--- title: "Monaco Independent means card requirements 2026: 1-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-independent-means/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Monaco · Retire or live on savings # Monaco Independent means card **First stay:** 1 yr Temporary residence card for residents with independent means (carte de séjour temporaire) Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 1 yr (Temporary card valid one year; an ordinary card valid 3 years (first card EUR 100 (≈ $110)) is available after 3 years of residence, and a privileged card valid 10 years (first card EUR 160 (≈ $180)) after 10 years of effective residence (the 10 years can be reduced to 1 year in particular cases).) - **Who can apply:** Any passport (EEA and third-country nationals listed by Monaco (including Andorra, Switzerland and San Marino) need no visa; other nationals need a long-stay establishment visa (type D) from the French consulate nearest their last home, or a transfer of residence from the French embassy in Monaco if settled in France for over a year.) - **Family:** Family can join (Spouse or partner and children can be supported by the resident and apply with their own cards; children under 16 get a travel document instead.) ## Key facts Independent means card is a retire or live on savings route for Monaco. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **Government fees:** €80 ≈ $89 - **First stay:** 1 yr ## Cost, time and long term **Government fees: €80 ≈ $89** - EUR 80 (≈ $89) Issue fee for a first temporary residence card (renewal EUR 40 (≈ $45)). **Renewal: Renewable** The temporary card is valid one year and renewable; an ordinary 3-year card is available after 3 years of residence. [Government of Monaco](https://monservicepublic.gouv.mc/thematiques/nationalite-et-residence/residence/residents/la-carte-de-sejour) **Permanent residence: After 10 years of residence** A 10-year privileged card is available after 10 years of residence with effective presence in Monaco (the 10 years can be reduced to 1 year in particular cases); an ordinary 3-year card comes after 3 years. [Government of Monaco](https://monservicepublic.gouv.mc/thematiques/nationalite-et-residence/residence/residents/la-carte-de-sejour) **Citizenship: After 10 years of residence** Naturalisation can be requested after 10 years of habitual residence in Monaco after age 18, and is granted at the Sovereign Prince's discretion. [Legimonaco](https://legimonaco.mc/tnc/loi/1992/12-18-1.155/) ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is 16 or older and plans to stay in Monaco more than three months or to settle there. - The applicant has a home in Monaco suited to the household, as owner, shareholder of the owning company, tenant or guest of a close relative or partner. - Entry conditions differ by nationality; EEA nationals need no visa. #### What you must show - Sufficient resources shown by a salary, professional income, savings, a pension or support from a relative or partner. - In other cases the means are shown by an attestation less than one month old from a Monaco bank stating that the applicant has the means to live in Monaco; the official page gives no amount and says the attestation is arranged with the bank. - Issue fee EUR 80 (≈ $89) for a first temporary card. #### Documents - A passport with the establishment visa, a birth certificate under three months old and a sworn statement for first-time applicants. - Proof of housing: electricity contract or last bill plus a deed of ownership, a registered lease or a free-hosting certificate. - A criminal record extract under three months old from each country of residence in the last five years. - Documents in languages other than French, English or Italian need a sworn translation. - A pension certificate for retirees, or a support letter from the relative or partner with proof of their own resources. #### Steps 1. Apply online through the dedicated service or on paper at the Residents Section, 9 rue Suffren-Reymond. 2. A complete file is followed by an individual interview with original documents. #### After you arrive - The card must be returned on leaving Monaco, and the holder gets a certificate of stay. ## When you become tax resident How Monaco decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **1 year at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** The exemption is defined by genuine establishment in Monaco. - **Income tax:** Monegasque nationals and residents, except French nationals, pay no income tax in Monaco. [All tax rules for Monaco](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Accommodation** Proof of housing: electricity contract or last bill plus a deed of ownership, a registered lease or a free-hosting certificate - **Certified translation** Documents in languages other than French, English or Italian need a sworn translation - **Police certificate and civil documents** A passport with the establishment visa, a birth certificate under three months old and a sworn statement for first-time applicants Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** One-year temporary residence card for people who settle in Monaco on savings, a pension or support from a relative, without working in the Principality. (sources 1, 2) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of EUR 80 (≈ $89) · Issue fee for a first temporary residence card (renewal EUR 40 (≈ $45)). (source 2) #### Requirements - The applicant is 16 or older and plans to stay in Monaco more than three months or to settle there. (source 2) - The applicant has a home in Monaco suited to the household, as owner, shareholder of the owning company, tenant or guest of a close relative or partner. (source 1) - Entry conditions differ by nationality; EEA nationals need no visa. (source 1) - Sufficient resources shown by a salary, professional income, savings, a pension or support from a relative or partner. (source 1) - In other cases the means are shown by an attestation less than one month old from a Monaco bank stating that the applicant has the means to live in Monaco; the official page gives no amount and says the attestation is arranged with the bank. (source 1) - Issue fee EUR 80 (≈ $89) for a first temporary card. (source 2) - A passport with the establishment visa, a birth certificate under