Permanent resident in UK through EEA route wanting to immigrate to France

[MAETRA]

Hello,

I am originally from NZ and have a permanent residence visa for the UK that is stamped in my NZ passport which I acquired from the EEA route (I was married to a French national but we divorced many years ago). The visa needs to be renewed every 10 years and I have 3 years left on it. I am now wanting to re-locate to France to live with my new partner. Can I please have some advice on getting a French visa and whether I would be eligible for one.

Thank you.

[CR001]

Hello,

I am originally from NZ and have a permanent residence visa for the UK that is stamped in my NZ passport which I acquired from the EEA route (I was married to a French national but we divorced many years ago). The visa needs to be renewed every 10 years and I have 3 years left on it. I am now wanting to re-locate to France to live with my new partner. Can I please have some advice on getting a French visa and whether I would be eligible for one.

Thank you.

Why not apply for British citizenship???

It is the PR card that needs renewing, like a drivers licence, not the status of PR.

Your time spent in the UK and PR will be lost and not count in France. PR from the UK is not transferable to another member state.

[MAETRA]

Right so I need to get British Citizenship first to be able to immigrate to France - I wouldn't be able to get it from my PR visa in the UK as it's not transferable? I will do that and try and move before Brexit!

Thank you.

[CR001]

I didn't say you must apply for British Citizenship. It simply seems more logical and would make moving easier. If you meet the citizenship requirements, this is the best way to go to be honest. Online and NDRS service applications are currently taking about a month to 2 months.

I wouldn't be able to get it from my PR visa in the UK as it's not transferable?

You cannot transfer your UK status of PR to another member state. If your partner is French, you also cannot apply under the EU directive and have to apply under the French immigration rules.

[MAETRA]

Thanks for your advice.

Just one more question. In the interim before I completely move to France I was going to divide my time between England and France. While in France I would be living with my EU partner (Dutch) and working remotely for a UK based company. I am on a salary not a freelancer but work remotely in the UK too. Can I double check this is okay as long as I don't exceed 183 days of the year over there. Am I likely to get questioned at the border? Is there anything else I need to be aware of / consider with this arrangement?

Thank you.

[secret.simon]

As you have already acquired PR in the UK, you can be absent for up to two years from the UK and still retain PR in the UK.

However, absence of more than six months in the year will break your continuity of residence in France for the purpose of acquiring PR there.

[CR001]

You really should consider applying for British citizenship as this will be less onerous.