France Residency for Financially Independent Persons

Residency in France: Program Conditions and Applicant Requirements

The program is open to people over 18 who receive a stable income from outside France. In this context, income means profit from:

• remote work;
• running a business;
• dividends;
• copyright and licensing;
• remote work;
• renting out property.

Having a sufficient amount of savings also gives a foreign national the opportunity to take part in the simplified residence permit program.

Under the program's requirements, the applicant must have a stable income from outside France of at least 1,800 EUR per month, which is equal to the country's minimum wage. It is important to note that this figure increases annually, so when applying for the visitor card you should check the current amount. To reduce the risk of a refusal to issue the visitor card, we recommend applying with an income of at least 3,500 EUR.

When obtaining France residency for financially independent persons, you also need to confirm the availability of at least 40,000 EUR in a bank account, and to rent or purchase residential property.

The minimum value of the property is not specified in the program's conditions. However, when reviewing the application, attention is paid to its floor area: living space must be at least 9 sq. m per person. For a family of three, an apartment of at least 30 sq. m must be rented or purchased.

The main applicant's spouse and minor children may also take part in the program alongside them. The minimum income for a married couple is 7,000 EUR; for a couple with one child, 10,500 EUR; for a family with two children, 14,000 EUR.

France Residency for Financially Independent Persons: The Procedure

On average, the process of obtaining official status takes 5-7 months. It can be roughly divided into the following stages:

1. Purchasing property or signing a long-term rental agreement. Without confirmation of registration in France, it is impossible to obtain a Visiteur visa.
2. Booking an appointment at the visa center and applying for a type D visa.
3. Moving to France and registering with the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII).
4. Filing documents for the residence permit. At this stage, the main applicant and family members over 12 provide biometrics (fingerprints).

The following documents must be attached to the application:

• foreign and domestic passports of the main applicant and family members applying for official status;
• the standard-form application for a residence permit;
• a bank statement confirming sufficient savings;
• a property purchase agreement or a long-term lease agreement;
• a receipt for the state fee (currently 225 EUR);
• medical insurance issued by a local insurance company;
• marriage certificate and children's birth certificates (if applicable).

It is important to note that all documents must be completed in English or French. The translation must be notarized.

The type D visa is valid for 12 months. During the first year of residence in France, it stands in for residence permit status. After this period ends, the financially independent person is issued a residence permit for France valid for 1 year.

2-3 months before this period expires, the foreign national must contact the migration and integration bureau with an application to renew their status.

Legally speaking, obtaining a residence permit in France is a fairly complex procedure. The number of refusals has increased significantly in recent times. To reduce the risk of an application being rejected, we recommend seeking help from our company's staff.

Our licensed specialists will analyze the situation in detail and propose the best strategy for obtaining official status.

Key Program Benefits

A France residence permit gives Russian nationals the following list of benefits:

• crossing the state borders of EU and Schengen countries visa-free;
• the right to live in France for 12 months (the period of residence increases when status is renewed);
• receiving treatment at leading European clinics (subject to monthly contributions to the social insurance fund);
• free education at local universities;
• no requirement to learn French or integrate into society;
• obtaining permanent residence or citizenship after 5 years of living in the country (in this case, the foreign national needs to obtain tax resident status).

It is important to note that the visitor card does not give foreign nationals the right to work in France or run a business on the country's territory.