Monaco 98000 • Settling in the Principality

Becoming a resident in Monaco: housing and conditions

Buying or renting a property in Monaco is an important step towards settling in the Principality, but Monegasque residency is not solely based on real estate. Housing, resources, nationality, administrative documents, and a residence permit are all part of a process that should be carefully planned.

Residency requirements and residence permits
Photo: Benoît Prieur — Wikimedia Commons — CC0

Settling in Monaco attracts entrepreneurs, executives, families, and investors from all over the world. But owning a Monegasque apartment does not automatically make one a resident of the Principality.

Real estate is used as justification for housing, while the administration also examines means of subsistence, professional situation, identity and elements necessary for the processing of the application.

This guide is based in particular on Sovereign Ordinance No. 3.153 of March 19, 1964 in its version in force in September 2026 as well as on information from the Prince's Government.

Any foreign person over the age of 16 who wishes to reside in Monaco for more than three months must have the residence permit corresponding to their situation.

The formalities vary depending in particular on the nationality, professional activity, type of accommodation and family situation of the applicant.

16 years old is the age from which the residence permit applies to foreign residents
> 3 months long-term stay requiring a residence permit
1 year maximum validity of the temporary resident card
10-year validity period for the privileged resident card

🇲🇨 The three pillars of an installation in Monaco

The residency application should not be approached as a mere administrative formality. Three dimensions play a central role in preparing a case.

01 Have accommodation The applicant must be able to justify the accommodation he will occupy in the Principality, in particular by a deed of ownership, a lease or, under the conditions provided, accommodation.
02 Justify means of subsistence Authorised professional activity, sufficient income or resources must allow the applicant to justify his economic situation.
03 Submitting an admissible file Identity, family situation, residence documents and elements relating to morality are among the information that may be examined.

🏠 What type of accommodation is required to become a resident in Monaco?

Accommodation is one of the first things to secure when a candidate wishes to settle permanently in the Principality.

The Sovereign Ordinance stipulates that the applicant must provide information on their housing arrangements and produce the document justifying their occupancy.

🔑 Being an owner The deed of ownership of an apartment or house in Monaco can be used to justify the accommodation occupied by the applicant.
📝 Being a tenant A lease relating to a property located in the Principality can also constitute the real estate basis of the residence application.
🏡 Being hosted In certain situations, a certificate of accommodation can be used according to the conditions provided for by Monegasque regulations.

The accommodation must naturally correspond to a real residence. The Monegasque address is not simply an administrative element detached from the applicant's personal situation.

🔑 Is it absolutely necessary to buy an apartment in Monaco?

No. Home ownership is not a general requirement for obtaining a first residence permit.

The regulations specifically accept the status of owner or tenant, as well as certain cases of accommodation.

However, buying can be part of a long-term wealth management project and allows you to directly obtain proof of ownership corresponding to your Monegasque property.

For some candidates, renting is on the contrary a first step allowing them to discover a neighborhood before considering a purchase.

💼 How to justify your resources to reside in Monaco?

The legal principle is that of sufficient means of subsistence when the applicant does not plan to carry out a professional activity in the Principality.

💼 Salaried activity A work permit or the corresponding proof may be required for a person carrying out an activity in Monaco.
🏢 Professional activity The exercise of a liberal, commercial or industrial profession must comply with the authorizations applicable in the Principality.
💶 Income and assets A person without professional activity must be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient resources.
🏦 Financial documentation Depending on the applicant's profile, bank statements or other financial documents may be used to document their means of subsistence.

🏦 Is there an official minimum bank deposit required to become a resident?

Amounts are frequently presented on the Internet as if there were a uniform financial "entry ticket" to becoming a resident of Monaco.

The regulations we consulted do not set in the Sovereign Ordinance a universal capital of €500,000, €1 million or any other identical amount for each applicant.

The text refers to sufficient resources or means of subsistence. The situation must therefore be assessed in light of the submitted documentation.

A bank may also apply its own criteria when it is called upon to provide financial assistance for a relocation. These banking criteria should not be confused with a legally mandated minimum amount for all residency applicants.

