Acquiring real estate in the Principality is a decisive step, but it is not sufficient on its own to grant residency status. Once the property purchase process in Monaco is completed, any foreign national aged 16 or over must obtain a residence permit issued by the Monegasque authorities in order to live legally in the Principality for more than three months per year. This guide walks you through the process step by step, from the initial administrative procedures to the issuance of your residence card, while distinguishing between the pathway for European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and non-EEA nationals.
Monaco is neither a member of the European Union nor part of the European Economic Area. Its entry and residency system is based on the Franco-Monegasque Neighbourhood Convention of 18 May 1963, which governs the conditions for entry and settlement of foreign nationals in the territory. This framework means that non-EEA nationals must first obtain authorisation issued by the French authorities before initiating any formal residency procedure in the Principality. For foreign buyers, the process therefore takes place in two stages: first in France, then in Monaco. Failure to complete this preliminary step results in the rejection of the application.
In 2025, the Monegasque real estate market recorded 493 transactions, representing a total value of €5.9 billion, according to the IMSEE 2025 Real Estate Observatory. A property deed proves ownership of real estate but is only one element among others in the residency application file. The authorities verify that the accommodation is suitable for the size of the household, that financial resources are sufficient, and that the applicant has a clean criminal record. Property acquisition is therefore a decisive advantage, but not sufficient on its own.
Citizens of the 27 European Union Member States, as well as Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, benefit from a simplified procedure. They only need to present themselves at the Residents Section of the Public Security Directorate with a valid national identity card or passport. This simplified process does not exempt applicants from providing proof of accommodation and financial resources. Since 1 January 2021, British nationals no longer benefit from this regime following Brexit: they must now follow the same procedure as non-EEA nationals, including the requirement to obtain a settlement visa.
The application file includes a valid passport or identity card, proof of accommodation (property deed or lease registered with the Monegasque authorities), a criminal record extract dated less than three months from each country of residence over the past five years, as well as a sworn declaration available for download on monservicepublic.gouv.mc. Any document not written in French, English, or Italian must be translated by a sworn translator.
For any national from a country outside the EEA, the first step is carried out at the French consulate or embassy in the applicant’s current country of residence. The objective is to obtain a long-stay visa type D, specifically issued for Monaco. Without this visa, no residence permit application can be submitted in the Principality. The required documents include the completed OFII form, proof of accommodation in Monaco or rental contract, proof of financial resources, and an apostilled criminal record. This visa also applies to accompanying minor children. For a complete overview of the conditions specific to foreign buyers, you can consult our guide on property purchase conditions in Monaco for foreigners and non-residents. A limited exemption exists: a foreign national already present in the Principality and holding accommodation may, under Article 5 of the Franco-Monegasque Convention, request authorisation to submit their visa application directly at the French Embassy in Monaco, without having to leave the territory.
If you have already been legally resident in France for more than one year with a valid French residence permit, you do not need to apply for a new visa. A residence transfer procedure is possible through the Immigration Service of the French Embassy in Monaco. This process involves coordination between French and Monegasque authorities and primarily concerns buyers of property in Monaco who reside in France and wish to transfer their main residence to the Principality.
Once all conditions are met, the application file can be submitted online via the monservicepublic.gouv.mc platform, or by post to the following address: Residents Section, 9 rue Suffren-Reymond, 98000 Monaco. The Section receives applicants by appointment only, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (phone: +377 93 15 30 15). If the application is deemed admissible, an electronic notification invites the applicant to schedule a personal interview, during which they must present the originals of all supporting documents. If the application is approved, a second appointment is scheduled for biometric enrolment and the physical issuance of the residence card.
Regardless of your profile, the authorities require a valid passport (with a settlement visa for non-EEA nationals), proof of accommodation (property deed, registered lease, or accommodation certificate signed by the hosting third party), as well as a criminal record extract less than three months old from each country of residence over the past five years. The property deed must specify the number of rooms, as the accommodation must be appropriate to the size of the household: a couple with two children must justify at least a three-room apartment. In the case of acquisition through an SCI, the company’s articles of association and a document confirming your role within the structure will also be required.
