French Health Issues
Lobbying for your healthcare rights in France and the EU
| Although residents are not required to hold a residence permit, there are good reasons to have one, as it represents proof positive of your residential status. |
In the initial phase of residence, one’s position may appear to be sound in terms of ample resources, good health and so forth, and if that could be guaranteed to continue there would be little ongoing need to hold a permit. Circumstances can change, however, and if it should become necessary to depend on the state, even temporarily, it will simplify matters and thereby accelerate the process if your status can be clearly demonstrated from the outset.
This is particularly important for family members who are very vulnerable otherwise to “accident of life” situations, in which, for example, the loss of a partner and perhaps a significant portion of income can transform the position of the surviving spouse and/or other dependents. (See also ‘What happens if I lose any of these qualifications?’).
On completing five years of residence, at which time a permanent resident’s card can be obtained, the existence of your earlier residence permit(s) should be a clear indication that your residence has been “stable and legal”, as these would not have issued to you if that had not been the case. This may not provide a guarantee of automatic issue of the permanent resident’s permit as the detailed rules for issue of these are not yet formulated, but it is a very sound starting point.
Compliance with the requirements of resources and sickness insurance need to be confirmed with the CPAMs annually, and as these are also requirements for receiving the cartes de séjour, the latter should be accepted by the CPAMs as sufficient evidence and avoid the need to present much paperwork.
The permanent resident's card could prove invaluable should the holder require state assistance, in the event of a severe health problem or financial difficulty. In such circumstances, should the person be deemed "an unreasonable burden on the state", attempts may be made to withdraw their healthcare or social security benefits. Although it is not theoretically necessary to have a Carte de Séjour, and Permanent Residency status is considered sufficient to give equal rights with a French citizen in the same position - the physical evidence which the document provides, would serve to confirm the holder's rights to such equal treatment, in the event of a dispute.
