Family reunification is a procedure that will be initiated by a foreigner who has a residence permit in France to bring their family members: spouse and children.
To start this family reunification procedure, the applicant for family reunification must meet a number of conditions.
The conditions to be met by foreigners in France ?
How to apply for family reunification ?
What happens after submitting your file ?
You can apply for family reunification for:
- your spouse
- Your minor children
Your family must reside abroad. You can bring children from your couple or from a previous union. The same is true for adopted children. Other family members cannot benefit from family members reunification (they must apply for visas on a personal basis if they wish to come to France).
Conditions for family members reunification
A regular stay
The foreigner who requests reunification must have resided for at least 18 months in France with one of the following titles:
- A residence permit for at least one (1) year.
- A ten (10) year resident card or EU long-term resident card.
- A receipt for an application for renewal of one of the residence permits.
Means conditions
A foreigner applying for family members reunification must provide proof of stable and sufficient resources.
These resources must reach a certain net amount, depending on the number of individuals who make up his family:
- For two (2) or three (3) individuals, the minimum monthly resources must be 1,353.07 euros, over the last twelve (12) months preceding the request.
- For four (4 or five (5) individuals, the minimum monthly resources must be 1,468 euros over the last twelve (12) months preceding the request.
- For six (6) or more people, the minimum monthly resources must be 1,601.74 euros over the last twelve (12) months preceding the request.
The resources of the foreigner (applicant) can come from income from salaried or self-employed work, retirement pensions, from the management of assets, etc.
The following couple resources are excluded:
- Family benefits
- The active solidarity income
- Solidarity allowance for the elderly)
- The temporary waiting allowance
- Specific solidarity allowance
- The pension equivalent allowance
Housing conditions
The applicant must have or justify that he has accommodation on the date of arrival of his family. The accommodation must meet certain conditions of health and equipment. Depending on the geographical area where the accommodation is located, it must have the following total living area at least equal to:
- In zones A bis and A, accommodation with an area of 22 m² for a couple without children or two individuals. It is necessary to add 10 m² per additional individual up to 8 individuals in total and 5 m² per additional individual beyond 8 individuals.
- In zones B1 and B2, accommodation with an area of 24 m² for a couple without children or 2 individuals. It is necessary to add 1) m² per additional individual up to 8 individuals in total and 5 m² per additional individual beyond 8 individuals.
- In zone C, accommodation with an area of 28 m² for a couple without children or 2 individuals. It is necessary to add 10 m² per additional individual up to 8 individuals in total and 5 m² per additional individual beyond 8 individuals.
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How to apply for family members reunification
The applicant must send their file to the territorial department of the competent French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII).
Please note: the applicant must attach to his application a copy of the supporting documents corresponding to his situation.
The documents to attach to your application for family members reunification are as follows:
The Residence permit
- A photocopy of the applicant’s valid residence permit.
- A resident card.
- A residence card bearing the words “long-term resident – EU” which is issued in France.
- A multi-year residence permit.
- A temporary residence permit for a period greater than or equal to one (1) year.
- A certificate of residence of one (1) year or ten (10) years.
- A certificate of application for renewal of residence permit.
Civil status documents
The documents must be translated into French.
- A complete copy of the marriage certificate.
- A complete copy of your birth certificate.
- A complete copy of the birth certificate of your beneficiary spouse.
- A complete copy of the birth certificate of each of your children.
A letter explaining the family members reunification
In the event that family members reunification is not requested for all the members of your family, you must therefore justify your request with regard to the interests of the child or children.
Proof of resources for the last twelve (12) months
- The last tax (or non-tax) notice.
- A bank certificate and account statements justifying the origin of the income.
- Alimony paid or collected by virtue of a court order.
- If you live as a couple, you need proof of resources from your spouse.
Accommodation documents
- Proof of your current address less than three (3) months old, for example the last gas, electricity, water or landline bill) or proof of home insurance.
- A promise to rent your future accommodation in France.
- Proof of future acquisition of housing if your do not rent.
What happens once your file is sent?
Verification when filing the file
The OFII checks whether your file is admissible and complete.
If your file is complete, the OFII management will send you the list of missing pieces. It will give you a deadline to allow you to send the missing documents. If you do not complete in time, your request will be dismissed. You will have to submit a new complete file.
If your application is admissible and complete, you will receive a deposit certificate which will indicate the list of the members of your family concerned by the request.
Decision of the prefecture
The OFII or the town hall, depending on the case, will come and visit your accommodation. The prefecture will make a decision on your request within six months from the issue of your deposit certificate.
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