LumenWhen can the spouse of a French citizen get the 10-year resident card in France?
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Service-public.fr says the foreign spouse of a French citizen can get a 10-year resident card after at least three years of marriage (one year for Tunisians), with an effective shared life and a French spouse who kept their nationality. A first card also needs French at B1 and the civic exam, unless you are over 65. It costs 350 €.
Key facts
| What | The ministry’s guidance says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage | At least 3 years with a French national (at least 1 year for Tunisians) | Service-public.fr F2208, “Époux de Français”, step 1 |
| Shared life | Effective (communauté de vie) | Service-public.fr F2208, step 1 |
| Your spouse | Kept French nationality | Service-public.fr F2208, step 1 |
| Marriage abroad | Transcribed in the French civil registers beforehand | Service-public.fr F2208, step 1 |
| French | B1 for a first resident card; not required over 65 | Service-public.fr F2208, step 1 |
| Civic exam | Pass, version “carte de résident”, for a first card; not required over 65 | Service-public.fr F2208, step 1 |
| When to apply | Online, 4 to 2 months before your current visa, VLS-TS or permit expires | Service-public.fr F2208, step 2 |
| Cost | 350 € (50 € stamp + 300 € tax); +300 € if you entered without a long-stay visa; +180 € if late | Service-public.fr F2208, step 3 |
| Validity | 10 years, renewable; invalid after more than 3 consecutive years outside France | Service-public.fr F2208, step 6 |
The conditions
Service-public.fr says the resident card is issued to the spouse of a French national when:
- you have been married to a French national for at least three years (at least one year if you are Tunisian);
- your shared life is effective;
- your spouse has kept French nationality;
- if you married abroad, the marriage has been transcribed in the French civil registers.
You must also meet a republican integration condition, assessed in particular on your commitment to respect the principles of the French Republic, actual respect of them, French at B1 level for a first resident card, and a pass in the civic exam “carte de résident” for a first card. The language and exam requirements don’t apply if you are over 65. The prefect takes into account your republican integration contract and asks the mayor of your town for an opinion.
You must not be a threat to public order, live in polygamy in France, or have been convicted of violence on a minor causing mutilation or permanent disability.
Applying
You apply online on the ANEF site, at the earliest four months and at the latest two months before your current visa, VLS-TS or permit expires. Documents include proof of three years of legal stay, the full marriage certificate, proof of your spouse’s French nationality, proof of shared life, B1 proof, the civic exam certificate and the signed commitment to the Republic’s principles.
Cost
You pay 350 € in tax stamps (50 € stamp duty and 300 € tax). If you entered without a long-stay visa, you also pay a 300 € visa regularisation fee, of which 100 € is due when you apply and is not refunded if the card is refused. Filing late, without force majeure or a valid visa, adds a 180 € regularisation fee.
What the card gives you
The card lets you live and work in France; your employer doesn’t need a work authorisation. It is valid for 10 years and renewable, but stops being valid if you leave France for more than three consecutive years. On renewal you can ask for the EU long-term resident card or a permanent resident card instead.
Related questions
- French nationality by marriage is a separate declaration, after 4 or 5 years of marriage.
Sources
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This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.