Told that permanent carte de séjour does not exist
In recent issues there has been a lot of queries about Cartes de Séjour which I have been Interested in as I have been a resident in France as a retired Englishman for nine years. I visited my préfecture in Cahors to request one with the word ‘ permanent ’ as you suggested and was told no such card exists and they can only give a 10-year card. Is there a website where I can find out more so I am prepared next time? P.P.
Technically it is the ‘stay’ (or ‘residency’) in France that is permanent and not the card itself but it certainly exists.
It is called a Carte de séjour ‘Citoyen UE/EEE/Suisse – Séjour permanent’ (Residence card ‘EU/EEA/Switzerland – Permanent residency’). For more about this card see here: service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F22116
The card does have a renewal date on it in 10 years but renewal should involve only minimal paperwork - it is only so as to check you have not left France for two consecutive years, which can lead to a loss of ‘permanent residence’ status under EU rules. These ‘permanent’ cards are for EU citizens who have been in legal residence in France for at least five years. As Britons in France are still EU citizens it is not appropriate for UK citizens to be issued one of the many various other cards available which are for ‘third country’ citizens ie non EU citizens (some of which are also renewable after 10 years).
The latter include the carte de résident de longue durée - UE and the carte de résident de 10 ans. There is also a card called carte de résident permanent - permanent resident’s card - which some non-EU foreign residents in France are eligible for if they have previously held a 10-year card. This type of card has no expiry date and shows permanent, unconditional residence.
A card for a Briton in France should show Citoyen UE and not just UE.
