First Residence Permit Application
If you have just arrived in France with a long-stay visa, you must apply for your first residence permit within 3 months of arrival. The process differs based on your situation: employee, student, family reunification, or other grounds.
Required Documents
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Steps to Follow
- Validate your long-stay visa on the OFII website within 3 months of arriving in France.
- Create an account on the ANEF platform and submit your residence permit application online.
- Gather all required documents in originals and copies. Have foreign documents translated by a sworn translator.
- Book a prefecture appointment — use our alert service to find an available slot.
- Attend your appointment with your complete file. The prefecture will take your biometric fingerprints.
- Receive your submission receipt. Your permit will be ready in 2 to 4 months on average.
Practical Tips
- Have all foreign documents translated by a sworn translator before your appointment.
- Bring at least 2 copies of each document in addition to originals.
- If your VLS-TS is nearing expiration, don't wait to start the residence permit application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Within 3 months of arriving in France if you have a long-stay visa, or within 2 months before your VLS-TS expires.
The fiscal stamp ranges from €200 to €269 depending on the type of permit requested. Students benefit from a reduced rate of €75.
Yes, if your visa or receipt allows it. The first application receipt explicitly states whether you are authorized to work.
The prefecture will send you a letter listing missing documents. You will have a deadline (usually 1 month) to complete your file.
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