Are you a foreigner who has been present in France for at least 5 years and wishes to obtain a residence card in France? MALEKIAN law firm can assist you in submitting your residence card application or contesting a rejected application before the prefecture and, if necessary, before the competent administrative court.
What is a residence card?
A residence card is a permit that allows its holder to reside in France continuously for a period of 10 years.
What are the conditions to be met for an application for the issuance or renewal of a residence card?
- Uninterrupted and regular presence in France for at least 5 years (as a salaried worker, private and family life, visitor, etc.)
- Stable and sufficient personal financial resources for ideally three years, or five years (excluding social benefits, CAF, etc.). The income requirement does not apply to beneficiaries of the Adult Disability Allowance.
- Public or private health insurance coverage
- Sufficient degree of republican integration
What are the reasons for refusal of a residence card?
The competent prefecture may refuse the residence card application. Indicatively, the most frequent reasons for refusal are:
- Non-authenticity of the civil status document produced by the foreigner (e.g. errors or omissions on the document, lack of mandatory information, etc.)
- Non-fulfillment of one or more necessary conditions for the residence card application
- Threat to public order (e.g. in case of conviction in France)
- etc.
How to contest a refusal of a residence card?
An appeal against the refusal of the foreigner’s residence permit can be made at two levels. An administrative or hierarchical appeal or/and a contentious appeal to the competent administrative court.
