Retiring in France in 2026: how to get residence

9 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Retirees move to France on a long-stay visa for living without work. It requires your own income of at least the annual minimum wage, about $1,700 a month per adult, plus insurance and housing.

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Key facts	2026
Ground	long-stay visa for living on your own means without work
Income	from $1,700 a month per adult, ~$20,000 a year
Term	a one-year visa, then a residence card renewed every year
State fees for the first year	from $460: consular fee and tax on arrival
Tax on pensions	0-45% scale, often 0 on a modest pension
Insurance	private for the whole stay, then the state system
10-year resident card	after 5 years, with language and civics exams

Data checked: 06.10.2026

France has no separate retirement visa. Retirees get a long-stay visa for living on their own means: the law requires income of at least the annual net minimum wage, health insurance and a commitment not to work in France. A pension, rent and dividends are exactly that kind of income.

The main difficulties are income for each spouse, insurance for older people and housing before the move. Below is who qualifies, documents, how to prove a Russian pension, taxes, a couple's budget, cities and the steps.

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Who can get residence as a retiree

The visa is issued to those living on their own means of at least the annual net minimum wage: in 2026 that is about $20,000 a year, or $1,700 a month. Pensions, rental income, dividends, interest and annuity payments all count. Work in France is not allowed, including remote work.

Each adult family member files their own application, and the income has to cover everyone: one pension at the minimum for two people reads as half the required amount. For a couple a reasonable guideline is about $3,400 a month of stable income.

retirees with a pension and other income from $1,700 a month per person;
couples with income of about $3,400 a month for two;
owners of a home in France or those ready to rent a flat for a year;
those ready to live in France without working.

Documents and how to prove a Russian pension

a passport valid for the whole visa term and photos;
the form on the state visa application portal and the fee receipt;
6-12 months of bank statements and a pension statement;
health insurance for the whole stay;
a lease, a property deed or a letter from the host;
a written commitment not to work in France;
a criminal record certificate and a marriage certificate if travelling together;
translations into French by a sworn translator.

A Russian pension is proved with a pension statement from the Gosuslugi portal or the Social Fund and bank statements showing it arrives every month. The consulate reads the law literally: the income must be yours, not transfers from your children.

A one-off top-up before applying raises more questions than a small but stable pension. Statements are prepared for 6-12 months, and savings are shown in addition if the pension is close to the minimum.

Health insurance

At the time of applying you need private insurance for the whole visa term: hospital, outpatient care and repatriation, with no exclusion of existing conditions. For a 68-year-old a policy costs several times more than for a 35-year-old, and some retirement plans break down over insurance.

After three months of living in France you can join the state health insurance system. Many add top-up insurance that covers what the state does not reimburse, and it gets more expensive with age.

Tax on your pension and the treaty with Russia

Living in France, you usually become its tax resident: by your main home, after 183 days a year or by the centre of economic interests. A resident pays income tax at 0-45% on worldwide income, and the pension is part of it. Income up to about $13,000 a year per share is taxed at 0%, and a married couple has two shares.

The double tax agreement with Russia has been almost entirely suspended since 8 August 2023, so pensions are taxed under each country's own rules. The Russian state pension is not taxed in Russia, while rental and deposit income from Russia is taxed in both countries. More in taxes in France.

Monthly budget for a couple

Monthly item	Amount
One-bedroom flat in central Nice	$900-1,350
Groceries for two	$680-900
Transport passes for two	~$115
Top-up health insurance	more expensive with age
Furnished one-bedroom flat in Paris	$1,350-1,910
Total for a couple in Nice	from $1,900

The total for a couple in Nice: rent from $900, groceries from $680 and transport, plus utilities and insurance. In summer prices on the Riviera rise because of tourists, so leases are signed for a year. In Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Lille rent is noticeably lower than in Paris. A consultant in the chat will calculate it for your city.

We build a file the consulate reads literally

Retirees are refused in France not over a small pension but over the file: income arriving as transfers from children, three months of statements instead of a year, a hotel booking instead of a lease, insurance excluding chronic conditions. We calculate income for each spouse, choose insurance and housing to the consulate's requirements, have documents translated by a sworn translator and handle renewals at the prefecture.

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Where retirees settle

The Riviera is the top choice for retirees: Nice has mild winters, the sea and an airport. The Liberation district with its tram and market is convenient for daily life, while green Cimiez on the hill is elegant and quiet.

Bordeaux is chosen for wine, architecture and prices below Paris: the Chartrons by the river and quiet green Cauderan. In Marseille retirees look at the seaside 7th and 8th arrondissements, and in Lyon at calm neighbourhoods with good clinics.

Paris is expensive for retired life: a furnished one-bedroom flat costs $1,350-1,910 a month. Many live in small towns of Provence and the south-west, where housing and life are much cheaper.

Steps and timelines

Step	Timeline
The file: statements, insurance, housing, criminal record certificate, translations	1-3 months
Online form and appointment at the consulate or visa centre	no earlier than 3 months before the trip
Consulate decision	officially 15-20 working days, in practice 1-3 months
Entry and online visa validation with a tax of ~$340	within 3 months
Residence card renewal at the prefecture, ~$400	every year, 4-2 months before expiry
10-year resident card	after 5 years in the country

The consular fee for a long-stay visa is about $120 and is not returned after a refusal. There is no multi-year card for living without work: every year you prove income, insurance, housing and that you did not work. Since 2026 the resident card requires intermediate French and a civics exam.

Common reasons for refusal

the income is not yours: transfers from relatives or an account in someone else's name;
irregular income or a one-off top-up before applying;
income just at the minimum for two people;
a hotel booking instead of a lease or property deed;
insurance with exclusions or not for the whole term;
signs of work in France, including remote work.

Retirees most often get the couple's income wrong: the minimum applies to each adult. Savings and rent are added to the pension in advance so that a year of statements shows stable income.

This topic in other countries

Retiring in other countries:

FAQ

Does France have a retirement visa?

Not a separate one. Retirees get a long-stay visa for living on their own means without the right to work in France.

What pension is needed for French residence?

Income of at least the annual net minimum wage: about $20,000 a year, or $1,700 a month, per adult. A pension can be combined with rent and dividends.

Is a Russian pension taxed in France?

Yes, for a French tax resident it is part of worldwide income and taxed at 0-45%. Income up to about $13,000 a year per share is taxed at 0%.

How much does a French retirement visa cost?

The consular fee is about $120, the tax on validating the visa after arrival about $340, and card renewal about $400 a year. Insurance and translations are extra.

Is health insurance required?

Yes, private for the whole visa term, with no exclusion of chronic conditions. After three months of living in France you can join the state system.

How much does retired life in France cost?

A couple in Nice needs from $1,900 a month excluding insurance. Paris costs more, while rent is lower in Bordeaux, Lyon and small towns.

Can two people go on one pension?

Each adult files their own application, and income must cover both. A pension at the minimum for one person does not work for a couple.

Can a retiree get French citizenship?

Yes, after 5 years in the country, with upper-intermediate French and a civics exam. The decision takes up to 18 months.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

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