Residence permit for FNL France for a businesswoman and her mum

‘I was able to fulfil my mum's dream and I am so happy about it. We walk around Paris every evening, and it warms my heart to think that this is now our home!’ these are the words we heard from a grateful client who was helped to obtain a residence permit in France. - These are the words we heard from a grateful client who was helped to obtain a residence permit in France.

Irina had been planning to move for a long time. At the time of contacting us in August 2021, she had already bought a property in Paris. A realtor she knew helped her with this.

The client's main goal was to obtain a legal right to permanent residence in France together with her mother. Her adult son had been working in Canada for more than 5 years and was not going to return home, he did not apply for a residence permit in Europe.

Irina has her own business: a poultry farm in the Moscow suburbs and a chain of meat products shops. Businesses are well-established and her personal participation does not require.

Having checked the client in advance, we suggested applying for a residence permit as a financially independent person. This option suited them.

Irina's income and savings met the conditions of the programme. Her mum went through the programme together with the main applicant, as she had already turned 65 at the time of the application.

Within three weeks, the lawyer had collected all the documents:

1. colour birth certificates for Irina and mum (original with apostille, notarised copy);
2. colour copies of passports (foreign and internal); education documents (diploma) (notarised copy with apostille);
3. certificate of absence of debts from the tax office (original);
4. certificate of ownership (original);
5. certificate from the bank on the availability of funds on the applicant's account (original);
6. certificate of absence of criminal record; application forms for immigration visas and residence permits (residence permits);
7. contracts of sale and purchase of property in France and utility bills;
8. motivation, cover and legal letters;
9. a written undertaking not to carry out labour activity in France;
10. a power of attorney for the right to represent the applicant in official instances in France.

We made notarised translations, certifications and apostilles of documents in Paris. We also took out medical insurance with an accredited French company.

The application for visas was submitted to the embassy in early September.

In 5 days Irina and her mother received their permits to enter France and immediately bought tickets.

By the end of the month the clients were already in Paris. Irina sent us scanned copies of visas with border crossing stamps and we applied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to activate the residence permit.

In November, at the invitation of the OFII (Migration Office), the clients had an interview and a medical exam. 

Results of the case work

Obtaining and activating ‘visiteur’ visas is the first step towards a residence permit for France under the FNL programme.

 In March we will submit the documents for issuing plastic residence cards, and tentatively in July-August the clients will be interviewed.

Our clients are happy with the result. They are settling into their new home in Paris.