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Resident cards for EU citizens Print
Written by G. Drummond   

Sent by G. Drummond, Carros

I have read in your magazine that some EU citizens are having problems obtaining resident cards. My experience at the prefecture is that they refuse to issue them to EU citizens as we are meant to have an automatic right to reside here and don’t need a card. On the other hand, I am sometimes asked for this card and as you have pointed out, it is a useful substitute for the identity card which French citizens have. Can I be refused this card?

 

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written by Riviera Reporter , 12 January 2008
As an EU citizen you should be able to obtain a carte de séjour if you can show sufficient resources to live in France and can prove that you are covered by health care, either state or private. This is a right openly ignored by some mairies and prefectures. We would suggest taking the written information in French available from http://vosdroits.service-public.fr where it is clearly stated "Les citoyens qui ont acquis un droit au séjour permanent en France peuvent demander la délivrance d'une carte de séjour 'CE - séjour permanent - toutes activités professionnelles', valable vingt ans. Cette carte, dont la possession n'est pas obligatoire, est renouvelable de plein droit." This is a confirmation of EU law (N° 2004/38/EC Articles 18,19,20) and you can download a copy of the legislation at www.riviera-reporter.com/downl...idence.pdf (or e-mail us to receive a copy by e-mail).
But expect an argument at the mairie or the prefecture. They don't like being asked to issue these cards. M.M.
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written by Samantha R , 21 January 2008
Has anyone really been able to get the card they have a right to? My experience has been that French civil servants do more or less what they please, no matter wht the law says.
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written by Jake in Biot , 05 February 2008
They fight tooth and nail at the perefecture in Nice not to give it to you. My lawyer said just to tell them that the law requires them to issue one. I did but they don't care.
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written by HappyInFrance , 09 February 2008
My sister and her family live in the Dordogne and they had no trouble at all being issued with their residence cards. But hearing the stories I'm rather afraid of trying in Nice when mine runs out soon.
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written by R. Wall , 21 February 2008
I'm told I don't need a card so whay would I want one?
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written by hans kemme , 19 June 2008
It is a problem indeed to get this (20 years valid) card from the Préfecture in Nice.
To HappyInFrance: did you try in the meantime? Result?
To Jake in Biot: any more comment from your lawyer? What about taking the Prefect to the Tribunal and asking the judge to force him ? (I guess that your lawyer will say that the judges in the Provence work as much against laws issued in Paris as the Prefect!). If some of us stick together, we can share the costs of your (or an other) lawyer. Try?


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written by R. Wall , 19 June 2008
Why go as far as a tribunal? Just get a lawyer to write the directeur, service des etrangers and the prefet citing the law and any example of it not being applied. Copy to your consulate and my guess would be that they'd fall into line.

It's the cheapest option. Failing that there is always the Tribunal Administratif.
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written by Jack Harrison , 21 February 2010
The carte de séjour was abolished some time ago for E.U. originating residents, it is therefore understandable that the authorities might not want to wast their time issuing them. I had 2 of them over a 20 year period as I was working as well as living in France. The last one ran out a few years ago and I have never found the need to replace it. I have a French driving license, which serves perfectly well as an idetity card. It's worth pointing out that even the "carte nationale d'identité" is not obligatory. My son who is now 29, grew up in France and has never had either carte de séjour or carte d'identité and has never had need of them. Why bother!
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written by Nobby , 02 April 2010
Ive been in france for 12 years now
I had a 5 yr titre de sejour first & now a 10 yr one
They can be useful if you travel - for getting back to France !
My passport is GB so I have been questioned at the airport when leaving a few countries as my plane ticket final destination was to France not UK.
They don't want to be responsible for an illegal immigrant going to France as they would get billed for the return journey if you were refused entry
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