Retiree Residence Permit: Settling in France After Retirement

The retiree residence permit allows foreigners who have worked and contributed in France or receiving a retirement pension to settle permanently in France without working.

This guide explains the conditions, procedure and benefits of this permit.

👴 What is the retiree residence permit?

The resident card with "retiree" mention is a 10-year residence permit, renewable, allowing you to:

Reside in France permanently
Receive a retirement pension (French or foreign)
Not work (retirement = cessation of activity)
Travel freely between France and your country of origin

⚠️ This permit is different from the visitor permit (which requires never having worked in France).

✅ Conditions to obtain the retiree permit

1. Have resided legally in France with a work permit

You must have resided in France regularly with a residence permit authorizing work (employee, entrepreneur, private and family life, etc.).

Minimum duration: generally 10 years of regular residence (sometimes less depending on circumstances).

2. Receive a retirement pension

You must prove receipt of a retirement pension:

French pension (having contributed in France)
Foreign pension
Combination of both

Minimum amount: at least equivalent to the minimum old-age pension (ASPA: approximately €1,012/month in 2025 for a single person).

3. Prove health insurance coverage

You must have health coverage:

Affiliation with French social security (if you contributed in France)
Private health insurance (if foreign pension only)

4. Have established your center of interests in France

You must prove that your center of material and family interests is mainly in France:

Main residence in France
Family ties in France
Personal and social activities in France

📋 Required documents

Personal documents

Application form for residence permit
Valid passport
Current residence permit (or recently expired)
Proof of address less than 6 months old
Recent regulation ID photos
Birth certificate with certified translation

Retirement proof

Retirement pension notification (CARSAT, CNAV, foreign pension fund)
Pension statements for the last 6 months
Career statement proving your contributions in France

Proof of previous residence

Successive residence permits since your arrival in France
Proof of residence (bills, rent receipts over the last 10 years)
Tax notices from recent years

Health insurance

Social security rights certificate (carte vitale, CPAM certificate)
Or private health insurance certificate (if foreign pension)

Proof of center of interests in France

Proof of habitual residence (water, electricity, phone)
Proof of family ties in France (children, spouse)
Proof of activities in France (association memberships, cultural activities)

🏛️ Application procedure

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Make sure you meet all conditions (residence, retirement, health insurance).

Step 2: Make an appointment

Schedule an appointment at the prefecture or via the ANEF platform 2 to 4 months before your current permit expires (or at retirement).

Step 3: Submit the application

Attend the appointment with all your documents.

You will receive a receipt during processing.

Step 4: Processing

The prefecture examines your file (verification of residence, retirement, center of interests).

Processing time: 2 to 6 months.

Step 5: Issuance of the retiree resident card

If your application is accepted, you will receive a resident card bearing the "retiree" mention, valid for 10 years.

⏳ Processing times

Average time: 3 to 6 months

💶 Cost of the retiree permit

Tax stamp: €225 (first issuance and renewal)

🔑 Benefits of the retiree permit

1. 10-year stability

The card is valid for 10 years, automatically renewable (subject to continuing to meet conditions).

2. Facilitated mobility

With the retiree permit, you can:

Live part of the year in France and part in your country of origin
Travel freely without risking losing your permit

⚠️ You must maintain your center of interests mainly in France (majority presence in France).

3. Access to social rights

Social security (if you contributed in France)
Housing assistance (APL, ALF)
ASPA (Old Age Solidarity Allowance) if insufficient resources

4. Right to family reunification

Your spouse can join you in France (subject to conditions).

5. Legal security

The card is difficult to withdraw (except fraud or serious threat to public order).

🔄 Renewal

The card is automatically renewable every 10 years, subject to:

Still receiving a retirement pension
Maintaining your habitual residence in France
Not representing a threat to public order

Renewal is simplified (no need to prove your entire career again).

🚫 Prohibition on working

With the retiree permit, you cannot:

Engage in salaried employment
Create or manage a business
Receive income from professional activity

⚠️ Working results in withdrawal of the permit.

Authorized activities

You can:

Volunteer in an association
Personal activities (hobbies, travel)

❌ Grounds for refusal

Insufficient residence in France (< 10 years)
Insufficient pension (< minimum old-age pension)
Lack of health insurance
Main center of interests abroad (prolonged absences from France)
Threat to public order

Appeals

You can file:

Administrative appeal with the prefect
Legal appeal with the administrative court (2 months)

🤝 VisaPref assists you

Obtaining the retiree resident card requires solid proof of your experience in France, your retirement and your center of interests.

At VisaPref, we assist you to:

Verify your eligibility
Build a complete file (proof of residence, retirement, insurance)
Track your application at the prefecture
Maximize your chances of approval

👉 Contact us for personalized assistance.

❓ FAQ – Retiree residence permit

1. Can I work with a retiree resident card?

No, the retiree card does not allow working. Any professional activity results in withdrawal of the permit.

2. How long can I stay outside France?

You must maintain your habitual residence in France. Absences of more than 6 months per year may jeopardize your permit.

3. Can I receive my foreign pension in France?

Yes, you can receive a foreign pension while residing in France with this permit.

4. Am I entitled to French social security?

If you contributed in France, you benefit from French social security for your healthcare costs.

5. Can I apply for French nationality with a retiree permit?

Yes, after 5 years of regular residence with a valid permit, you can apply for naturalization (subject to integration and language conditions).