Family of French citizens
Date of update
The family members of a French citizen can settle in France.
Nationals of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland
No visa is required for members of the accompanying family who have freedom of movement and of establishment within the European Union
Only the production of a valid identity card or passport upon entering the territory is necessary.
Optionally, they can apply for a “EU / EEA / Switzerland Citizen” residence permit.
They can have any salaried or self-employed activity without any particular procedure.
To work in a regulated profession, they must have a qualification specific to that profession and when applicable the authorization of the competent authority.
Nationals of third States
Visa
If the family members of the French citizen are third-country nationals, and unless they are exempted, they should apply for a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS), to the consular authorities of their country of residence.
For a marriage to be recognized in France, it must be transcribed on the French Civil Registry.
The application can be initiated online through France visa official wesbite: https://france-visas.gouv.fr.
The French authorities take particular care that the visa is issued as soon as possible and as part of an accelerated procedure so that its admission to the territory is facilitated.
In principle, under this accelerated procedure, the deadline for obtaining a visa does not exceed 4 weeks. If the application is accepted, a VLS-TS marked “Vie privée, vie familiale” valid for 12 months will be issued.
Furthermore, family members do not have to pay the visa fee.
Residence permit
Once in France, the VLS-TS marked “vie privée, vie familale” should be validated online on the following website: administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr.
This residence permit allows the exercise of salaried or self-employed professional activity, without any particular procedure.
To work in a regulated profession, it is necessary to have a qualification specific to that profession and when applicable the authorization of the competent authority.
After a year of stay and if the community of life is maintained, the spouse of a French citizen can apply for a residence permit “Vie privée, vie familale” valid for 2 years. The application should be made 2 months before the expiration of the VLS-TS.
After 3 years of stable and regular stay on French territory, a 10-year resident card can be issued to spouses of French citizen.
The application for renewal should be made within two months before it expires.
The renewal of this title must be requested at the Prefecture within 2 months before its expiration.
For more details, visit the official France-visas website