What is regroupement familial?
Regroupement familial (family reunification) is the formal procedure allowing a foreign national legally residing in France to bring their spouse and minor children to join them. It's a legal right recognised by French law — but subject to specific conditions that are strictly enforced. Understanding these conditions before starting is essential: an incomplete file typically means months of delay.
Who qualifies to apply?
You can apply if you:
- Have been legally residing in France for at least 18 months with a titre de séjour authorising work
- Have stable income of at least the SMIC (approximately €1,800 net per month) — social benefits don't count toward this threshold
- Have accommodation that meets minimum space standards set by OFII (roughly: 9m² for 1 person, +16m² for each additional person in the Île-de-France, slightly different elsewhere)
- Are in good health (no active tuberculosis)
Who can join you?
- Your legal spouse (valid marriage, genuine cohabitation — must not be polygamous)
- Your minor children (under 18) — shared children and children from a previous relationship
- NOT: parents, siblings, adult children, or non-married partners (a PACS does not give family reunification rights)
The OFII process step by step
- Submit application to the OFII territorial delegation for your département
- OFII investigation — a social worker visits your home to verify accommodation standards and resources (allow 3 to 6 months)
- Prefect's decision — OFII sends its opinion to the prefect, who makes the final decision
- Visa application — if approved, your family applies for a visa at the French consulate in their country of residence
- Arrival and OFII registration — on arrival, family members undergo a medical examination and sign the Contrat d'Intégration Républicaine
Documents you'll need
- Your titre de séjour (valid)
- 12 months of payslips or proof of stable income
- Tenancy agreement or property title with exact floor area
- Marriage certificate translated and apostilled by a sworn translator
- Birth certificates of children, translated and apostilled
- Proof of 18 months of residence (successive housing certificates, tax notices, payslips)
💡 Start gathering documents early — apostilling documents from some countries can take months. The sworn translation requirement is strictly enforced.
Realistic timeline
From application to family arriving in France: typically 6 to 18 months. Île-de-France is significantly slower than other regions. Once the prefect approves, your family has 6 months to use their visa and arrive.