Renewing an Employee Residence Permit in France (2026): Deadlines, Documents and Fees

The short answer: a French employee residence card (carte de séjour salarié) is valid for 1 year. To renew it, file at the latest 2 months before it expires, with a complete file. On time, the employee gets a certificate that keeps their stay lawful while the préfecture decides; late, a regularisation fee is added. And since 2026 the same file can open a 4-year card.

This guide follows Service-Public and the immigration code (CESEDA) on Légifrance, checked on 2 November 2026. It also exists in French.

When to file

CESEDA article R431-5 sets two windows, depending on how the title is applied for:

The title	Filing window
Applied for online (the list in article R431-2, on ANEF)	Between the 120th and the 60th day before expiry: at the earliest 4 months, at the latest 2 months before
Any other title (filed at the préfecture)	Within the 2 months before expiry

For the employee card, Service-Public's pages don't say quite the same thing: the employee card page says "at the latest 2 months before the end of validity", the multi-year card page "within the 2 months before the end of validity". One date works in every case: 2 months before expiry. Prepare the file before then, and check the procedure on your préfecture's website.

Where to file

At the préfecture or sous-préfecture where the employee lives, or on the ANEF website if the title is applied for online. Service-Public advises checking the filing procedure on the préfecture's website.

The documents

If the employee still holds the job of their last work authorisation, Service-Public lists:

• the current residence permit;
• the passport (identity, validity dates, entry stamps and visas);
• proof of address under 6 months old and 3 photos;
• the work authorisation for the job held;
• the employer's nominative social declaration (DSN) for the employee, before the renewal request;
• for a first multi-year card: proof of A2 French, the civic exam pass certificate (multi-year card level) and the signed commitment to respect the principles of the Republic;
• when the card is collected: proof of payment and the OFII medical certificate.

Keep the civic training attendance certificate too: the Interior Ministry says it goes into the file (see the OFII integration day).

What it costs

• Renewal: €250 in tax stamps for the employee card, according to Service-Public.
• First multi-year card: Service-Public's multi-year card page gives €350 in the general case.
• Filing late: except for force majeure or a valid visa, a regularisation visa fee is added: €300 since 1 May 2026, €100 of it not refundable.

While it is processed: staying lawful

• The filing receipt (attestation de dépôt) issued when you file online is not a residence document: it does not prove lawful stay and does not allow work.
• The certificate extending the processing (attestation de prolongation d'instruction): if the file is complete and filed within the R431-5 deadlines, and processing runs past the title's expiry, the préfet must provide it. Valid for 3 months at most, it is renewed until a decision is made and, with the expired title, proves lawful stay (CESEDA article R431-15-1).
• Working: for a renewal, this certificate allows work if the card being renewed does, which an employee card does.

Tip: Filing on time keeps the right to work. The extension certificate is only due for a complete file filed on time: late, the employee risks a gap with no document that allows them to work.

If the job has changed

• New employer: the file includes the work authorisation issued to the new employer and the previous employer's certificate for France Travail showing the contract ended.
• Job loss: an employee receiving France Travail benefits can get a new employee card whose length follows their unemployment rights, with the status notice issued by France Travail.

Moving to the 4-year card

At renewal, an employee who still holds the same job and meets the integration conditions (CIR trainings attended, A2 French, the civic exam) receives a 4-year multi-year residence card. Without it, a CIR signatory cannot renew a temporary card with the same purpose more than 3 times in a row (CESEDA article L433-1-1). Details are in our guide to France's multi-year residence card in 2026, and the exam in our civic exam guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should an employee residence permit be renewed in France?

At the latest 2 months before it expires. Depending on the title, the window is the 120th to the 60th day before expiry (titles filed online) or within the 2 months before expiry (other titles): filing 2 months before works in both cases.

What happens if the renewal is filed late?

Except for force majeure or a valid visa, a regularisation visa fee of €300 is added to the card's price since 1 May 2026, €100 of it not refundable. And the certificate extending the processing is only due for a file filed on time.

Can the employee keep working during the renewal?

Yes, with the certificate extending the processing: for a renewal it allows work if the card being renewed does. The online filing receipt does not.

How much does renewing an employee residence card cost?

€250 in tax stamps according to Service-Public's employee card page. For a first multi-year card, its multi-year card page gives €350 in the general case.

What does the renewal need after a change of employer?

The work authorisation issued to the new employer and the previous employer's certificate for France Travail showing the contract ended, on top of the usual documents.

How Settio helps employers and agencies in France

Settio helps employers and immigration and relocation agencies run every residence permit case in one place, from the first application to the renewal:

• Before and after arrival: a plan for every hire, with each step and its deadline, the OFII appointment included.
• For the employee: the employee portal shows their next steps on their phone, in their language, with no account or password.
• Before the renewal: permit monitoring tracks every expiry date and flags the renewal in good time, which leaves room to gather the training certificate, the French level and the civic exam before filing.

Start with a 30-day free trial, no card needed. See how to start.

Sources

8 official sources

• Service-Public: Employee or temporary worker residence card (in French)
• Service-Public: Carte de séjour pluriannuelle (in French)
• Service-Public: What is a residence card application certificate? (in French)
• Service-Public: New residence permit fees (in French)
• Légifrance: CESEDA, article R431-5, filing deadlines (in French)
• Légifrance: CESEDA, articles R431-1 to R431-24, residence permit applications (in French)
• Légifrance: CESEDA, article R431-15-1, extension of processing (in French)
• Légifrance: CESEDA, articles L433-1 to L433-7 (in French)