Immigration and Nationality Law for France > Family-related immigration

Spouses of French citizens have a right to a long stay visa and a family stay card as of right, absent fraud. France still has a very favourable framework for retirees, where unlike the United States a special visa category still exists. Nothing in the reform has changed France's unique acceptance of same-sex couples, allowing an alien to enter into a same-sex marriage contract (PACS) to facilitate the obtaining of a visa for the alien partner, provided the economic criteria are met.

Types of French stay permits most often requested

• visitor's permit
• student permit
• scientist's permit
• artistic and cultural permit
• temporary work permit
  
• independent artisan/merchant's permit
  
• temporary permit for entry into a PACS
  
• retirement permit
  
• family permit