Monaco Residence Permit: Requirements and Process
Everything to know before you move: how you qualify, the documents, each step and its timing, what living in Monaco costs, how residents are taxed and why citizenship is rarely an option.
To live in Monaco you need accommodation there (bought, or rented on a lease of at least a year) and proof of means: a Monaco bank reference (commonly around €500,000 on deposit), a job with a Monaco employer, or an approved Monaco company. Non-EU nationals first obtain a French long-stay visa, then apply to the Residents Section of the Sûreté Publique. The first card is valid for one year, followed by a three-year and later a ten-year card.
Ways to qualify
Monaco has no investment threshold set by law. Every applicant needs accommodation in Monaco and must show sufficient means through one of the routes below.
| Route | What is needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bank deposit (own means) | Reference letter from a Monaco bank | Banks commonly expect around €500,000 on deposit; some ask for more |
| Monaco company | Government authorisation to set up a business in Monaco | Takes longer; the activity must be real and approved |
| Employment | Work contract with a Monaco employer and a work permit | The employer obtains the authorisation |
| Family support | Proof of support from a close relative living in Monaco | Spouse, partner or close family member resident in Monaco |
Accommodation is required on every route: a property you own, a lease of at least one year, or living with a close relative who owns or rents in Monaco. The home must be suitable for the size of your family.
Who qualifies
- Anyone aged 16 or over who wants to live in Monaco for more than three months a year
- A clean criminal record
- Accommodation in Monaco suitable for your family
- Sufficient means, usually shown by a Monaco bank reference
- A French long-stay visa for non-EU nationals
Family members
Your spouse or partner and dependent children can live with you; each family member aged 16 or over needs their own card. The home must be large enough for the family – for example, a family of four usually needs at least two bedrooms. Malta’s MPRP covers parents and grandparents too, without any requirement to live in Malta.
Step by step
- Free assessment. We look at your goals, family, means and source of funds, and introduce you to partner firms located in Monaco.
- Secure a home. Buy a property, or sign a lease of at least one year for a home suitable for your family size.
- Open a bank account. A Monaco bank reviews your source of funds and issues a reference letter; banks commonly expect around €500,000 on deposit.
- French long-stay visa. Non-EU nationals obtain a French Type D visa before applying. EU and Swiss nationals do not need one.
- Apply and attend the interview. You file with the Residents Section of the Sûreté Publique and attend an interview in Monaco; the first card is valid for one year. Processing usually takes two to five months.
The French visa usually takes a few weeks. Once the file is complete, the residence card is usually issued within two to five months, or longer if you set up a company.
Costs to budget for
Besides the bank deposit, budget for your home: rents for a small flat commonly start from about €3,000–5,000 a month, and purchase prices are among the highest in the world. Add agency and notary fees, the French visa fee, residence card fees (around €80 for the first temporary card), translations, health insurance and professional fees. We give you a written, itemised overview before you commit.
Keeping your residence
The first card is valid for one year and renewed each year. After three years you can receive a three-year ordinary card, and after ten years a ten-year privileged card. There is no published minimum number of days, but you must genuinely live in Monaco: the authorities check utility bills and other evidence at renewal, and long absences can lead to refusal.
Can you become a Monaco citizen?
- Naturalisation requires ten years of ordinary residence after age 18
- It is entirely at the discretion of the Sovereign Prince and is rarely granted
- You must renounce your previous nationality – Monaco does not allow dual citizenship
- There is no investment or donation route to Monaco citizenship
- Monaco is not in the EU, so a Monaco passport does not give EU rights
Want an EU passport sooner? Malta’s Citizenship by Merit framework can lead to Maltese (EU) citizenship in about 12–16 months. It is discretionary and assessed case by case, and Malta allows dual citizenship. See Citizenship by Merit: steps and timeline.
Tax
Monaco has no personal income tax, no wealth tax and no tax on capital gains for most residents. French nationals remain taxable in France under a bilateral treaty, and US citizens are taxed by the US on worldwide income wherever they live. Inheritance tax is nil between spouses and in the direct line, and up to 16% for others. Companies earning more than 25% of their turnover outside Monaco pay corporate tax. Take advice from your home country too: moving does not automatically end your tax obligations there.
Living in Monaco
Monaco is a two-square-kilometre city-state on the French Riviera, about 30 minutes by road from Nice airport. It offers outstanding security, private schools, healthcare and a strong financial and business community. Space is scarce and costs are very high. French is the official language, and the euro is the currency.
How we work
Zenturo is based in Malta. For Monaco applications we work with partner firms located in Monaco, who help with accommodation, banking and the residence file. Malta applications are prepared and filed by our own licensed team.
Still deciding? See our Monaco vs Malta comparison or the Monaco country summary on Global-Residency.com.
Sources
- Monaco residence permits (Government of Monaco)
- Acquiring Monegasque nationality (Government of Monaco)
Checked November 2026. Programme rules and amounts change often; we confirm current figures in writing before you commit. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Talk to a licensed adviser
Tell us your goals and timeline. Monaco applications are handled with partner firms located in Monaco; Malta applications, including EU residence and citizenship, are handled by our own licensed team.
- Licensed in Malta: Zenturo Ltd. is a licensed agent (Residency Malta Agency licence RES-DALI), company C-39472.
- In business since 2006: one team from first question to approval.
- Fast replies: usually within one hour, by e-mail, phone, WhatsApp, Telegram or WeChat.