Residence Permit for Spouse of French Citizen: Complete Guide 2025

The residence permit marked "private and family life" as a spouse of a French citizen allows foreigners married to a French citizen to legally reside in France.

This comprehensive guide explains the conditions, proof of cohabitation, the procedure, and the transition to a permanent residence card.

💑 What is the residence permit for spouse of French citizen?

The "private and family life" residence permit as a spouse of a French citizen is a temporary permit of one year (first issuance), then renewable as a 4-year multi-year card.

It allows you to:

Legally reside in France
Work without restrictions (employed or self-employed)
Access social rights
Apply for a 10-year residence card after 3 years of marriage

✅ Conditions to obtain this permit

1. Be married to a French citizen

You must be legally married to a French citizen.

Recognized marriages:

Marriage celebrated in France
Marriage celebrated abroad and transcribed in French civil registers (at the French consulate)

⚠️ PACS or cohabitation are not sufficient for this permit.

2. Regular entry into France

You must have entered France with a long-stay visa (except exceptions: nationals of certain exempt countries, persons who entered France as minors, etc.).

3. Effective cohabitation

You must live together with your French spouse.

The cohabitation must be:

Real: you live at the same address
Stable: effective couple life

⚠️ Legal separation or divorce results in the loss of the right to the residence permit (except in cases of domestic violence or French children).

4. Authenticity of the marriage

The marriage must be authentic (not a sham marriage or marriage of convenience).

The authorities verify:

That the marriage was not celebrated solely to obtain a residence permit
That the couple has a real common life

📋 Required documents

Personal documents

Application form for residence permit
Valid passport
Long-stay visa or current residence permit
Proof of address less than 6 months old
Recent identity photos meeting standards
Birth certificate with certified translation

Marriage-related documents

Marriage certificate (with apostille or legalization if married abroad)
French family record book
Marriage transcription certificate (if married abroad)

Proof of French nationality of spouse

French national identity card
Or French passport
Or French nationality certificate

Proof of cohabitation

Rental lease in both spouses' names (or property certificate)
Bills in both names (electricity, internet, phone)
Joint tax return
Bank statements from a joint account
Joint insurance certificates (home, vehicle)
Photos as a couple (weddings, vacations, family)
Official correspondence in both names at the same address

Proof of marriage authenticity

Wedding photos (ceremony, guests)
Testimonies from friends or family
Proof of relationship before marriage (messages, emails, photos of trips together)
Cohabitation certificate (issued by the town hall)

🏛️ Application procedure

From abroad (first installation in France)

Step 1: Get married

Get married in France or abroad. If married abroad, have the marriage transcribed at the French consulate.

Step 2: Apply for a long-stay visa

Submit an application for a long-stay visa as a spouse of a French citizen at the French consulate in your country.

Documents: marriage certificate, proof of cohabitation, ID card of French spouse.

Timeline: 15 days to 3 months.

Step 3: Enter France

With the visa, enter France and validate your VLS-TS on ANEF within 3 months.

Step 4: Renewal as multi-year card

At the end of the first year, apply for renewal as a multi-year residence card (4 years).

From France (marriage in France or status change)

If you are already in France (with another permit or in irregular situation in certain cases), you can apply for a residence permit after marriage.

Step 1: Make an appointment at the prefecture

Make an appointment at the prefecture (generally 3 to 6 months after the marriage to prove cohabitation).

Step 2: Submit the application

Present yourself at the appointment with all documents.

You will receive a receipt of application valid for 3 to 6 months, renewable.

Step 3: Interview (possible)

You and your spouse may be summoned to an interview to verify the authenticity of the marriage.

Possible questions:

How did you meet?
Where do you live?
What are your spouse's daily habits?
Do you have joint projects?

Step 4: Home visit (possible)

In some cases, the police or a prefecture agent may visit your home to verify that you actually live together.

Step 5: Decision

If your application is accepted, you will receive your residence card for 1 year (then 4 years upon renewal).

⏳ Processing times

Long-stay visa: 15 days to 3 months
Residence permit from France: 4 to 12 months

💶 Cost of spouse of French citizen permit

Long-stay visa: 99 €
VLS-TS validation: 50 €
Residence card: 225 € (renewal)

Total first year: approximately 275 € to 375 €.

🔑 Transition to 10-year residence card

After 3 years of marriage (and cohabitation), you can apply for a 10-year residence card.

Conditions:

3 years of marriage with a French citizen
Cohabitation still effective
Regular residence in France (with successive residence permits)
Republican integration: knowledge of French (A2 level), knowledge of the values of the Republic

Documents:

Proof of 3 years of marriage and cohabitation
French language diploma (minimum A2)
Proof of income (not mandatory but recommended)

🚨 Special cases

Divorce or separation

If you divorce before 4 years of marriage, you lose the right to the residence permit, except if:

You have French children
You have suffered domestic violence (with police report filed)
You justify intense personal and family ties in France

Sham marriage or marriage of convenience

If the administration suspects a sham marriage, your application will be refused and you risk:

An OQTF (Order to Leave French Territory)
Criminal prosecution (up to 5 years in prison and €15,000 fine)

Irregular entry into France

If you entered France without a visa, you can still apply for a residence permit as a spouse of a French citizen, but:

You must justify cohabitation of at least 6 months in France
The procedure may be longer

❌ Common reasons for refusal

Sham marriage or marriage of convenience
Absence of cohabitation (different addresses, no common proof)
Separation or divorce
Irregular entry without sufficient proof of cohabitation
Threat to public order (criminal convictions)

Appeals

You can file:

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

🤝 VisaPref assists you

Obtaining a residence permit as a spouse of a French citizen requires solid proof of marriage authenticity and cohabitation.

At VisaPref, we assist you with:

Building a complete file of proof of cohabitation
Preparing your prefecture interview
Anticipating questions about marriage authenticity
Filing an appeal in case of refusal

👉 Contact us for personalized support.

❓ FAQ – Residence permit for spouse of French citizen

1. Can I work with this permit?

Yes, the "private and family life" residence permit authorizes work without restrictions (employed or self-employed).

2. How long after marriage can I apply for the permit?

You can apply for the permit immediately after marriage (if long-stay visa) or after a few months of cohabitation in France (to prove the stability of the couple).

3. What happens if I divorce?

If you divorce before 4 years of marriage, you lose the permit, except if you have French children or have suffered domestic violence.

4. Must my French spouse have sufficient income?

There is no income requirement for the French spouse, but stable income facilitates the demonstration of cohabitation (joint account, joint taxes, etc.).

5. Can I obtain French nationality?

Yes, after 4 years of marriage (and 3 years if you have resided in France for at least 3 years), you can apply for French nationality by declaration (simplified procedure).