🌍 Do the procedures differ depending on nationality?

Yes. The applicant's origin is a factor in the preliminary formalities required before applying for a Monegasque residence permit.

🇪🇺 European Economic Area, Switzerland and Andorra

The Prince's Government indicates that nationals of the European Economic Area, as well as Swiss and Andorran nationals, must in particular have a valid identity card or passport.

They can then prepare their Monegasque application according to their personal situation.

🌐 Nationals of other states

Nationals of other countries must in principle apply for a settlement visa for Monaco issued by the French authorities before applying for their resident card in the Principality.

The formalities vary depending on nationality and country of origin.

📑 How does a first residency application proceed?

The application must be prepared before it is processed by the Directorate of Public Security. The exact supporting documents required depend on the applicant's profile.

1 Define your installation project Nationality, family situation, professional activity and asset project determine part of the steps.
2 Securing accommodation Purchase, rental or accommodation: the applicant must be able to prove their address in the Principality.
3 Gather supporting documents for resources. Work permit, professional activity or sufficient means of subsistence must be documented.
4. Prepare personal documents. Identity, civil status, family situation and documents requested according to the file must be gathered.
5. Submitting the application. The application falls under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Public Safety. An online service is also available to initiate the process.
6. Awaiting instructions: The administration examines the presented situation. Meeting the documentary criteria should not be interpreted as automatic issuance of the permit.

🪪 What are the different types of residence permits in Monaco?

Administrative status changes with length of residence and the situation of the holder.

1 year Temporary resident The first residence permit has a validity that cannot exceed one year.
3 years Ordinary resident After more than three years of residence in Monaco, an ordinary card valid for three years may be granted.
5 years Spouse of Monegasque After more than one year of residence as the spouse of a person of Monegasque nationality, a specific five-year card may be granted.
10 years Privileged resident After at least ten years of residence, except in special cases provided for by law, a privileged card valid for ten years may be granted.

The texts use the term "may be assigned". Seniority should therefore not be understood as the automatic issuance of a new card category.

💳 How much does a resident card cost in Monaco?

Official administrative fees remain modest compared to the cost of setting up a property in the Principality.

80 € first temporary resident card
100 € first ordinary resident card
160 € first privileged resident card

Renewal fees are currently set at €40, €50, and €80 for these three categories. The first card and the renewal for a spouse of a Monegasque citizen are set at €80 and €40 respectively.

🏙️ Buying to become a resident: how to choose your accommodation?

When moving to Monaco involves a property purchase, the search should not focus solely on the prestige of the address.

The lifestyles of Carré d'Or, Larvotto, Fontvieille, Condamine, Mareterra or hillside districts meet different expectations.
Household composition: A pied-à-terre occupied alone and a main family residence do not necessarily imply the same surface areas or the same services.
The overall budget, including purchase price, taxes, notary fees, professional fees, residence charges and parking, must be anticipated.
Where to buy in Monaco? Fees, notary fees and taxes

⚠️ Residence permit and tax residence: two concepts not to be confused

Obtaining a Monegasque resident card and determining one's tax residence are two different matters.

Tax rules may depend on nationality, previous country of residence, international agreements, place of residence, assets and personal circumstances.

The case of French nationals is notably governed by the conventional relations between France and Monaco.

Similarly, the often-mentioned threshold of 183 days relates in particular to residency and tax certification issues: it should not be transformed into a simplified general rule for obtaining any residence permit.

A project combining property purchase, relocation and change of tax residence must therefore be studied comprehensively with appropriate advice.

🔄 What happens during renewal?

A resident's situation is not fixed after obtaining their first card.

Renewal requires, in particular, that the holder continues to meet the conditions applicable to their professional activity or resources.

Regulations also require that certain changes in circumstances be reported to the Directorate of Public Safety.

Official documents specifically remind us that changes of address or situation must be declared within the prescribed time limits.

