Foreigners in France looking to apply for or renew cartes de séjour will now be required to include a signed copy of a contract promising to ‘respect the values of the republic’.
This is a result of the new immigration law, which passed in January 2024 and ushered in a host of changes for foreigners including language tests and ‘integration classes’.
Explained: France’s new rules on language tests for foreigners
As for the new contract – failing to abide by it or refusing to include it in a residency card application can lead to the card being rejected or withdrawn.
Generally, the document asks foreigners not to “infringe one or more of the principles that form the basis of the Republic and guarantee the cohesion of French society,” according to the Interior Ministry’s website.
It is an undertaking to respect the French values, including personal freedom, freedom of expression and conscience, equality between men and women, human dignity, the motto and symbols of the Republic, French international borders, and secularism.
READ MORE: The ‘French values’ that foreign residents must respect
What do you need to do?
In practical terms, the contract is a small administrative requirement.
It is done when you make your application for either a new card or to renew a card.
The application and renewal process is usually done online and involves uploading copies of numerous documents including proof of ID, address and your personal situation (eg a work contract if you are applying for a salarié card or proof of enrolment of you are applying for a student card).
The new requirement means that the contract must also be added to your application.
According to the Interior Ministry, you must download the contract, sign it, and then include it in the ‘Justificatifs’ (Supporting documents) section under the ‘Justificatifs de domicile’ (Proof of address) portion.
If your process is done in person, then you print out the document, sign it, and bring it along to your appointment.
You can download the contract HERE, and at the bottom you sign it by including where it was signed, the date, your printed first name and surname, as well as your signature.
A translated copy can be made available upon request.
The contract forms part of the initial application/renewal process – so people who have already had their applications accepted but are still waiting to pick up the card will not be affected by the new requirement.
Who is exempt?
Most people applying for a French carte de séjour will have to sign the contract at some point. It lasts the duration of your residency card, so when you apply for a new one, you will need to sign it again.
The contract will not be required in order to initially secure a visa – most new arrivals in France will first apply for a visa from outside France, and then after arriving in France will request a carte de séjour (exactly when they apply for the card depends on the type of visa) – it’s at the stage of applying for the residency card that signing the contract is required.
The decree states that some groups will never be required to sign the contract, including foreign nationals with a visa lasting three to 12 months with the note “exemption temporaire de carte de séjour” (temporary exemption from residence permit requirement); foreigners on the ‘vacances-travail‘ (working holiday) visa, and those aged between 17-30 on the volunteer.
Brits who hold the Brexit carte de séjour known as the WARP or Article 50 TUE should also be exempt, since they are not covered by the section of law that this bill changes. Some Article 50 TUE holders will need to swap their five-year card for a 10-year-card some time from 2026 – this swap should not require the signing of the republican contract.
Brits who moved to France after 2021 and are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement do not have an exemption.
Additionally, Algerian nationals, certain Tunisian nationals, Moroccan nationals with ‘salarié’ (worker) status, and those under ‘temporary protection’ (asylum seekers) have the option of including the contract, but they are not required.
However, the French government website says that signing it shows ‘commitment to French values’.
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Will the French Government accept an Adobe e-signed document? Other option: download/print/sign and scan again for upload?
Hi, Because this is new we’ve not had a chance to test it, but as a general rule for other French admin processes it’s better to download, print, sign and then scan and upload the scan.
My renewal documents were sent in June and I have the “received” notification but not the “accepted”. My carte expires October 1. Do I have to re-do submission with new form or wait for acceptance and bring when I pick up card? The second option seems more logical but just to be sure. Thank you.
Hi Judith, although we can’t be 100% sure it seems that they are just adding the new contract to the application stage – so if you have already done that and uploaded your documents you’re likely to be processed under the old system. If not, the most likely option is they will request this as an extra document, rather than having to re-submit anything. We would suggest just sitting tight – they will contact you if they decide that they need it!