Do I really need a carte de sejour?

Question

I will be going to France for a year, on my Irish passport.

Per the information on the Irish Embassy's website: "As of end of November 2003, Irish citizens are no longer legally required to apply for a carte de séjour (French Resident Card) if they intend to remain in France for a period exceeding 90 days." The embassy, however, encourages Irish citizens to apply for the carte de séjour as it "greatly assists citizens when dealing with French administration".

I am aware of the high level of bureaucracy in France. Do I really need to go through the hassle of applying for a C de S? Does having it really help in every-day life? Or can I just use my Irish passport when I go to a French bank, cash cheques, travel around the country, etc?

Answer 1

You do not need a carte de sejour as an Irish national.  As far as banking...I found that no matter what nationality you are ...even French...you cannot just open a bank account the way you can in so many other countries.  You must provide an address that is verified by electric bills or phone bills.  The best part of that rule is that you can't hook up your phone or electric without a bank account!  If you are only traveling around for a year, I suggest just using a bank card from Ireland to withdraw cash you need.  A carte de sejour can only be issued if you have a sustained address in one prefecture. And I will tell you, not to discourage you, that no matter how many times people tell you about the famous French bureaucracy, it still staggers in mind-numbing inefficiency. It took me nearly 4 months to receive a carte de sejour and  I am still surprised every day by things I took for granted in modern countries.  Keep it simple if you aren't planning to live here for a while. Check out www.angloinfo.com. It's full of helpful facts.

Answer 2

My understanding is that an EU citizen need only register at the local city hall in the area they will be living and they will be given a Carte de Sejour without charge and a minimum of fuss.