Family reunification for the family of a foreign national
This procedure allows the spouse and children of a foreign national legally residing in France to join them. The applicant in France must provide evidence of sufficient financial resources and accommodation.
Specification reviewed on
Required documents
The list below is exhaustive. Each document is described as it must be submitted, including the most common errors that lead to rejection.
Identity
Applicant's residence permit
You must provide a front and back photocopy of your valid residence permit. Accepted permits include the carte de résident, the carte de résident longue durée-UE, a carte de séjour pluriannuelle or a carte de séjour temporaire of at least one year. An attestation de demande de renouvellement is also accepted.
Common errors
- An expired residence permit or one that does not match the list of eligible permits will lead to the inadmissibility of the application.
Full copy of the marriage certificate
You must provide a full copy of your marriage certificate, which includes all marginal notes. If the certificate refers to a supplementary judgment, this must be attached. Any document in a foreign language must be accompanied by its translation into French by a certified translator or certified by a French consular or diplomatic authority.
Common errors
- Providing a short-form marriage certificate instead of a full copy, or omitting the sworn translation for a foreign document.
Full copy of the applicant's birth certificate
You must provide a full copy of your birth certificate with its marginal notes. If the certificate refers to it, the supplementary judgment must be attached. The document must be translated into French if it is written in another language.
Common errors
- Omitting the sworn translation or providing a short-form birth certificate instead of a full copy.
Full copy of the spouse's birth certificate
You must provide a full copy of your beneficiary spouse's birth certificate, with its marginal notes. If the certificate refers to it, the supplementary judgment must be attached. The document must be translated into French if it is written in another language.
Common errors
- Omitting the sworn translation or providing an extract of the birth certificate instead of a full copy.
Full copy of the birth certificate of each child
You must provide a full copy of the birth certificate for each child concerned by the application, including those already residing in France. The certificate must include any marginal notes and be accompanied by a supplementary judgment if mentioned. A translation is required for documents in a foreign language.
Common errors
- Forgetting the birth certificate of one of the children, or not providing the sworn translation.
Divorce decree
If you or your spouse have been previously married, you must provide the divorce decree(s). For a divorce granted abroad, the decree must be irrevocable or final. A translation into French is mandatory.
Common errors
- Providing a judgment that is not yet final or omitting the sworn translation.
Sworn declaration of non-polygamy
If you are a national of a country whose legislation allows polygamy, you must provide a sworn declaration stating that your family's arrival will not create a situation of polygamy in France.
Common errors
- Omitting this document if you are from a country that allows polygamy, even if you are not personally polygamous.
Supporting documents relating to parental authority over the children
For children from a previous relationship, you must provide the documents proving the exercise of parental authority. Depending on the case, this may be the court judgement granting parental authority or custody rights, the other parent's death certificate, a decision to withdraw parental authority, or a letter from the other parent authorising the child to come to France, with an authenticated signature.
Common errors
- The authorisation from the other parent must have a signature authenticated by the competent local authorities or the French consulate.
Resources
Tax assessment notice
You must provide your latest tax assessment notice or non-assessment notice. If it is not yet available, you may attach the one from the previous year or your last tax return stamped by the tax authorities.
Common errors
- Providing a simple tax return not stamped by the tax authorities when the tax assessment notice is available.
Proof of financial resources for the last 12 months
You must prove stable and sufficient financial resources over the last 12 months. The documents vary depending on your status: payslips and employment contract for an employee; an RNE extract less than 3 months old and a balance sheet for a self-employed person; a statement of benefits from France Travail for a jobseeker; a payment notice for a pensioner.
Common errors
- Providing supporting documents that do not cover the entire 12 months preceding the application, or unofficial documents.
Accommodation
Proof of accommodation
You must prove that you have suitable accommodation. Depending on your situation, you must provide: the tenancy agreement and the last rent receipt (tenant); the property deed (owner); a declaration from the host with their proof of identity and accommodation (hosted person). A proof of address less than 3 months old (energy, water, landline telephone bill) is required in all cases.
Common errors
- Providing a proof of address older than 3 months or a mobile phone bill. For accommodation, an incomplete declaration of accommodation or one without the host's supporting documents will be refused.
Supporting documents for future accommodation
If you do not yet have the accommodation at the time of submitting the case, you must provide a document proving its future availability. This can be a promise to rent, proof of future purchase, or the Cerfa form n°11437 'Attestation de mise à disposition d'un logement'.
Common errors
- Relying on a simple property listing instead of a binding document such as a promise to lease or a preliminary sale agreement.
Other documents
Application form for family reunification
You must complete the official application form. The case can be submitted online via the dedicated service, or sent by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt to the territorial directorate of the Office français de l'immigration et de l'intégration (OFII) with jurisdiction for your place of residence.
Common errors
- You must not use both submission methods for the same case. An incomplete case will be returned to you by the OFII, delaying the procedure.
Explanatory letter for partial family reunification
If your application does not concern all members of your family (spouse and all minor children), you must attach a letter explaining the reasons for this partial request, justifying that it is in the children's best interest.
Common errors
- As partial reunification is an exception, the absence of this explanatory letter may lead to the refusal of the application.
Have your situation reviewed
Having the list does not indicate whether your situation will lead to a successful outcome. The questionnaire takes a few minutes and an adviser will send you a written opinion within one working day, whether your application is admissible or not.