Visitor Temporary Residence Card

The Carte de Séjour Temporaire "Visiteur" (Visitor Temporary Residence Card) allows non-European foreign nationals to reside in Saint Pierre and Miquelon without exercising any professional activity. Governed by Article L426-20 of the CESEDA (Code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile), this program targets financially independent individuals — retirees, rentiers, and others with passive income — who wish to live in this French overseas territory near Newfoundland, Canada. Saint Pierre and Miquelon operates under a separate visa regime from the Schengen Area, so entry visas must bear the "DFA" (Départements Français d'Amérique) mention.

• Must be a non-European, non-Algerian foreign national (EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are exempt from residence permit requirements)
• Demonstrate sufficient financial resources of at least €1,443.11 net per month (€17,317.39 net per year), equivalent to the annual net SMIC
• Acceptable income sources include pensions, rental income, investment returns, savings, or a financial guarantee from a solvent third party
• Sign a written commitment not to exercise any professional activity in France, including Saint Pierre and Miquelon — remote work, freelancing, and business activity are all prohibited
• Hold valid health insurance for the entire duration of stay
• Sign a commitment to respect the principles of the French Republic (required since July 2024)

• Valid long-stay visa with "DFA" and "visiteur" mentions, or current residence document
• Complete birth certificate with recent amendments
• Valid passport (6+ months validity) or equivalent identification
• Proof of residence dated within 6 months (rental contract, property deed, or hosting attestation)
• Proof of financial resources (bank statements, pension certificates, investment attestations)
• Guarantor documents if relying on third-party financial support
• Handwritten attestation committing to not exercise professional activity
• Health insurance attestation covering the full stay
• Signed commitment to respect republican principles
• Digital e-photo
• Medical certificate from OFII
• Proof of tax stamp payment (€225)

The card is valid for a maximum of 1 year and is renewable annually. Renewal applications must be submitted via the ANEF online platform between 4 months and 2 months before expiry, with the same documentation and fee required. Late renewal applications incur an additional €180 visa regularisation fee. If the new card is not ready before the current one expires, an attestation is issued to maintain legal status during processing.

There is no specific dependant provision attached to the visitor card itself. Family members (spouse, minor children) must apply for their own residence permits under the appropriate category, such as "vie privée et familiale" for spouses or family reunification for other relatives. Each family member's application is evaluated independently. No additional income threshold for dependants is specified in legislation, though the préfecture evaluates overall household financial resources.

Residents of Saint Pierre and Miquelon are subject to the territory's own local tax regime, which differs from metropolitan France. The fiscal system is managed by the Collectivité Territoriale, with distinct income tax rates and rules. Tax residency is generally established after 183 days of presence in the territory.

The process begins abroad by obtaining a long-stay visa with the "visiteur" and "DFA" mentions from a French embassy or consulate. The visa application is initiated online via the France-Visas portal, followed by an in-person consular appointment, with a visa application fee of €99. Upon arrival in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the long-stay visa must be validated within 3 months via the ANEF online platform, which effectively converts it into a 1-year residence card. The résidence card application fee is €225 (€200 tax + €25 stamp duty). The préfecture must respond within 4 months — no response within that period constitutes an implicit refusal.

After 5 years of continuous legal residence, holders may apply for a 10-year carte de résident (resident card), subject to integration conditions. Naturalisation as a French citizen may also be pursued after 5 years of legal residence.