✅ Preparing for your move to Monaco: points to check

Nationality Determine if a settlement visa is required before proceeding with the Monegasque process.
Housing: Securing the purchase, lease or accommodation situation corresponding to the planned residence.
Resources : Prepare the supporting documents corresponding to your financial or professional situation.
Civil status: Gather the necessary identity, birth and family status documents.
International taxation: Analyzing the consequences of a change of residence, particularly in the country being left.
Real estate project : Choosing a home that truly matches the daily life envisioned in Monaco.

🏢 Monaco agencies: future residents are also looking for their accommodation

Part of the demand for real estate in Monaco is directly linked to projects involving relocation to the Principality.

Executives, entrepreneurs, international families and wealth buyers are looking for apartments that can meet a dual objective: to live in Monaco and to structure a long-term real estate project.

Propriétés De Charme is currently developing its content dedicated to the Monegasque market and also wishes to welcome agencies in the Principality with prestigious mandates.

🏠 Accommodation for future residents: Showcase apartments and properties suitable for buyers wishing to settle in the Principality.
🌍 Monaco attracts an international clientele of many nationalities. Broadcasting can complement your existing marketing channels.
⭐ Exceptional mandates Penthouse, Carré d'Or, Mareterra, Larvotto or large surface area: a rare property can benefit from a front-page editorial presentation.
List your luxury properties. Contact Charming Properties.

🔄 Monaco agencies: publish your ads without re-entering them

Propriétés De Charme has several professional connections allowing it to organize the transmission of advertisements from different real estate software.

Apimo CRM & distribution
Hektor La Boîte Immo
Adapt'Immo CRM real estate
Ubiflow Multidiffusion
Agency + CRM & transaction
Modelo Office ex-Netty

Apimo enjoys a significant presence in the Monegasque real estate ecosystem. Agencies already using this solution can contact Propriétés De Charme to explore activating their listings on the portal.

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🇲🇨 Luxury real estate dossier in Monaco

This guide dedicated to the residence constitutes the fourth part of the Monaco real estate dossier by Propriétés De Charme.

Find other analyses dedicated to the market, buying, neighborhoods, residences and professionals in the Principality.

Monaco Real Estate Prices: Market and Neighborhoods. Price per square meter, transactions, and differences between sectors. Luxury Real Estate in Monaco: Where to Buy? Carré d'Or, Larvotto, Mareterra, Fontvieille, and other prestigious addresses. Buying in Monaco: Fees, Notary, and Taxation . Registration fees, notary fees, new builds, and taxation. Mareterra: New and Ultra-Luxury Real Estate . The new seaside district and its exceptional location. Selling Luxury Real Estate in Monaco. Appraisal, agency, presentation, confidentiality, and marketing. Agencies in Monaco: Marketing Your Luxury Properties . Gateways, publication, and professional visibility. Prestigious Residences in Monaco. Tour Odéon, One Monte-Carlo, Bay House, Seaside Plaza, and iconic buildings. Luxury Penthouses in Monaco. Exceptional apartments, terraces, views, and rare properties.

Are you looking for luxury accommodation in Monaco?

Accommodation is a key element of any relocation project to the Principality. Discover the properties featured on Propriétés De Charme or contact us if you are a professional wishing to advertise your Monaco listings.

Search for a property | List luxury properties | Contact customer service
Sources and methodology — information verified in September 2026

Legimonaco — Sovereign Ordinance No. 3.153 of March 19, 1964, current version. Conditions of entry and residence of foreigners, housing, means of subsistence and categories of residence permits.

Consult Sovereign Ordinance No. 3.153

Princely Government — Settling in the Principality of Monaco. Information regarding housing, resources and formalities according to nationality.

Consult MonServicePublic Monaco

Ministerial decree no. 2020-814 of 30 November 2020. Amounts of fees for the issuance and renewal of residence permits, version in force in September 2026.

Consult the official rights of residence permits

Directorate of Public Security. Official forms for initial applications, renewals and certificates relating to residence permits.

Important: This article provides general information. The issuance of a residence permit depends on an individual review of the application by the relevant authorities. Immigration and international tax regulations must be verified in light of the applicant's personal circumstances.