Eligibility quiz
Are you legally married to your partner in France, or will you be when your partner applies?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in France
You can live in France and maintain your private and family life there while your residence card is valid.
The first card is normally valid for one year.
Study in France
You can study while living in France with your residence card.
You must also meet the school’s or institution’s own rules.
Work in France
Your residence document normally lets you work as an employee without your employer getting a separate work permit.
Some spouses and children of long-term EU residents from another EU country may not be allowed to work in their first year.
Return to France
You can return to France while your residence card is valid, normally with a valid passport.
Use public healthcare
You can join public health insurance if you have a residence document and live in France on a stable basis.
Workers can join immediately.
If you do not work, you normally wait three months and must live in France at least six months per year.
Access social support
You may qualify for family benefits, housing support, unemployment insurance or minimum-income assistance.
Each has its own rules on things like residence, work history, income and sometimes how long you have held a qualifying residence document.
How to apply
From outside FranceFrom outside France
Find the mailing office
Ask your spouse in France to find the OFII office for their address. The address list comes with the family reunification application form.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which France regroupement familial OFII office handles applications for your city?”
Download the application form
Your spouse should download form Cerfa 11436*05, Demande de regroupement familial, and its annexes.
Download the formFill in the form
Your spouse should fill in and sign the application form.
Get form helpSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the France regroupement familial application form?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the documents required for the family reunification application.
See required documentsMail the application package
Your spouse should mail the signed form and supporting documents to the OFII office for their address. The form's annex lists the mailing addresses.
Get the mailing addressWait for the decision
Your spouse should respond if OFII asks for more documents or arranges a housing visit. The prefect will decide the application.
See what happens nextSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens after I mail a France regroupement familial application?”
Find your consulate
If the application is approved and you live outside France, find the French consulate or authorised visa centre responsible for where you live.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which French consulate or visa centre serves your city for a regroupement familial long-stay visa?”
Fill in your application
Use the France-Visas assistant to find the long-stay visa procedure and fill in your visa application online.
Start your visa applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I apply online for a France regroupement familial long-stay visa through France-Visas?”
Submit your application online
Submit your visa application online as directed by France-Visas. Follow its instructions for handing in your application where you live.
Submit the visa applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit my France regroupement familial long-stay visa application on France-Visas?”
Book your visa appointment
Book an appointment if the visa instructions for where you live require one.
Book an appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book a France regroupement familial visa appointment through France-Visas?”
Pay the visa fee
Pay the visa fee if one is required, using the payment instructions for your visa application.
See how to paySearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the France regroupement familial long-stay visa fee?”
Hand in your application
Go in person to the consulate or authorised visa centre with your passport and the documents requested by France-Visas. Provide fingerprints or attend an interview if asked.
See submission instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I hand in a France regroupement familial long-stay visa application?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the decision on your visa application and respond to any requests from the visa service.
Follow your applicationCollect your visa
If your visa is approved, collect it as directed by the visa service.
See how to collectSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I collect my France regroupement familial long-stay visa?”
Travel to France
Travel to France with your visa to join your spouse.
See travel informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I enter France with a regroupement familial long-stay visa?”
Once in FranceOnce in France
Complete your residence formalities
After arriving, validate your visa online if it is a VLS-TS. If your visa says you must request a residence card, go to the prefecture to request it instead.
See residence formalitiesSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I validate a France regroupement familial long-stay visa or request a residence card after arrival?”
Follow the OFII instructions
Complete any integration and residence steps OFII tells you to take. This helps you complete the formalities for living in France.
See integration stepsSearches DuckDuckGo for “What OFII integration steps do I take after arriving in France through regroupement familial?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates *
Get full copies of your birth certificate and your spouse’s birth certificate, including any notes in the margins. Include birth certificates for each child in the application and each child already living in your spouse’s home in France, plus any additional court decision mentioned on a certificate.
* Only if your spouse is filing the family application in France.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationParental authority documents *
Provide the documents that show who has parental authority or custody of the child. Include the other parent’s consent or the relevant decision, as it applies to your family.
* Only if a child in the family application is not joining both parents.
Marriage certificate *
Get a full copy of your marriage certificate, including any notes in the margins. Include any additional court decision mentioned on the certificate.
* Only if your spouse is filing the family application in France.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationSpouse’s residence document *
Include a copy of your spouse’s valid French residence document. This can be an accepted residence card or a receipt or confirmation that an accepted card is being renewed.
* Only if your spouse is filing the family application in France.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Residence document upkeep
Keep a valid passport and residence document, renew your document on time and tell the authorities about relevant changes.
After expiry, you cannot keep working just because renewal is pending: your receipt or extension document must authorize work.
Residence can be lost
Your residence right can end if your card expires or renewal is refused.
Fraud, a false or ended family relationship, polygamy, serious public-order concerns or breaking residence rules can lead to withdrawal or refusal.
Long periods away from France can jeopardize renewal, and other legal grounds can also apply.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Visa long séjour conjoint de français et regroupement 🇫🇷
French Facebook group for people living in France interested in French visas
Join on FacebookAlgérie : CCAM Transcription Visa Conjoint de Français
French Facebook group for people living in France interested in French visas
Request to joinEU Freedom of Movement Support Initiative
English Facebook group for people living in France interested in French visas
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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