Immigration
A residence card requiring means, accommodation and a clean record
Living in Monaco requires a residence card (carte de séjour). Applicants must show sufficient financial resources — through salary, business income or verified savings held with a Monaco bank — secure suitable accommodation in the Principality, and provide a clean criminal record. There is no single fixed savings threshold; banks set their own.
Key rules
- A residence card is required to live in Monaco; EU nationals apply directly, others via a long-stay visa through France first.
- Applicants must prove sufficient means, adequate accommodation and a clean criminal record.
- Financial-resource evidence is often a Monaco bank attestation; the required amount is set by the bank, not fixed by law.
- Longer residence brings enhanced cards (three- and ten-year), and naturalisation is rare and at the Prince's discretion.
Governing law
- Residence and immigration regulationsCarte de séjour regime; entry via France for non-EU nationals
In practice
Because Monaco is surrounded by France, non-EU applicants must generally obtain a French long-stay visa before applying locally. Securing accommodation in a very expensive market is often the practical bottleneck.