three months old and a sworn statement for first-time applicants. (source 1) - Proof of housing: electricity contract or last bill plus a deed of ownership, a registered lease or a free-hosting certificate. (source 1) - A criminal record extract under three months old from each country of residence in the last five years. (source 1) - Documents in languages other than French, English or Italian need a sworn translation. (source 1) - A pension certificate for retirees, or a support letter from the relative or partner with proof of their own resources. (source 1) - Apply online through the dedicated service or on paper at the Residents Section, 9 rue Suffren-Reymond. (source 1) - A complete file is followed by an individual interview with original documents. (source 1) - The card must be returned on leaving Monaco, and the holder gets a certificate of stay. (sources 1, 2) #### Stay - Temporary card valid one year; an ordinary card valid 3 years (first card EUR 100 (≈ $110)) is available after 3 years of residence, and a privileged card valid 10 years (first card EUR 160 (≈ $180)) after 10 years of effective residence (the 10 years can be reduced to 1 year in particular cases). - Initial permitted stay: 12 months. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Nationality EEA and third-country nationals listed by Monaco (including Andorra, Switzerland and San Marino) need no visa; other nationals need a long-stay establishment visa (type D) from the French consulate nearest their last home, or a transfer of residence from the French embassy in Monaco if settled in France for over a year. #### Family Spouse or partner and children can be supported by the resident and apply with their own cards; children under 16 get a travel document instead. Checked 2026-10-12 ## Official sources 1. [Demander une carte de séjour](https://monservicepublic.gouv.mc/thematiques/nationalite-et-residence/residence/nouveaux-arrivants/demander-une-carte-de-sejour) · Government of Monaco (MonServicePublic) · checked 2026-10-11 2. [La carte de séjour](https://monservicepublic.gouv.mc/thematiques/nationalite-et-residence/residence/residents/la-carte-de-sejour) · Government of Monaco (MonServicePublic) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Loi n. 1.155 du 18 decembre 1992 relative a la nationalite (Art. 3 and 5)](https://legimonaco.mc/tnc/loi/1992/12-18-1.155/) · Legimonaco (Government of the Principality of Monaco) · checked 2026-10-11 ## Independent means card and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Independent means card | – | 1 yr, renewable | – | | [D7 passive income visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/retirement-own-income-visa/) Portugal | Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030 | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Non-lucrative visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/nonlucrative-residence/) Spain | Needs income of €2,400+ a month ≈ $2,680 | 1 yr, renewable | No | | [Elective residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/elective-residence/) Italy | Needs income of €31k+ a year ≈ $35k | – | No | | [Independent means permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/financially-independent-residence/) Greece | Needs income of €3,500+ a month ≈ $3,910 | 3 yr, renewable | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Independent means card? A fee of EUR 80 (≈ $89). Issue fee for a first temporary residence card (renewal EUR 40 (≈ $45)). ### How long can I stay on the Independent means card? Temporary card valid one year; an ordinary card valid 3 years (first card EUR 100 (≈ $110)) is available after 3 years of residence, and a privileged card valid 10 years (first card EUR 160 (≈ $180)) after 10 years of effective residence (the 10 years can be reduced to 1 year in particular cases). ### Can I bring my family on the Independent means card? Spouse or partner and children can be supported by the resident and apply with their own cards; children under 16 get a travel document instead. ### Does the Independent means card lead to permanent residence in Monaco? Time on the Independent means card counts toward permanent residence in Monaco, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence. Time on the Independent means card counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence. ### How are Independent means card holders taxed in Monaco? No special regime in our records is tied to the Independent means card. The standard rules apply: Monegasque nationals and residents, except French nationals, pay no income tax in Monaco. ## More in Monaco [Business owner card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-business-owner/) [Employee card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-employee/) [Student card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/monaco/residence-student/) ## Retirement and live-on-savings visas elsewhere [🇫🇷 Visitor card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/visitor-card/) [🇨🇾 Retiree on foreign income](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/category-f-retirement/) [🇦🇱 Pensioner permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/pensioner/) [🇲🇹 Retirement Programme](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/retirement-programme/) [🇧🇬 Pensioner residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/bulgaria/retirement-pensioner/) [🇦🇹 Financially independent permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/settlement-no-gainful-employment/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-12 against 3 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Demander une carte de séjour](https://monservicepublic.gouv.mc/thematiques/nationalite-et-residence/residence/nouveaux-arrivants/demander-une-carte-de-sejour) · Government of Monaco (MonServicePublic) · checked 2026-10-11 2. [La carte de séjour](https://monservicepublic.gouv.mc/thematiques/nationalite-et-residence/residence/residents/la-carte-de-sejour) · Government of Monaco (MonServicePublic) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Loi n. 1.155 du 18 decembre 1992 relative a la nationalite (Art. 3 and 5)](https://legimonaco.mc/tnc/loi/1992/12-18-1.155/) · Legimonaco (Government of the Principality of Monaco) · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.