French Residence Permit Application Process

In January 2009, we went to the police station to turn in our residence permit renewal applications. Even though we still had three months before the expiration of our cards, it's necessary to start the procedure well in advance. In fact, when we received them, the clerk said to come back in December to start the process again, but when we did she claimed it was too early.

Among the paperwork we had to submit this time was our marriage certificate. I find that a little weird - we'd already turned that in with the original request, and it's not something, like a passport for example, that expires or changes. Even if we were divorced, we'd still have the marriage certificate.

In any case, everything went well and they said we'd have the new cards within three months.

2½ months after submitting our visa renewal request, we received letters telling each of us to purchase a 70-euro stamp at the Hôtel des impôts and then return to the préfecture to pick up our new cartes de séjour. Piece of cake, and now we're legal for another year.


Living in France Legally
   Preparing your visa de long séjour application
   Applying for a visa de long séjour
   Applying for a carte de séjour
   Renewing a carte de séjour
   Additional notes and tips