Retire to France. Visas: Non-Working Over 90 Day Staying in France.

The Authors/Les Auteurs::

Anne de GOUVION SAINT-CYR, Esq.  Member of the Paris Bar 22, rue d'Artois 75008 Paris	Jonathon Wise POLIER, Esq. Member of the Paris and New York Bars 4, rue de Marignan 75008 Paris
Telephone: (33) 43 59 01 51 Fax:  (33) 1 43 59 01 52	Telephone: (33) 1 47 23 41 51 Fax:  (33) 1 47 23 37 93
E-Mail:  anne.gouvionsaintcyr@wanadoo.fr	E-Mail: j-polier@paris-law.com http://www.paris-law.com

For persons who wish to retire to France or otherwise reside in France without working, the administrative steps include the following:

• submit an application to the appropriate French Consulate in the United States based on the applicant's state of residency.  There are currently 11 French consulates in the United States (Retire to France: Official addresses of French Consulates in the United States )

• Applications are normally prepared with the advice of French legal counsel as there are a number of traps for the unwary..

• Once and if the visa is granted, upon arrival in France, it is necessary to promptly go to the "Prefecture" of the city in which one plans to reside to obtain a temporary visitor's identification card (Carte de séjour temporaire "Visiteur"). You will also be required to take a local medical examination.

This card will be valid for one year and can be renewed provided means and proof of  medical insurance requirements are met as well as compliance with French tax laws.

Naturally, as a French resident, the American will need to file tax returns in both France and the United States.