France Permanent Resident Card: B1 French, €350 Fee and 10-Year Validity

Verification date: 2026-08-31. Every amount, eligibility threshold, validity period and timing point below was checked on that date against France’s official Service-Public guidance on the carte de résident permanent.

For France’s ordinary resident-card renewal route, applicants generally must show at least B1 French and pass the civic examination; the fee is €350, online filing is accepted from 4 to 2 months before expiry, and the card is valid for 10 years and renewable. Applicants who already hold 2 consecutive resident cards are systematically offered the permanent-resident card, while an EU long-term-resident card holder can request it when renewing that card.

Which French residence routes lead to permanent-resident status?

Starting position in France	Route described by Service-Public
Ordinary resident card approaching expiry	The carte de résident permanent may be issued when the resident card is renewed.
2 consecutive resident cards already obtained	The permanent-resident card is systematically offered.
Applicant older than 60 renewing an ordinary resident card	The permanent-resident card is issued unless the applicant chooses to apply for an EU long-term-resident card instead.
EU long-term-resident card	The holder may request the permanent-resident card when renewing the EU card.
Algerian applicant	The permanent-resident card does not apply; Service-Public directs the applicant to the certificat de résidence route.

The permanent-resident card allows the holder to continue residing in France and to work. Its permanent-residence right remains subject to conditions: the applicant’s presence must not constitute a threat to public order, and the applicant must satisfy the republican-integration conditions.

Who must show B1 French and pass the civic examination?

The standard requirements concern both language proficiency and civic knowledge.

Requirement	Evidence required	Stated exemption
French proficiency of at least B1 under the CECRL	A diploma or certification demonstrating the required level; see Service-Public’s B1 French evidence guidance.	Applicants older than 65, or those with a medical certificate stating that they cannot take the French test.
Civic examination	An attestation of successful completion; see Service-Public’s civic-examination guidance.	Applicants older than 65, or those with a medical certificate stating that they cannot take the civic examination.

These exemptions concern the respective French-language and civic-examination conditions; other eligibility requirements still apply.

When and how should the permanent-resident application be filed?

The application must be submitted online through the official ANEF online filing entry.

The filing window opens 4 months before and closes 2 months before the expiry of the relevant visa, VLS-TS or other residence document. This is the application window, not a processing-time estimate.

Depending on where the application is submitted, the card is issued by the prefecture or sous-prefecture responsible for the applicant’s domicile.

Which documents must be prepared?

Service-Public lists the following documents and evidence:

Birth certificate: A full copy showing the most recent entries. A holder of a resident card is exempt; where necessary, a judicial decision ordering transcription must accompany it.
Identity evidence: A passport showing civil-status information, validity dates, entry stamps and visas; or a photographic consular attestation, identity card, consular card, or nationality certificate issued less than 6 months earlier.
Proof of domicile: Issued less than 6 months before the application.
Photograph: An e-photo and the code supplied by the photographer or approved photo booth.
French proficiency: The B1 diploma or certification described above.
Civic examination: The successful-examination attestation described above.
Republican principles: A signed commitment to respect the principles of the Republic.
Non-polygamy declaration: If the applicant is married and is a national of a country that permits polygamy.
Ordinary resident-card renewal declaration: An attestation that the applicant did not spend more than 3 consecutive years outside France during the previous 10 years.

What does the permanent-resident card cost?

Item	Official amount and rule
Permanent-resident card	€350, consisting of €300 tax and €50 stamp duty, paid using fiscal stamps.
Late application	An additional €180 regularization visa fee, payable in addition to the card cost, unless force majeure applies or a valid visa is presented.
EU long-term-resident renewal	Service-Public directs the applicant to ask the relevant prefecture; the ordinary-route fee should not be assumed without confirmation for this route.

Applicants must prepare proof of payment of the stamp duty and submit it when the card is handed over. The source specifically requests the payment proof on the delivery day.

Is a permanent-resident card valid indefinitely?

No. The France carte de résident permanent is valid for 10 years and is renewable. Renewal requires the applicant to demonstrate that the conditions under which the card was initially granted continue to be met.

The permanent nature of the residence right therefore does not mean that the physical card has an unconditional, indefinitely valid term. Check the current requirements for your specific French residence route with the relevant immigration authority or consulate before applying.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Must I show B1 French and pass the civic examination?

Yes, subject to the stated exemptions. Applicants older than 65 are exempt from both conditions. A medical certificate can also provide an exemption where it states that the applicant cannot take the relevant French test or civic examination.

Is the €350 fee confirmed for an EU long-term-resident renewal?

The cited Service-Public guidance directs applicants taking that route to ask their prefecture. Confirm the applicable fee for the EU long-term-resident renewal rather than assuming that the ordinary-route amount applies.

What happens if I apply after the 2-month filing point?

A late application may incur an additional €180 regularization visa fee in addition to the card cost. Service-Public identifies force majeure and presentation of a valid visa as exceptions to that additional charge.

Are Algerian nationals eligible for this permanent-resident card?

No. Service-Public states that Algerian applicants are not covered by the carte de résident permanent and instead directs them to the certificat de résidence route.

Does the permanent-resident card need to be renewed?

Yes. It is valid for 10 years and can be renewed, but the applicant must continue to meet the conditions that justified its initial issuance.