France family reunification housing requirements square meters

For Moroccans legally settled in France, family reunification allows them to bring a spouse and minor children who remained in Morocco. But this procedure is governed by several conditions. One of the most underestimated concerns housing.

On Bladi.net : France APL Housing Allowance Morocco Stays Rules

The administration does not only check whether the person has an address in France. It verifies whether the housing is suitable for welcoming the family. It must be considered normal for a comparable family living in the same geographical region, and meet minimum conditions of comfort, health and habitability.

This rule can become decisive. A foreigner living in France may have a valid residence permit, a recognized marriage and regular income, but see their application blocked if the housing intended to welcome the family is deemed insufficient.

The thresholds depend on the geographical area. For a couple without children, or two people, a minimum of 22 m² is required in zones A bis and A, 24 m² in zones B1 and B2, and 28 m² in zone C. You must then add 10 m² per additional person up to eight people, then 5 m² beyond that.

Housing can make everything fall apart

These rules can weigh heavily in large cities, where rents are high and housing is smaller. A studio or small two-bedroom apartment may be sufficient to live alone, but may not be accepted to welcome a spouse and several children from Morocco.

Family situation is therefore central. The number of people already present in the housing in France also matters. If a child already lives in the apartment, or if other household members reside there, the administration may consider that the available space does not allow the family to be welcomed in good conditions.

The application must contain precise supporting documents. A tenant must provide in particular a recent proof of residence, the lease and a rent receipt. A homeowner must produce a property title or notarial certificate. A person being hosted must provide the documents of the host, a proof of residence and supporting documents related to the housing.

It is also possible to submit an application when the housing is not yet occupied, but will be available upon the family’s arrival. In this case, a rental promise, proof of future acquisition or a certificate of availability may be requested. But the housing must always meet the expected criteria.

The verification does not remain only on paper. Ofii first transmits the file to the mayor of the municipality of residence, or of the municipality where the applicant plans to settle. The mayor verifies the housing and income conditions. Authorized agents can visit the housing to check its surface area, comfort and habitability.

The mayor then sends a reasoned opinion to Ofii. The office completes the review if necessary, then the file is transmitted to the prefect. It is the prefect who accepts or refuses the family reunification request.

Housing can also complicate partial applications. In principle, family reunification must concern the entire family expected to join France. A partial application may be exceptionally admitted in the interest of children, particularly when the housing is too small to accommodate everyone.

For Moroccan families, the trap is to prepare the marriage, civil status documents, translations and income, while neglecting the reception address in France. Yet a lease, insufficient surface area or poorly justified accommodation can delay or compromise the application.

Before submitting an application, you must therefore check the zone of the municipality, calculate the minimum surface area required according to household size, gather supporting documents and ensure that the housing can be inspected without difficulty.

On Bladi.net : France spouse visa Morocco marriage requirements 2024

Family reunification is not only played out between France and Morocco. It is also played out in the apartment where the family must live. For the French administration, bringing a spouse or children requires being able to welcome them in housing deemed sufficient.