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Moving to Monaco

2012-03-29 09:34

How many times, I wonder, have visitors to Monaco gazed out to sea over a glass of chilled rosé, and wondered 'I wish I could live here'? Well, the good news is that you can. Sure, there's some red tape, but the steps to approval are actually relatively straightforward. Below are the official rules and regs from the government: follow them carefully and you should be well on your way to becoming a resident of this very special Principality.



Residency: the Rules

If you intend to stay in Monaco for more than 90 days you will require a 'carte de sejour' residency permit, although citizens of some countries will also require a long-stay visa before making their application.

A. Nationals from the EEA (European Economic Area): EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechstenstein and Switzerland) 

Nationals of one of the states of the European Economic Area are exempted from the procedure for the visa to set up residence in Monaco.

In order to obtain a Monégasque residence permit ('carte de séjour'), you must apply to the Residents Section of the Directorate of Public Security located at 3, rue Louis Notari in the Principality and must submit the documents listed below :

• an abstract of the legal record of nationality, and an abstract of your legal record from the country you are coming from
• a sworn statement stating that you have never been convicted;
• a work document, endorsed by the Employment Department of the Principality, or any other professional substantiating document, or a request for authorisation to set up a business or a company, or a bank reference proving sufficient means of subsistence;
• one recent photograph;
• a rental contract or a certificate of accommodation (examined by the Ad-Hoc Commission) or a deed of ownership ;
• your passport.
  
  

B. If you are a national of a state outside the European Economic Area, and residing OUTSIDE France

Interested parties are obliged to apply to the French Consul with territorial juridiction for a visa to set up residence.

You must submit the following documents to the consular office in question:

• an abstract of the legal record of nationality, and an abstract of your legal record from the country you are coming from ;
• a sworn statement stating that you have never been convicted ;
• a work document endorsed by the Employment Department of the Principality, or any other professional substantiating document, or a request for authorisation to set up a business or a company, or a bank reference proving sufficient means of subsistence;
• a rental contract, or a promise of rental, or a certificate of accommodation (examined by the Ad-Hoc Commission) or a deed of ownership, or a written undertaking by the interested party to produce one of the four aforementioned substantiating documents within the three months following your arrival in the Principality;
• one photograph ;
• a photocopy of your passport ;
• nine copies of the application form for a long-stay visa. 

After obtaining this visa, any foreigner aged over sixteen is obliged to apply for a Monégasque residence permit (“ carte de séjour ”) from the Residents Section of Public Security within eight days of arriving in the Principality. In order to obtain the permit in question, the same documents must be submitted as those which are required from nationals of the European Economic Area.

However, the following persons are exempted from applying for this document:

1) career diplomats accredited to H.S.H. The Sovereign Prince and the members of their families;
2) civil servants seconded under the auspices of the Franco-Monégasque Conventions.

C. If you are a national of a state outside the European Economic Area, and residing IN France

Two possible cases:

1. If the interested parties have been residing in France for at least one year:

You must submit the file for the application to set up residence in the Principality to the French Consulate-General in Monaco.The file comprises the following documents:

• the petition from the interested party;
• an individual detailed information note;
• a photocopy of your residence permit in France;
• a photocopy of your passport.

2. If the interested parties have been residing in France for less than one year:

You must submit an application for a visa to set up residence in the Principality to the French Consulate-General in your place of residence immediately preceding your settlement in France. You will be required to produce the documents listed above.

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