Residence - How do I register at the Mairie and obtain Residence Permits?

The primary source of information is the government website Service-Public.fr, which gives access to French civil service information on-line. There are two web pages which are particularly relevant to EU citizens taking up residence,

for workers and the self-employed see here
for retirees, students etc. - "inactifs" - see here

These cartes are newly created by the recent laws, and at time of writing (September 2008) it is our understanding that the detailed rules and requirements for providing these have not yet been established at Préfecture level. It is however very likely that the Prefectures will call for additional information in support of each application.

The following sections list the requirements presently stated in these web pages for each category of resident and type of carte, but it is probable that additional information will be required by the Préfectures at the time of application. We believe that this is likely to include the following, which applicants are recommended to have to hand at time of application:

photographs
Evidence of date of commencement of period of residency (Registration certificate will be ideal)
Evidence of continuous residence at your address. (a statement of residence from you Mairie, utility bills, etc.)
Family members may also be required to provide a document proving family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate), and documents proving financial resources (employment contract or proof of funds and health insurance) if separate from or additional to those of the principal applicant.

Départements differ as to where applications for residence permits are accepted; it may be at the Préfecture, the sous-Préfecture, the local Mairie or the police station of the place of residence. We recommend that you contact your local Mairie for information on where to apply.

i. Registration

The Service-Public.fr website pages (Notes 5,6) carry a statement which, freely translated, is as follows :

“The obligation on citizens of the European Union to register at their Marie applies only to people who enter France after coming into effect of a decree which will establish the format of the registration certificate to be issued. This decree, from the Minister for Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Interdependent Development, has not yet been published. It will be incorporated in our files on its publication.”
© La Documentation française, 04 Janvier 2008 - Réf. : F12017

In view of the foregoing you are advised to make your request to register at your local Mairie, and follow their advice, but do make sure that you get a receipt, or other written confirmation, that you have done so.

ii. Cartes des Séjour – less than five years residence

Inactifs - “Carte de séjour - CE Non-Actif”

Documents required for the application are:

Valid passport or Identity card
Proof of medical insurance (attestation, private insurance certificate, etc.)
Proof of sufficient financial resources for the applicant and their dependent family members in France. (Income tax returns will be the most readily accepted evidence).

Students - “Carte de séjour CE – étudiant”

Documents required for the application are:

Valid ID or passport
Proof of enrolment in an educational institution
Proof of medical insurance
Declaration by the student (or guardian) stating that they have sufficient financial resources to support themselves (and dependent family if applicable) in France. Note that a student’s parents are not considered as "family”.

Workers and self-employed persons - “Carte de séjour - CE toutes activités professionnelles”

Documents required for the application are::

Valid ID or passport
Job contract or a letter from the employer declaring employment or
If self employed, proof of registration in a trade from the Chambre de Métiers, or proof of registration in a profession from the Chambre de Commerce, or proof of registration as a Profession Libérale from URSSAF

Required for family members' application:

Valid ID or passport
Family members should also provide a document proving family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate), and documents proving financial resources (employment contract or proof of funds and health insurance) if separate from the principal applicant.

iii. Carte de Séjour Permanent

Any EU citizen who has been in stable and legal residence in France for five or more continuous years has the right to permanent residence and to receive a Carte de Séjour Permanent, and does not need to justify any conditions of stay.

We are not aware of any specific published requirements in support of an application for this permit, only a statement, “La continuité du séjour sur les cinq ans peut être prouvée par tout moyen” (Notes 5,6). A free translation of this would be, “The continuity of stay can be proved by any means”. It is unclear exactly how this will be interpreted in practice by the Préfectures, and an interpretation more in keeping with the longer wording of the Directive, “continuity of residence may be attested by any means of proof in use in the host Member State is more likely to be adopted, althought no information is yet available as to the “means of proof in use” adopted in France.

Proof of having completed tax returns during these years (a legal requirement), plus house purchase documents or rental agreements, utility bills etc. are likely to be asked for.