The nature of your income determines the additional documents required. An employee of a Monegasque company must provide a certificate from the Employment Service, a job offer, or an employment contract. A self-employed individual or company director must provide an extract from the Trade and Industry Register dated less than three months. For business creation, a receipt from the Directorate of Economic Development is sufficient to initiate the application. A rentier or investor must present a bank certificate from a Monegasque bank confirming sufficient capital. In practice, the commonly accepted threshold is at least €500,000, although this is not set out in any official legal text. This certificate must be less than one month old at the time of submission. A retiree must provide proof of pension income stating the amount received, along with their last three bank statements demonstrating the regularity of payments.
The Monegasque system provides four categories of residence permits, which evolve according to the length of residence.
Obtaining a residence permit does not guarantee its renewal. To maintain resident status, the holder must spend more than 90 days per year in Monaco. Beyond the administrative aspect, the length of presence also plays a role in establishing Monegasque tax residency: the conditions and related patrimonial advantages are detailed in our guide on taxation and wealth benefits in Monaco. An owner who does not spend sufficient time in the Principality may see their residence card renewal refused.
In the event of permanent departure, the residence card must be returned to the Public Security Directorate within eight days prior to leaving. A frequently overlooked point is that if your residence card expires and you leave Monaco, the accumulated residency seniority is entirely lost. In the event of a later return, the clock resets, starting again with a new one-year temporary residence card.
Opening an account with a bank in the Principality should be initiated at the very beginning of the process, as it may be required as proof of financial resources. Monegasque financial institutions apply strict acceptance criteria for non-residents, and processing times can be long. It is therefore advisable to start this step in parallel with the visa application process. Once the account is opened, it will be used in particular to set up utilities such as the SMEG (Société Monégasque de l’Électricité et du Gaz), whose bills serve as recognised proof of residence for the authorities.
Once you become a resident, you may be required to provide a residence certificate for certain administrative procedures, particularly with embassies, social security institutions, or private organisations. This document is distinct from the residence permit. It is issued by the Public Security Directorate to holders of a valid residence card and is valid for six months. Since 18 December 2025, applications can be submitted online with digital payment, subject to a €5 stamp duty. For tax-related certificates, a separate procedure applies: the two certificates are not issued in the same way and cannot be used interchangeably.
Monaco does not have a family reunification scheme in the sense of EU law. A spouse and dependent children may submit their own residence permit applications, provided they meet the same criteria as the main applicant: suitable accommodation, sufficient financial resources, and legal status. Children under 16 years of age do not receive a residence card but may obtain a Travel Document for Foreign Minors (DCEM) to facilitate travel. For school-age children (6 years and older), pre-enrolment in a Monegasque school is required at the visa application stage for non-EEA nationals.
The nature of the accommodation is carefully assessed by the authorities. Certain types of housing are excluded: state-owned housing (social housing), commercial leases, office spaces, and maid’s rooms are not accepted as a primary residence, except in very specific cases such as domestic staff housed by their employer.
A property that is too modest in relation to the applicant’s financial situation may also raise concerns: authorities expect consistency between the standard of the accommodation and the level of declared income. According to the IMSEE 2025 Real Estate Observatory, more than eight out of ten transactions in 2025 concerned properties with four rooms or more, reflecting market expectations in terms of living space.
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Documents of a criminal, tax, or banking nature must be recent: less than three months for criminal record extracts and trade register certificates, and less than one month for bank certificates. Any document written in a language other than French, English, or Italian must be accompanied by a sworn translation. An expired or untranslated document will result in the application being returned. Certain foreign documents, such as the FBI Background Check in the United States or the German Führungszeugnis, may take several weeks to obtain, so it is strongly recommended to anticipate these delays well in advance of submission. In case of doubt, the Residents Section can be contacted at +377 93 15 30 15 before preparing the application.
No. A property deed is only one supporting document among others and does not automatically grant resident status. The authorities also assess the suitability of the accommodation, the applicant’s financial resources, and their criminal record.
The residence permit is the official document authorising you to live in the Principality. The residence certificate is a separate document, valid for six months, issued to holders of a valid residence permit to prove their address to third-party organisations.
Yes. Any non-EEA national must obtain a long-stay visa (type D) from the competent French consulate before submitting an application in Monaco. Without this visa, the residence permit application cannot be processed.
Renewal of the residence permit may be refused. The minimum required presence is 90 days per year. In the event of permanent departure and expiry of the permit, accumulated residency seniority is lost, and the process resets entirely upon return.
There is no official “permanent” residence permit, but a privileged card valid for 10 years and renewable indefinitely exists. It can be obtained after 10 years of continuous and effective residence in the Principality.
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