How do you get permanent residence in France in 2026?

Service-Public describes cartes de résident that can be issued as a first title or after temporary or multi-year cards, depending on your basis. Expect identity, domicile under six months old, current visa or titre, and category-specific family or service evidence. Many routes now ask for French at level B1 and success on the examen civique mentioned for the resident card, plus the republican engagement attestation.

File on ANEF when your route is covered, typically no earlier than four months and no later than two months before the current document expires. You receive a dépôt attestation immediately; keep every interim paper until the préfecture notifies that the card is ready for collection.

Renewing a one-year or multi-year titre keeps you on a temporary track: Renew residence permit. Asking for a carte de résident is a status upgrade with heavier integration evidence. Language planning belongs in French language requirements, not only in last-month panic tutoring.

The card is commonly valid ten years and renewable, but long continuous absences from France (Service-Public cites more than three consecutive years in published guidance) can end its validity. Work rights are usually included; employers still verify authenticity.