Monaco
Monaco Residency (Carte de Séjour)
Also known as: Monaco Residence Permit, Monaco Carte de Séjour
- Min investment
- $550K
- Program tier
- Renewable Temp
- Program type
- Investor Visa
- Initial validity
- 1 yr
- Renewable
- Yes
- Path to PR
- 9 yr
- Path to citizenship
- 10 yr
- Schengen access
- Yes
Investment options
Bank Deposit
$550KBank reference letter from a Monegasque bank confirming deposit/AUM of at least EUR 500,000 (some banks require EUR 1,000,000+). NO statutory minimum from Monaco law — bank-imposed. Funds remain in account; not lost to government. Must remain throughout residency.
Real Estate
$0Lease OR purchase of suitable Monaco accommodation. Lease minimum 12 months; purchase at market (Monaco property avg EUR 50,000+/m² — typical entry EUR 5M+). No statutory minimum but accommodation must be suitable for household size.
Physical presence
Path to citizenship
- Available: Yes
- Minimum years: 10
- Physical-presence years: 10
- Language test: Yes
Naturalization extremely discretionary — by Sovereign Ordinance only. Requires 10 years residence, assimilation, French language. Monaco does NOT permit dual citizenship — applicant must renounce other citizenships. Citizenship rarely granted to economic-residence holders.
Tax implications
- Becomes tax resident automatically: No
- Worldwide income taxed: No
- Territorial tax system: Yes
- Day-count for tax residency: 183 days
- Wealth tax: No
Monaco has NO personal income tax (since 1869) — except for French citizens who remain liable to French income tax under 1963 Franco-Monégasque convention. NO wealth tax, NO capital gains tax for individuals (except real-estate trading), NO property tax. Inheritance tax 0% direct line, 8-16% other heirs. Monaco tax residency certificate available after 6 months residence (183+ days actual presence). Most exclusive zero-income-tax jurisdiction globally.
Family inclusion
- Spouse: Yes
- Children under 18: Yes
- Dependent adult children: No
- Parents: No
Spouse and minor children included under family permit on principal's basis. Adult dependents must qualify separately.
Additional fees
- Application fee: $100
- Government fees: $100
- Legal/agent (est.): $15K
Carte de Séjour fees modest. French long-stay visa (for non-EU applicants) ~EUR 99. Legal/agent fees EUR 10,000-30,000 typical. Bank diligence may take 1-3 months.
Eligibility requirements
- Age 16+
- Clean criminal record from country of residence in past 5 years (sealed and apostilled)
- Proof of accommodation in Monaco (lease or purchase)
- Bank reference letter (financial self-sufficiency)
- For non-EU citizens: French long-stay visa Type D required first
- In-person interview
Disqualifiers
- French citizenship (must apply through different French-Monaco channels)
- Insufficient financial self-sufficiency proof
- Adverse police background
- Insufficient time spent in Monaco for renewal
Recent changes
- 2020-2024
Monegasque banks raised practical minimum deposit to EUR 500,000-1,000,000 (no statutory change). Enhanced due diligence post-FATF/MONEYVAL pressure.
- 2025-2026
Continued bank-tightening; some banks closing accounts for clients with insufficient Monaco economic substance. Carte de Séjour processing 3-6 months.
Notes
Monaco residency is the ultimate elite jurisdiction — zero income tax, world-class banking and security, French Riviera lifestyle. Practical entry barrier is EUR 500K-1M+ bank deposit + accommodation EUR 5M+ purchase or EUR 100K+/year rent. NOT EU (but IS Schengen via Monaco-France relationship). Citizenship is functionally unattainable for economic residents; the value is residency, not naturalization. Crucially: French citizens remain subject to French income tax even when Monaco-resident — Monaco's 0% tax is for everyone EXCEPT French citizens.
EasyPassport is a document-organization tool focused on citizenship by descent. This page is reference research, not legal or financial advice. Always verify with the official program authority.