Can I gain residency in France if I buy a property?
You can gain residency in France and buy a property in France, but the two are separate processes and not connected. Buying a property in France does not grant you automatic residency rights. There is no such route to residency via a “golden visa” in France and there are no current plans to alter this.
To gain residency in France you will need to follow the same process that applies to everyone, regardless of whether you own property or not. The residency process starts with securing the right visa.
Short-term residency for non-EU citizens
As a non-EU citizen, you will need a visa if you wish to stay in France any longer than 90 days in every 180-day period. The 90 days start when you first enter France, or any other Schengen area, and is calculated as a rolling clock.
Not all citizens of non-EU/EEA countries benefit from the visa free 90 days, but British, American, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens do benefit from it. A full list of the countries that do and do not require a visa can be found here.[i]
If you wish to spend longer than 90 days in France in every 180, you will need to apply for a long-stay visa, known as La Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour (VLS-TS).
Please note, it is possible to own a property in France and visit it without a visa in accordance with the 90-day rule. To do this, you just must monitor your coming and going to and from France, ensuring that you don’t overstay the 90 days in any 180-day period.
Short-term residency for EU citizens
Citizens of the EU, European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican may stay in France without a visa for longer than 90 days.
All you need is to carry an identity document (ID) or valid passport.
If residing in France long term, for work, study, living with family, or retiring, you may be required to register your presence with the local authorities.
Long-term residency in France
Third-country nationals who wish to reside in France for longer than 90 days in every 180-day period, must apply for a visa. The most common visa for non-EU citizens is the long-stay visa, known as la Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour (VLS-TS). The VLS-TS is valid for a maximum of one year.
There are several categories for long-stay visas which allow you to:
- Stay for an extended period for tourist or personal reasons
- Carry put a professional activity
- Pursue education
- Join family members
Other long-stay visas containing the statement ‘carte de séjour à solliciter’ (Long-stay visa with the obligation to apply for a residence permit) are available for a range of specific circumstances.
These long-stay visas allow to you to benefit from a residence permit (annual, multi-year or 10 years depending on your situation), in particular in the following cases[1]:
- Family of a French citizen (child aged 16 to 21 or dependent of a French national, ascendant dependant on a Frenchman and his spouse)
- Liberal or self-employed profession (trader, craftsman, etc.)
- Worker (employee on assignment, EU Blue Card, seasonal worker, talent passport) or worker’s family
- Retiree or spouse of retiree
- Artist
Validating your long-stay visa
For the long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) you must validate your visa within three months of arriving in France. This process must be completed online. The VLS-TS is valid for a maximum of one year.
For visas that mention ‘carte de séjour à solliciter’ a residence permit must be applied for within two months of arrival. To do so, simply apply via the prefecture of the department in which you live. Some prefectures offer you the chance to make an appointment online.
If you fail to validate your long-stay visa, you will no longer have legal rights to be present in France and will be unable to re-enter the Schengen Area.
Please note, there are administrative fees applicable for visa applications which vary depending on your country of residence. You may be exempt from visa fees if you are married to a French person or a non-European family member of a European or Swiss (other than French).
How to apply for residency
If you wish to remain in France for longer than your visa validity, you must apply for a residence permit within two months before the end of your visa expiry date at the prefecture or sub-prefecture where you live in France. For more guidance, visit the website of your prefecture.
How to apply for French citizenship
After living in France continuously for five years (or two years if you completed higher education in France), you have the option to apply for French citizenship. To gain citizenship, you must prove that you have integrated into your community and have a good understanding of French culture.
Please note the application process can take anywhere between 18 months and two years.
There are two routes to French citizenship or naturalization, the newer route NATALI, is an online portal application. Find out if you qualify to use NATALI with this naturalisation simulator. The other route is applying by post or in person at your local prefecture.
To become a French citizen, you will have to submit a range of documents (including your visa and residence permit) and sit an interview. At the interview, you will be asked various questions about why you are looking to attain French Nationality, what you do, your family situation etc. You will also be questioned on the laws, history and culture of France.
There are four language tests administered in the interview for French citizenship (known as the B1 language exam). It is made up of the following:
- Oral comprehension test (25 minutes)
- Oral discussion with an examiner (15 minutes)
- Reading test (45 minutes)
- Writing test (30 minutes)
All parts of each exam are administered in French, and you must score no less than five points in any given section to qualify for French citizenship. The pass mark for the B1 language exam is 50% overall.
Should you fail, you can appeal or approach the prefecture, which is authorised to offer you an individual interview with an agent to check your language level without having to retake the test.
If you are successful in your application, you will become a French citizen and receive a French ID card and a French passport in a naturalization ceremony. Any unmarried dependents will also benefit from your citizenship if they live with you.
[1] https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F16162
https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy_en
https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/long-stay-visaisas.gouv.fr