The Principality of Monaco: an exclusive destination for ‘smart people’.
Relocating in Monaco as a private citizen has many facets: let’s find out some key steps.
The Principality of Monaco is an unquestionable synonym of charm and ability to aim high and reinvent its urban spaces. High-standard services, exquisite hospitality and refined entertainments makes it a dreamy destination where to spend some time and maybe relocate. Not surprisingly, it is sold out for Christmas Season 2020, despite the pandemic effects on tourism. Why all this? Serenity, security and quality of life are key factors of the Monegasque lifestyle not to mention its convenient tax system and a growing role as a cultural, sport, health, technological, business and sustainable hub. What better place to live? But becoming a resident of Monaco is for many but not for all. iPremium had the chance to collect the latest information for residency.
How to apply for a Monaco’s resident card by a EU and non-EU visitors.
First of all, it is useful to know that all adults of age, (16 according to Monegasque law), who want to reside in Monaco for more than three months, must have a Resident Card (carte de résident) issued by the Monegasque Authorities, notably the ‘Service des Residents’ (Residents Section) at the ‘Direction de la Sûreté Publique’ (Directorate of Public Safety) branch of the Police Department in charge of visas. For a shorter period, you must have all the documents necessary to enter the French territory. These binding requests are based on a specific Franco-Monegasque Neighbourhood Convention, entered into force in May 1963, and a Sovereign Ordinance introduced in March 1964.
Generally speaking, visitors coming from a Country belonging to the European Economic Area (EU Countries, UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Andorra) are invited for a preliminary interview at the Residents Section with no need to apply for a settlement visa. As a second step, you are usually requested to present further documents such as:
● full valid identity card or passport;
● birth and civil status certificates;
● a couple of recent identity photos;
● the proof of main Monegasque utilities payments (e.g.: electricity bill, phone/mobile bill, etc.) and a health certificate for over 70s.
Non-European citizens not living in France, on the contrary, have to ask French Authorities, notably the nearest Consulate General or Embassy of France, for a long-term settlement visa to process immediately after the application for residence in the Principality. In fact, besides a valid passport, you have to fill in and sign a series of long-stay visa application forms providing more identity photographs and a medical certificate approved through Consular channels, in addition to what asked to European citizens. Rule which also applies to minors. You must then contact the Residents Section within eight days from your arrival in Monaco.
Non-European citizens living in France for over a year do not need a settlement visa but they have to submit a Resident Application form directly to the Embassy of France in Monaco completed with all detailed personal information, a copy of the French Resident Permit and a valid passport. In case non-EU citizens have been living in France for less than one year, they have to obtain a settlement visa by the nearest Consulate General or Embassy of France before applying to Monaco’s Residents Section, as described above.
EU and non-EU visitors must nevertheless comply with a number of basic requirements.
● You have primarily to prove that you live in an apartment big enough for you and those who live with you, if any, in compliance with legal standards. In other words, you need to have an Agreement or a Certificate of Accommodation, proving property or lease rental for at least twelve months. Thus, it could be useful to check Monaco Real Estate Chamber to get up-dated information about the Monegasque housing market.
● You have to prove then an adequate financial support, set at minimum of EUR 500.000 as a ‘security deposit’ to be maintained at any Monegasque bank for the duration of the residence.
● This requirement, traditionally proven by an Official Letter, must be reinforced by the evidence of your financial situation. Starting a business, having a stable professional contract in Monaco, being guaranteed by a third-party bail or counting on a sufficient amount of savings could be relevant clues.
● Last but not least, you must prove to have a good conduct and morals with no past convictions through your personal Criminal Record, a sworn statement or equivalentcovering the previous five years, regardless of the Countries in which you lived. This certificate cannot be older than three months before the application.
All supporting documentation must be presented in original copies and translated if not provided in English, French or Italian.
You can start the application process by filling in and signing the forms as well as fixing a rendezvous with Residents Section at Monaco’s Directorate of Public Safetywhere you will be asked about your education, work experience, children (if any), your parents, and other family members. Once the Permit has been obtained, you will be invited to withdraw it within approx. six weeks. This document allows you to move freely in the Schengen Area but it must be returned whenever you decide to leave the Principality. After ten years of residence in Monaco you can ask the Sovereign Prince for Monaco’s citizenship that is issued on His sole discretion by renouncing, the applicant, to any previous one.
For under-sixteen-year-old, it can be issued a specific ‘document de circulation’ (document for the movement) for minors coming from abroad. This Permit, free of charge for the applicant, may be valid for up to 5 years and it expires at the age of 16 or as soon as you get the Residence Permit. The latter can be requested by filling in a special form by Resident Service with some relevant data to be given:
● a Birth Certificate of the child or Family Record Booklet;
● a valid passport of the child;
● a valid identity card of one or both parents who make the request;
● and, in some cases, a proof of your legal position vis-à-vis the child (e.g.: custody, adoption, guardianship, etc.).
Asking French Authorities for long-term and visitor visas.
For all citizens coming from a non-European Country, like Russia, a ‘permis de séjour de longue durée’ (long stay national visa) for more than 90 days is a prerequisite before applying for a Monegasque resident permit. French diplomatic system is well structured and it has digitized most of the application duties through an effective compilation support system. As a first step, it may be useful to check the information service on France-Visas official website offered by the French Government and available in French, English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Russian. There you can find all refreshed information about the application form needed and any further supporting document to produce to the French Consulate depending on your nationality and the reason for the move.
Then, the French Diplomatic Body verifies the completeness of the file and transmits it to the French Embassy in Monaco which forwards it to the Monegasque authorities who may give their consent or not. After that, the French authorities carry out the final checks and finalise the application by communicating their decision to the Consulate of France responsible for supervision. In case of agreement, the long stay visa for Monaco is finally issued.
If you like to stay in France for more than three months without working you can apply for a ‘Carte de séjour temporaire "visiteur" d'un étranger en France’ (Temporary residence card "visitor" of a foreigner in France) valid up to one year and renewable at expiration. In this case, it could be helpful to check the website of Prefecture of the Maritime Alps, responsible for the PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) region bordered by the Monegasque territory. In fact, it provides rather detailed online services that are constantly updated. For the first contact as a ‘visitor’, the procedure usually involves the completion of a questionnaire, a subsequent online registration, a file formation and a targeted face-to-face rendezvous to be fixed online, except in special cases. Due documentation to keep at hand, including your passport, a birth certificate, the long stay national visa, financing and accommodation credentials, international-standard photos and the payment of revenue stamps are in the list of things to do. ***
USEFUL CONTACTS
🇲🇨 Principality of Monaco
Direction de la Sûreté Publique - Division de la Police Administrative – Section des Résidents, in charge of the "Carte de Résident" (Resident Card):
3, rue Louis Notari - 98000 Monaco (+377) 93 15 30 17 – 93 15 30 60
Monaco Welcome & Business Office-prior contact for people who wish to settle in the Principality, in a private or professional capacity:
9 rue du Gabian (1er étage) - (+377) 98 98 98 98 welcome.business@gouv.mc
Representation of the Principality of Monaco to the Russian Federation and Representation of Russian Federation to the Principality of Monaco:
Chambre Immobilière Monégasque - the best view on real-estate in Monaco
🇫🇷 France
France-Visas - the official visa website for France
Préfecture des Alpes Maritimes - Prefecture of the Maritime Alps,in charge of ‘visitor’ visa
