Living in Monaco: obtaining a residence permit (conditions, procedure)

Our Family Office Department assists you with all the administrative procedures involved in obtaining a residence permit, compiling and monitoring your application with the relevant authorities, and settling and establishing you in the Principality of Monaco:

General conditions for long-term residence (+3 months) and settlement in the Principality of Monaco

Any foreign national aged 16 or over wishing to stay for more than three months or to take up residence in the Principality of Monaco must apply to the Monegasque authorities for a residence permit ("carte de séjour").

As residence permits are not issued to minors under the age of 16, those with parental authority (father, mother or guardian) may apply to the Section des Résidents for the issuance (free of charge) of a Travel Document for Foreign Minors ("Document de Circulation pour mineurs étrangers") to facilitate travel abroad, valid for a maximum of 5 years.

The conditions and procedure for obtaining Monegasque residency vary depending on the nationality of the applicant:

The preliminary procedure for obtaining a settlement visa (type D) for non-EEA/Swiss nationals

Before submitting an application for a residence permit, nationals of countries outside the EEA/Switzerland must be in possession of a long-stay settlement visa" (type D) for the Principality of Monaco.

1. The standard procedure

Long-stay D visas for Monaco are generally issued by the French authorities in the country of residence.

It must be requested from the French Embassy or Consulate nearest to the last domicile of the applicant. See the list of French Embassies and Consulates abroad

The application must be made online via the France Visas portal (https://france-visas.gouv.fr/f...).

The application and supporting documents must be submitted to the Embassy after making an appointment with the Consulate or the relevant centre.

The Consulate then forwards the application to the Monegasque authorities for assessment and opinion. The Monegasque authorities validate applications for long-stay residence and settlement.

This procedure generally takes between two and three months, and the visa is collected from the French Consulate.

2. The exceptional procedure

In accordance with the Neighbourhood Agreement of 18 May 1963 between Monaco and France, the exceptional procedure consists of applying for a long-stay D visa at the French Embassy in Monaco.

It is applicable on an exceptional basis to persons who:

• have been established in France for more than one year and are requesting a transfer of residence to Monaco;
• have been granted temporary residence in the Principality of Monaco (short-stay visa).

In practice, the application is first sent to the Conseiller de Gouvernement-Ministre de l'Intérieur, who reviews it and raises any objections. If authorisation is granted, the visa application is then submitted directly to the French Embassy in Monaco via the France Visas portal (https://france-visas.gouv.fr/f...).

This procedure takes between three and four months (depending on the administration's workload) and the Government of Monaco has the option of refusing it, as it is simply an exemption and not the standard procedure.

Once the long-stay D visa has been obtained, the application for a residence permit in Monaco can be made to the Monegasque authorities, in accordance with the formalities described below.

Formalities to be completed with the Monegasque authorities in order to obtain a residence permit (all foreign nationals)

Anyone interested (nationals of EEA/Switzerland or another country) must first collect an “application” and “list of required documents” from the Police Department (Sûreté publique) – Section des Résidents.

Applications for residence permits is made online via the Monegasque portal www.monguichet.com or at the Section des Résidents.

The documents to be provided vary depending on the nationality and situation of the applicant (additional documents are required for married, separated/divorced persons, students, and those with children under the age of 16).

However, the following documents are generally required:

• A copy of valid passport,
• A proof of accommodation in Monaco (a copy of the lease or deed of an apartment or a certificate of accommodation)
• A copy of an electricity bill or copy of the subscription contract with the Société Monégasque d'Electricité et du Gaz (SMEG)
• An employment contract or other proof of a profession, the receipt of a filing for the establishment of a company in Monaco or a bank certificate of sufficient means of support
• An extract of birth certificate dated less than three months
• An extract of criminal record dated less than three months, or a certificate of good standing or equivalent document from the authorities of the countries of residence for the last five years
• Statement of honour for initial residence permit application (downloadable)
• Two passport photographs.

Once the application has been completed and validated, it is reviewed by the Section des Résidents of the Principality. If it is admissible, a link to make an appointment for an interview with an inspector is usually sent by the authorities within the following month. The first appointment dates are usually set 4 to 5 weeks after receipt of the link.

After each applicant has had an individual interview with an inspector (appointments are separate even in the case of joint applications by spouses), the Residents Section forwards the application to the Government of Monaco.

The government's response is usually received within two months of the interview and, if the response is positive, a new link is sent to the applicant to make an appointment for the photo and fingerprinting and the issuance of the residence permit.

The fee for issuing a first residence permit is EUR 80.