If you’re a non-EU national planning to stay in France beyond 90 days, you’ll need to go through two separate steps. First, get a long-stay visa before you arrive. Then validate or apply for a titre de séjour once you’re here. The process is bureaucratic, but manageable if you know what to expect.

Who needs a titre de séjour in France

EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals don’t need a titre de séjour. They can live and work in France freely under EU free movement rules.

Everyone else (Americans, Australians, Canadians, British nationals post-Brexit, and others) must first obtain a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour) from the French consulate in their home country. The titre de séjour comes after that, once you’re in France.

You cannot simply overstay a 90-day Schengen short-stay visit and apply for a titre de séjour retrospectively. The visa must be in place before you arrive.

British nationals who were already resident in France before 31 December 2020 and can prove continuous residence may hold a “Séjour - Article 50 TUE” card under the Withdrawal Agreement. Note: the window to make new applications under this route has closed. Existing holders can renew for the 10-year permanent version.

Which permit you need

The permit type depends on your situation:

  • Salarié / Travailleur temporaire: if you have a French employment contract
  • Passeport talent: for highly skilled workers, entrepreneurs, investors, or artists
  • Visiteur: if you’re not working and can support yourself financially
  • Étudiant: for those enrolled in a French educational institution
  • Vie privée et familiale: for family members of French nationals or long-term residents
  • Retraité: for retirees who can show sufficient income

When in doubt, the Préfecture or a qualified immigration lawyer can confirm which category fits your circumstances.

If you’re also thinking about finding employment in the region, see the guide to finding English-speaking work on the Côte d’Azur.

The long-stay visa comes first

Before you can apply for a titre de séjour, you must enter France on a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour). You apply for it at the French consulate in your home country before you move.

Some visa types, such as the VLS-TS (visa long séjour valant titre de séjour), double as your initial residence permit for the first year. You validate it online via the ANEF platform within three months of arrival. Missing this deadline can invalidate the visa entirely.

Where to apply for a titre de séjour in France

Applications for renewals and new titres de séjour are handled online through the ANEF (Administration Numérique des Étrangers en France) at administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr.

In-person appointments at the Préfecture or sous-préfecture are still required for some initial applications, typically for biometric data collection or specific permit types. In the Alpes-Maritimes, the relevant office is the Préfecture de Nice. Check ANEF first to confirm whether your application requires a physical visit.

Documents you’ll typically need

Requirements vary by permit type, but most applications ask for:

  • Valid passport with the long-stay visa
  • Proof of address in France (utility bill, rent contract)
  • Recent passport-size photos meeting French specifications
  • Proof of income or financial resources
  • Health insurance coverage
  • Completed application forms

For employment-based permits, add your work contract. For family reunification, add relationship documents such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate, apostilled and translated into French.

How long does the titre de séjour application take?

Expect 2 to 4 months in standard cases, sometimes longer during busy periods. You’ll receive an attestation de demande (proof of application) immediately, which extends your legal right to stay while the application is processed.

Renewals and long-term residence

Most initial permits last one year. Renewals are done through ANEF, ideally 2 to 3 months before expiry.

After 5 years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for a carte de résident longue durée-UE (a 10-year card governed by EU long-term residence rules). This is distinct from the standard carte de résident, which has different qualifying routes. Some require as few as 3 years of residence, depending on your family or professional situation. A lawyer or the Préfecture can confirm which route applies to you.

Since 1 January 2026 there’s an extra hurdle on the way to both. A first carte de séjour pluriannuelle (multi-year residence card) now requires French at A2 level, a first carte de résident requires B1, and both require a pass in a new civic exam. Applicants over 65 are exempt from both requirements. The FAQ below covers what the exam involves and how the language level is proven.

What to sort out once your titre de séjour is approved

A few other pieces of paperwork have deadlines that start ticking once you hold a titre de séjour. If you’re driving on a non-EU licence, you generally have one year from becoming a resident to exchange it for a French one. See the guide to exchanging a driving licence in France for the deadline and process by country. It’s also worth reviewing the full breakdown of relocation costs, since visa and titre de séjour fees are only one part of what a move to the Côte d’Azur actually costs.

When to use an immigration lawyer in France

The rules change regularly and vary by prefecture. If your situation is complex (self-employment, a non-standard family setup, a prior refusal), an immigration lawyer or specialist advisor is worth the cost. You can find English-speaking legal advisers on the Côte d’Azur in the Riviera Locals directory, or relocation and immigration agencies if what you need is someone to assemble and submit the dossier rather than legal representation.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a titre de séjour cost in 2026?

Fees rose sharply on 1 May 2026. A first residence card now costs €350, up from €225. A reduced rate of €150, up from €75, covers students, job seekers, seasonal workers, business creators, au pairs, and family reunification cases. Renewals are cheaper: €250 at the standard rate, €100 at the reduced one. A replacement for a lost or stolen card costs the same as a first issue. Validating a VLS-TS long-stay visa now carries a €300 tax rather than €200. You pay with timbres fiscaux (tax stamps), which can be bought online.

Do I need to speak French to get a titre de séjour?

Not for a first one-year permit. The requirement bites later. Since 1 January 2026, a first carte de séjour pluriannuelle (multi-year residence card) requires French at A2, and a first carte de résident requires B1. Both apply only to applicants under 65. You prove your level with a TCF or TEF test result, valid for two years, or with a qualifying diploma such as a DELF or DALF. French school qualifications including the CAP, BEP, and Brevet also count.

If you still need to reach that level, the guide to French language schools in Nice lists the confirmed TCF examination centres in the area and sets out how many study hours B1 realistically takes. Worth starting earlier than feels necessary: from a standing start, B1 is roughly 300 to 500 hours.

What is the examen civique and do I have to take it?

Since 1 January 2026, a first multi-year card or first carte de résident also requires passing a civic exam. It’s 40 multiple-choice questions in French covering French institutions, history, geography, culture, and republican values. You need 32 correct answers, and you get 45 minutes. The exam is digital and taken at a centre approved by the ministry. People over 65 are exempt, and a medical certificate can support an adjustment or a full dispensation.

Can I work while my titre de séjour application is being processed?

On a renewal, yes. The récépissé (receipt confirming your application was filed) carries over the rights attached to the permit you already hold, so if that one allowed you to work, you carry on. On a first application it depends on the permit. The récépissé permits work for categories including salarié, recherche d’emploi, and vie privée et familiale, and only where a work authorisation supports the application. The document itself states whether you’re allowed to work, so read it rather than assuming.

Can I leave France while waiting for my titre de séjour?

On a renewal, yes. Travel with your attestation de prolongation d’instruction (confirmation that your file is still being examined), your expired permit, and your passport, and you can re-enter the Schengen area. On a first application, no. If you leave, getting back in means applying for a visa de retour (return visa) at a French consulate, or in exceptional cases a prefectoral return visa costing €6 that only works at a French border crossing. Worth planning any first application around trips you’ve already booked.

Official sources for the titre de séjour process