S'installing in the Principality as an expatriate or to become a permanent resident requires a thorough knowledge of the procedure to follow and the conditions to meet. In this article, you will find all the important information you need to settle in Monaco.

Staying in Monaco for less than 3 months

Foreigners planning to stay in Monaco for a maximum of three months per year generally need only an identity document, such as an identity card or travel passport. For non-Europeans, the same document is required to enter France.

Staying in Monaco for more than 3 months

Requirements for Europeans:

For European citizens, with the exception of French residents planning to stay more than three months in the Principality, the following proofs are required to obtain an official residence permit from the public security authority:

  • Proof of accommodation in Monaco (which may be rented or owned).
  • Proof of sufficient financial resources such as:
    • An employment contract
    • An authorised document stating that you are the director of your company, self-employed, etc.
    • A bank statement
    • Proof of support from a third party
    • Proof of sufficient savings
  • Proof of good character, such as:
    • An extract from your criminal record
    • An affidavit certifying that you have never previously been convicted.

European residents do not need to apply for a visa to settle in Monaco.

Requirements for non-Europeans:

If you are a citizen of a state that is not part of the European Economic Area, you will need to apply for a visa to come to Monaco by presenting the following documents to the French consulate:

  • Proof of accommodation in Monaco (which may be rented, owned, or promised).
  • Proof of sufficient financial resources such as:
    • An employment contract
    • An authorised document stating that you are the director of your company, self-employed, etc.
    • A bank statement
    • Proof of support from a third party
    • Proof of sufficient savings
  • Proof of good character, such as:
    • An extract from your criminal record
    • An affidavit certifying that you have never previously been convicted.
  • Identity documents
  • The long-stay visa application form

Once you have obtained the visa, you must apply for the official residence permit from the public security authority, following the same procedure as European nationals.

However, if you have been residing in France prior to your move to Monaco, the procedure is slightly different.

Applicants who have been staying in France for more than one year

If you are a national of a state that is not a member of the European Economic Area and have been residing in France for more than one year, here is what you must do:

  • Submit the application for settlement to the French embassy in Monaco.
  • Present a copy of the French residence permit

Applicants who have been staying in France for less than one year

As a non-European national staying in France for less than one year, you must follow the rules applicable to foreigners from states outside the European Economic Area and submit your visa application to the French consulate.

On the whole, the formal application procedure is pleasantly straightforward and, above all, well worth it. The Principality offers the advantages of an unrivalled tax system, an exceptionally high standard of living, the most prestigious environment one could wish for, and visa-free access to all Schengen states for its residents.