Chapter I: STAY DOCUMENTS

Subject to France’s international commitments or Book II, any foreign national aged over eighteen who wishes to stay in France for more than three months must hold one of the following residence documents: 1° A long-stay visa; 2° A long-stay visa conferring on its holder, pursuant to the second paragraph of Article L. 312-2, the rights attached to a temporary residence permit or to the multi-annual residence permit provided for…

On expiry of the period of validity of their residence document, foreign nationals must leave France, unless they obtain a renewal or are issued with another.In the event of refusal to issue or renew any residence permit or provisional residence authorisation, foreign nationals are required to leave the territory.The same applies in the event of withdrawal of the residence permit or provisional residence authorisation they hold.

Long-stay visas referred to in 1° and 2° of Article L. 411-1 are valid for a maximum of one year.

The multi-annual residence permit is valid for four years, except when it is issued: 1° To the foreign national mentioned in article L. 421-11 ; in this case, its period of validity is equal to that of the employment contract, up to a maximum of four years; 2° A foreign national mentioned in article L. 421-22 ; in this case, its duration is equal to that remaining on the residence…

The resident card of a foreign national who has left French territory and resided abroad for a period of more than three consecutive years lapses, as does the resident card bearing the words “long-term resident-EU” granted by France when its holder has resided outside the territory of the Member States of the European Union for a period of more than three consecutive years.