A day I thought would never arrive was announced by text from the Préfecture of Nice.
“Your resident card is ready for pick up. Tax to pay: 225.”
While in 2024 I had become eligible to apply for a ten-year visa, the Préfecture was not obligated to give me one, nor do they let you know their decision in advance. So I didn’t know if I’d get the annual renewal, or the coveted “longue durée.” The suspense, the agony, during my three-hour wait in line! You might be able to imagine my giddiness when I saw my card’s expiration date of 2034.
What this milestone means is that I am spared the torment of waiting for the annual renewal application to be processed, usually very slowly to the point that the current visa expires and you end up being close to hors regles, or outside the law. Without a valid visa one cannot travel outside of France.
The Longue Durée status offers more options to an expat. I can work (don’t want to). I can move to some of the other EU countries (don’t want to) without losing my French residency. The only thing I can’t do is vote.
In addition, now that I have lived here and filed taxes five years in a row I am free to apply for French citizenship. Or, I can wait until 2034 and apply for a permanent residency card.
Ah, but doesn’t it seem an exercise in futility to imagine where we will want to be in ten years? Maybe we can see where we are headed, with bombs being planted on cargo planes, TikTok elections, the rise of an Eastern Axis of evil, democracy’s decline, European governments in crisis. Yes, yes, there is trouble in paradise.
This week, at a lecture on the European Union, I heard the term “civil war” referred to as an outcome to deepening divisions in France (fomented by the usual parties). I was reminded that a French farmer commits suicide every two days. The have-nots are being pushed to the point of nothing left to lose.
France’s Left wing coalition is fracturing, giving the Far Right a path to ascendancy. Marine Le Pen might eventually be barred by law from running for President in 2027, but her young, dashing, social media savvy protégé Jordan Bardella could win. The incumbents certainly aren’t inspiring the electorate.
That is, thankfully, two more years away. All we need is a miracle.
kmazz 
Thanks for these views, and is usual, the stunning photo. CONGRATULATIONS, Kathleen. Enjoy living there and I hope you have a marvelous holiday season.
Thanks for these views, and is usual, the stunning photo. CONGRATULATIONS, Kathleen. Enjoy living there and I hope you have a marvelous holiday season.
Thanks for these views, and is usual, the stunning photo. CONGRATULATIONS, Kathleen. Enjoy living there and I hope you have a marvelous holiday season.
thanks, Jim.
Congratulations!! You’ve earned this! Beautiful photo as always. Looking forward to March.
Thanks, Karen.
Wonderful news, Kathleen. Felicitations! Forethought and patience work magic.
As always I enjoy your posts!!!
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Kathleen, you have worked for this and waited for it. I can hear you breathe a sigh of relief. As with everything else in this insane world, time will tell, but for now, congratulations!
Mary
Congratulations
Dear Kathleen,
Congratulations on your new long-term visa. It must be a relief to you to have much more clarity in your “residency”, and far more security too. All you need now is to see Marine and her youthful protégé sent packing, and the sooner the better.
Meanwhile, back in the USA, it seems that the incoming president is trying to select the very worst possible candidates for senior positions in the new government. I am wondering if the French government could nix the appointment of Mr Kushner Sr as the next ambassador to Paris?
And what about the proposed Defence secretary whose own mother has declared that he is a menace to women?
Journalists must love Trump. They will never face a shortage of interesting news to write up!
Keep enjoying the good life in Nice. We are currently in NZ, enjoying the spring weather.
Best wishes,
Ian and Pat
Felicitations! What a relief. I bet you’re celebrating! Diane
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