Five file columns
- 01Passport + current status
- 02Entry and address evidence
- 03Route-specific purpose
- 04Resources and insurance
- 05Application and message records
Most asked questions
Where do you apply for a French residence permit?
Depending on status, use ANEF, the prefecture or the route stated on the visa. Identify the exact permit on Service Public first.
When is a VLS‑TS validated?
Within three months of arrival, online through ANEF, with the relevant tax paid.
When should a permit be renewed?
It varies; many online renewals use a four-to-two-month pre-expiry window. The exact permit page controls.
Does property purchase grant residence?
No. Ownership and immigration status are separate systems.
Can I work with an application certificate?
Not every certificate authorises work. Check its exact type and the previous status on the official page.
Choose the purpose before the document
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens use free-movement rules; other nationals generally need a long-stay visa or status matching any stay beyond 90 days. Student, employee, talent, entrepreneur, visitor and family routes do not carry identical work rights, duration or renewal rules. Buying a home, opening a bank account or owning a French company does not by itself grant residence.
VLS‑TS, VLS‑T and the two-month card route
A VLS‑TS acts as a residence permit for four to twelve months and must be validated on ANEF, with the tax paid, within three months of arrival. A visa marked ‘carte de séjour à solliciter dans les 2 mois’ requires a card application within two months. A VLS‑T is temporary and is not the ordinary extension route. Read the exact visa sticker.
Match the residence route to the project
Student status depends on enrolment and progress; salarié or travailleur temporaire on a contract and work authorisation; talent routes on qualifying credentials; entrepreneur/profession libérale on a viable activity; and visitor on resources and a commitment not to work. Family routes differ for relatives of French, EU and resident non-EU nationals. Identify the correct owner before using a checklist.
ANEF and a defensible document file
ANEF handles VLS‑TS validation, many first permits, renewals and changes of status, while some procedures still use a prefecture or another stated channel. Keep identity, visa and entry evidence, civil records, address, e-photo, resources, insurance, study or employment evidence in date order. Check whether foreign records need sworn translation, apostille or legalisation.
Renewal timing: never wait for expiry
The window depends on the permit. Service Public shows four to two months before expiry for many online renewals; the page for the exact status controls. File correctly before expiry, retain upload evidence and messages, and answer missing-material requests on time. A dashboard saying a file exists is not by itself an automatic extension.
Separate certificates from work rights
An attestation de dépôt, attestation de prolongation d’instruction, récépissé and favourable-decision certificate do not have the same effect. Travel, benefits and employment rights depend on the document and earlier status. Keep the official PDF with the old permit rather than a screenshot. Confirm the exact document authorises work before starting a new job.
Language and civic requirements in 2026
From 1 January 2026, French-language evidence and a civic examination matter for parts of the first multi-year and resident-card system; scope and exemptions depend on status. Do not turn this into one universal B1 or B2 claim: multi-year cards, resident cards and citizenship are separate decisions. Check the exact permit page on Service Public.
Changing status, losing work and moving
A switch from student to employee, employee to entrepreneur or a family route is not automatic; the new project and timing are assessed. Job loss, contract end or divorce does not produce the same result in every case. Check whether a new employer needs fresh work authorisation. Report address, civil-status and lost-card changes through the stated channel.
Delay, technical failure or refusal
Record technical failures with date, time, application number and screenshots; use the ANEF contact route or 0806 001 620 and any prefecture remedy. A refusal, implicit refusal, loss of work rights or removal decision may trigger short and different appeal periods. Keep the notification date and seek authorised legal help promptly when individual analysis is required.
Application-day checklist
Prepare passport and current visa or permit, entry evidence, recent address proof, civil records, e-photo, route-specific study/work/family proof, resources, insurance and any required tax stamp. Name files by date and subject and verify every upload. Use only official ANEF, Service Public, France‑Visas and prefecture domains; never pay a broker promising an appointment or decision.
Editorial responsibility and change log
Publication team: FRA9 · Editorial lead: Pınar Mehmet
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