What are the requirements for residency in France?

The principal requirements are that the individual and his family members should live legally and not become a financial burden on the state social security system, or the sickness insurance programme.

Workers and the self-employed meet the first requirement by reason of their earnings, and automatically subscribe to the French sickness insurance programme through payments by their employer or by social charges on the business in the case of the self-employed.

Inactive persons are required to have sufficient resources to support themselves and their family members, and to have independent sickness insurance.

The regulations vary according to individual circumstances such as employment status and length of stay. The notes which follow are grouped according to these, in the following categories, applicable:

to all residents,
to retirees and other ‘inactifs’ such as students
to job seekers
to workers and the self-employed
to family members

i. Requirements for all categories of Resident (Notes 5,6)

Certain requirements apply to everyone:

All resident EU citizens, including dependent children and parents, must hold a valid passport or identity card, or children must appear on a parent's passport.
All arrivals in France who intend to take up residence should register with the local Mairie (Town Hall) within three months of arrival, including all family members. Failure to do so can result in penalties.
Subject to the above, all EU citizens have a right to remain in France for up to three months without any other limitations, provided that they do not become a burden on the social security services of the state. (Note 2b)

ii. Requirements for inactive persons such as retirees and students (Note 6) - “Inactif”

(Anyone who is not engaged in economic activity; is not employed or self-employed in France).

EU citizens moving to France with no income from employment, such as retired people and students, have the right to live in France but need to show they have the financial resources to be self-supporting and not be dependent on the French state.

Students must also be able to show that they are enrolled in an educational establishment and following a course of study or professional or vocational training. (Note 2c)

iii. Requirements for job seekers.

All Union citizens benefit from the right to reside without any conditions and formalities, other than to hold a valid passport or identity card, for up to three months, provided that they do not become a burden on the state. (Note 2b) Job seekers will fall into this category.

After three months, they cannot be expelled provided they continue to seek employment in the host Member State and have a genuine chance of being engaged. (Note 2c) Also, the European Court of Justice has confirmed that Union citizens benefit from the right to reside for a period of six months or even longer, in these circumstances.(note 8)

It is unclear how the “genuine chance” is assessed or by whom, or what impact such an over-stay would have on, the recognised date of taking up residence.

iv. Workers and self-employed persons (Note 5) -“Actif”

(Anyone who is receiving an income from employment or self-employment.)
Note: There is no requirement for a resident to earn their money in France – you can travel to the UK to work and still be resident here.

The requirements listed above apply to workers and self-employed persons.

An additional requirement is proof of self-employment, or a job contract or letter from an employer declaring employment.

There is a six-month unemployment grace period following the ending of a work contract or after unemployment resulting from an accident at work.

v. Family members

Family members derive their residential status from the citizen they accompany,(Note 3) and are subject to the same requirements.