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EU Citizen Family — Spouse

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Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Which family relationships qualify?

The spouse of the EU/EEA/Swiss citizen qualifies and is among the family members to whom the family-member card is issued.

See recorded sources

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The sponsor is an EEA or Swiss citizen who holds a right of residence in France as a worker, inactive person or student.

See recorded sources

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

Proof of marriage: the EU spouse's passport or ID card plus an extract or full copy of the marriage certificate.

See recorded sources

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

Financial conditions attach to the EU/EEA/Swiss citizen's own residence basis: as a student, the citizen must guarantee sufficient resources for themselves and, where relevant, their family members so as not to become a burden on French social assistance; as an inactive or retired person, the citizen must have health insurance and sufficient resources. The official source states no separate financial, accommodation or insurance requirement for the family member.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The source states no separate financial, accommodation or insurance requirement for the family member; no resource condition is stated for the worker basis.

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

Adult non-EU family members (or from age 16 if they wish to work) must apply online for a residence card within 3 months of entry; a 'family member of a Union citizen' card is issued within at most 6 months unless they are a public-order threat. It has the same validity as the EU citizen's card (or the stay the citizen is entitled to, up to 5 years); renewal is requested 4 to 2 months before expiry. The family's right ends with the EU citizen's, though in some situations (divorce, death, the citizen leaving France) family members may remain. After 5 years' legal, uninterrupted residence with the citizen they acquire a permanent right of residence.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2653
    Les membres majeurs de votre famille (ou de plus de 16 ans s'ils souhaitent travailler) doivent obligatoirement détenir un titre de séjour . Ils doivent le demander dans les 3 mois de leur entrée en France. Dans un délai maximum de 6 mois, une carte de séjour membre de la famille d'un citoyen de l'Union leur est délivrée sauf s'ils représentent une menace pour l'ordre public : titleContent . Cette carte a la même durée de validité que votre titre de séjour. Si vous n'avez pas demandé de titre de séjour, il a la durée de séjour à laquelle vous pouvez prétendre, dans la limite de 5 ans. Le droit au séjour de votre famille prend fin avec le vôtre. Cependant, dans certaines situations et sous certaines conditions, votre famille peut continuer à vivre sans vous en France (en cas de divorce ou de décès ou si vous quittez la France, etc.). Si la carte doit être renouvelée, il faut faire la demande entre 4 et 2 mois avant sa date de fin. Demande de carte La démarche se fait sur internet !
  • https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2653
    Votre famille, qui a résidé de façon légale et ininterrompue en France pendant les 5 années précédentes avec vous, obtient un droit au séjour permanent.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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