France EU free movement

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and work in France without a residence permit; a residence card is optional, and permanent residence is acquired after 5 years. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13}

What you must show

• Income of at least EUR 651.69 a month (≈ $730) · Inactive or retired person living alone without children: the most the administration can require as sufficient resources. ¹²
• Income of at least EUR 977.54 a month (≈ $1,090) · Inactive or retired couple without children: the most the administration can require as sufficient resources. ¹²

Requirements

• Citizens of EU and EEA states and of Switzerland may live in France under EU free movement rules. ^{11 1 8 9}
• Stays of up to 3 months need only a valid national ID card or passport. ^{11 1}
• Entry needs a valid identity document or passport and no threat to public order. ¹¹
• Beyond 3 months, workers and self-employed persons may stay while they work. ^{11 4}
• Beyond 3 months, persons not working need sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance. ^{12 3}
• Inactive persons cannot be asked for resources above EUR 651.69 (≈ $730) a month if single with no children. ¹²
• The cap is EUR 977.54 (≈ $1,090) a month for a couple with no children; amounts rise with the number of children. ¹²
• A valid national ID card or passport is needed. ²
• The optional residence card needs ID or passport, proof of address, health insurance cover and proof of resources. ¹²
• No residence permit is required for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. ^{11 12}
• A residence card can be requested online if wanted; it is free and issued by the prefecture. ¹²
• The card's validity depends on the stability of the resources shown, for inactive persons. ¹²
• After 5 years of legal and uninterrupted stay, a right of permanent residence is acquired; a permanent residence card is optional. ^{11 12}

Stay

• No time limit and no mandatory residence document; an optional EU/EEA/Swiss citizen residence card can be requested.
• First 3 months up to 3 months: Valid ID card or passport only.
• After 3 months: Worker, self-employed person, student, or person with sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance.

Nationality

Citizens of the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Work

Any employed or self-employed activity is allowed without a residence permit, except certain public jobs and, under conditions, certain regulated professions.

Family

Spouse, children under 21 or dependent, and dependent parents may join whatever their nationality; the worker, inactive or student must have a right to stay.

Checked 2026-10-10

Official sources

1. Residence rights when living abroad in the EU · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
2. Registering residence abroad after the first 3 months · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
3. Residence rights for economically inactive EU citizens · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
4. Workers: residence rights · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
5. Permanent residence (after 5 years) for EU nationals · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
6. Working abroad · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
7. Work in the public sector abroad · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
8. Free movement of EU nationals · European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion · checked 2026-10-10
9. Free movement of persons (Switzerland and the EU) · Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
10. Your non-EU spouse and children's residence rights in the EU · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
11. Long-term stay of a European in France · Service-Public.fr (Prime Minister, Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-04-01
12. Residence card of a retired (or inactive) EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen · Service-Public.fr (Prime Minister, Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-04-01
13. Stay in France of the family of a European citizen · Service-Public.fr (Prime Minister, Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2024-04-08