Path to long-term residence permit (carte de résident) for Ukrainians

Years spent in France under an APS marked with temporary protection do not in themselves bring one closer to a carte de résident for Ukrainians. This ten-year title is obtained through separate pathways, and it is the choice of the right one that determines how long it will take to stabilize one’s status.

International Law Firm "Zahist" has a presence in France and assists clients in the transition from temporary protection to permanent residence titles. Our experience shows that those who lose the most time are those who wait for an automatic conversion of an APS into a carte de résident instead of immediately choosing a specific pathway.

Why years under temporary protection do not directly bring one closer to a carte de résident

The standard path to a ten-year card requires five years of continuous residence specifically under a “droit commun” title — for example, an employee residence card or a “vie privée et familiale” card.

An APS marked with temporary protection gives access to most such titles without a visa procedure; however, the exception concerns precisely those titles that require more than five years of residence — that is, the carte de résident itself under the general procedure.

This means that the five-year countdown for the standard path begins only from the moment a titre de droit commun is obtained, and not from the moment of first registration for temporary protection.

Three faster pathways to a carte de résident

For some applicants, there are significantly shorter routes to a ten-year title than the standard five years of residence.

1. Refugee status through OFPRA — a carte de résident is issued immediately after recognition of status, with no additional waiting period.
2. Subsidiary protection — a carte de résident can be obtained after four years of regular residence in France under this status.
3. Marriage to a French citizen — subject to three years of marriage and three years of residence in France with an uninterrupted shared household.

For families in which one of the spouses already holds French citizenship, this pathway often proves to be the fastest compared with the standard procedure through five years of residence.

The standard pathway: transition to a titre de droit commun and five years of residence

For most holders of temporary protection, the practical path to a carte de résident begins with a transition to an ordinary residence title — most often an employee residence card where a stable employment contract is in place.

The circular of 4 December 2024 expressly recommends that prefectures consider the possibility of such a transition already at the time of the next APS renewal, rather than waiting for the temporary protection regime to end.

After a titre de droit commun is obtained, the five-year residence period starts anew, and it is this period that must be continuous and evidenced by valid residence documents.

New conditions in 2026: level B1, civic examination, income

The immigration law of 26 January 2024 tightened integration requirements for obtaining a carte de résident, and some of the changes took effect on 1 January 2026.

Level B1 may be evidenced by a TCF IRN B1 diploma, a DELF B1 diploma or higher, a French diploma not lower than baccalaureate level, or a certificate of full schooling in a French secondary school.

Step-by-step action plan for a temporary protection holder

The sequence of steps depends on the applicant’s specific life situation, but the overall logic of moving toward a carte de résident remains the same.

1. Assess whether the situation falls under a fast pathway — refugee status, subsidiary protection, or marriage to a French citizen.
2. If there is no fast pathway, prepare the transition to a titre de droit commun, most often through a stable employment contract.
3. Begin the five-year residence countdown from the moment this title is obtained, maintaining continuity of residence documents.
4. In parallel, prepare French language level B1 and income documents so as not to lose time closer to filing the carte de résident application.

What “continuous residence” means for the five-year countdown

Continuity of residence does not require physical presence in France every day, but it does presuppose the absence of prolonged gaps in the validity of residence documents throughout the entire period.

Short trips abroad, including visits to Ukraine, do not interrupt this period if the APS or subsequent title remained valid throughout the entire period of absence.

What creates a problem is precisely a gap between the expiry of one title and the obtaining of the next — even a few weeks without a valid document may interrupt the continuity of residence required for a carte de résident.

Carte de résident and EU long-term resident status

After obtaining a carte de résident and at least five years of residence within the European Union, one may apply for EU long-term resident status, which facilitates relocation and work in other Member States.

This status is not a mandatory step for everyone, but it becomes a useful option for families considering a possible move to another EU country in the future while retaining the period of residence already accumulated.

Typical mistakes when preparing for a carte de résident

The most common mistake is expecting that years under temporary protection will automatically count toward the five-year residence period for the standard pathway to a carte de résident.

Another common problem is delayed preparation of the French language level, so that at the time of filing the application B1 is still not evidenced by any recognized document.

Our experience shows that applicants who begin preparing their language level and financial documents a year before the required residence period ends file their application without delays.

What to do in the event of a refusal of a carte de résident

A refusal of a carte de résident may be challenged by an administrative complaint to the prefecture and, if necessary, by an action before the administrative court within two months of receipt of the decision.

In most cases, a refusal is linked to formal gaps — an incomplete set of documents, a break in continuity of residence, or the absence of a confirmed language level — rather than to a fundamental impossibility of obtaining the status.

Our experience shows that a renewed application with the deficiencies remedied usually receives a positive decision faster than waiting for a court complaint to be considered.

Which is more advantageous: an asylum application or a transition to a titre de droit commun

Both pathways lead to a more stable status, but they follow different logic. An asylum application depends on an assessment of risk in a specific region of Ukraine, whereas a transition to a titre de droit commun depends on the stability of one’s employment or family situation in France.

For applicants with stable employment and without strong grounds for asylum, a transition to an employment title usually proves to be the more reliable and predictable path to a carte de résident.

Is a carte de résident required for children under 18

Minor children are considered lawfully present in France together with their parents and do not require a separate residence title, including a carte de résident, until they reach majority.

After turning 18, the child must obtain their own residence title independently, and the period spent in France as a minor together with the parents is usually taken into account in determining their subsequent status.

Documents for a carte de résident application

Regardless of the pathway chosen, the set of documents for a carte de résident application includes several common items that should be prepared in advance.

1. A valid residence title for the entire required period and documents evidencing continuity of residence.
2. Evidence of French language level B1 by a recognized diploma or certificate.
3. An income statement for the past year, not lower than the net minimum wage.
4. A signed contract on compliance with the principles of the Republic and a criminal record certificate.

An incomplete set of documents is one of the main reasons for delay in considering an application, so each document should be checked for currency before filing.

Expert view: how not to lose time in the transition

Analysis of our cases shows that the main loss of time occurs precisely at the stage of transition from APS to titre de droit commun, when applicants submit documents after the APS extension period has already expired.

We recommend filing the application for change of status simultaneously with the next APS extension, rather than separately, in order to avoid a gap in lawful stay and unnecessary visits to the prefecture.

International Law Firm "Zahist" has a presence in France and helps holders of temporary protection choose the shortest realistic path to a carte de résident for Ukrainians taking into account the specific employment, family or security situation.

Each case has individual features — stable employment, marriage to a French citizen or grounds for asylum — so a preliminary consultation helps select the right strategy from the outset.

The earlier an applicant begins preparing for a carte de résident for Ukrainians, the less time is spent on repeated applications to the prefecture. Correcting incomplete applications usually costs several extra months of waiting.