Monaco Passport: Benefits, Rules and Application Process in 2026

The Monégasque passport is a travel document issued to citizens of Monaco and is valid for up to five years. It provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a172 countries, and ranks 29th on the Global Passport Index by Global Citizen Solutions.  

To get a Monaco passport, you will need to navigate the world’s most exclusive and selective citizenship processes. Applicants need to first be legal residents and complete at least 10 years of legal residence, show integration into the Monaco society, and give up their previous passport. However, Monaco has several benefits, such as a 0% personal income tax, 0 wealth tax, and it is considered one of the safest countries.  

This guide explains all the steps to getting a Monaco passport, including the requirements, different routes toward citizenship, application process, costs and more. 

Monaco passport: Key Takeaways

A Monaco passport is issued to citizens of Monaco and provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 172 countries, ranking 29th on our Global Passport Index. 

Monaco does not offer a direct citizenship by investment program, so applicants need to first become legal residents before they can qualify for citizenship. 

To obtain residency, most applicants must deposit at least €500,000 in a Monaco bank, have suitable accommodation, and prove they are financially self-sufficient. 

The main routes to citizenship are naturalization after 10 years of continuous legal residence, through descent or long-term marriage to a Monegasque citizen. 

Naturalization applicants must show integration into Monaco society, speak French, have a clean criminal record, and renounce their previous citizenship. Final citizenship approval of citizenship is discretionary and must be granted by the Sovereign Prince. 

Monaco is attractive for its 0% personal income tax, no wealth or capital gains taxes, minimal inheritance tax, top-notch security, and very high standard of living. 

The Monegasque passport is one of the most prestigious and powerful travel documents in the world. According to the Global Passport Index by Global Citizen Solutions, Monaco ranks 29th and gives you access to 172 countries. Our passport index looks beyond the travel benefits as it  analyses the countries’ investment environment and the quality of life.  

Monaco Passport Rankings

29th

Global Passport Index

41st

Enhanced Mobility Index

3rd

Investment Index

84th

Quality of Living Index

• Global Access: A Monaco passport ranks top 29 in the world on our Global Passport Index and provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 172 countries. 
• Access to other non-EU destinations: Unlike many non-EU passports, Monaco citizens enjoy visa-free access to other global destinations, including the United States through ESTA, China for short stays, the United Kingdom, Canada, and full access to the Schengen Area across Europe. 
• Zero personal income tax: Monaco does not impose personal income tax on its citizens except for French nationals under specific agreements.  
• No wealth or property Taxes: There is no net wealth tax, no capital gains tax, and no annual property tax, which allows residents to protect and grow their assets. 
• Minimal inheritance tax: Transfers of assets to direct heirs, such as spouses and children, are taxed at 0%.  
• Exceptional security: Monaco is consistently ranked among the world’s safest places, with a very high police-to-resident ratio, and has some of the best surveillance systems.  
• Lifestyle and services: Citizens benefit from access to high-quality healthcare, prestigious schools, and a well-developed infrastructure within one of the most exclusive places in Europe. 

To get a Monaco passport you must go through one of the most selective citizenship processes in the world. Monaco does not offer a direct citizenship by investment program. Instead, you must first become a legal resident, and only after a few years can you apply for citizenship. Even then, approval is discretionary and decided by the Prince of Monaco. 

01/ Citizenship by naturalization  

Citizenship by naturalization is the most well known route for several foreigner nationals. Applicants need have lived in Monaco legally and continuously for at least 10 years after turning 18 before you can apply for citizenship. This means first qualifying for a Monaco residence permit by proving you have sufficient financial resources, finding accommodation in Monaco, and maintaining ties to the country.  

02/ Citizenship By Marriage 

If you marry a Monegasque citizen, you can apply for citizenship by marriage after 20 years of marriage. You must still be married and living together at the time of the application because as with naturalization, approval is not automatic it is still very selective. The residency stay requirements have changed over the years and will depend on when you were married:  

• Marriages after July 1, 2022: citizenship after 20 years of marriage and cohabitation. 
• Marriages before July 1, 2022: The previous requirement of 10 years still applies. 

03/ Citizenship by descent 

Citizenship is automatically given if you are born to a Monegasque father, or to a Monegasque mother who held Monaco nationality at the time of your birth. Citizenship by descent is the easiest path because it does not require residency or government approval beyond registering the citizenship. Being born in Monaco to foreign parents does not give you the right to citizenship, unless the parents are unknown. 

The Monaco Carte de Séjour is the official Monaco residence permit for anyone who wants to live in Monaco for more than three months. It is issued by Monaco’s immigration and Residence Department. It is different from a French residence permit because is handled only by Monaco’s government. However, non-EU citizens must first apply for a French long-stay visa (Type D) before they can request residency in Monaco. 

Monaco permit categories   

• Temporary residence car (1 year): Entry leval residence permit that is renewable annually for the first 3 years. 
• Ordinary Residence Card (3 years): Issued after 3 years of continuous residence. 
• Privileged Residence Card (10 years): Available after 10 years of residency. This is the same as permanent residency and requires you to spend at least six  months per year in the Principality. 

Monaco residence permit requirements  

• Financial resources: The applicant has to show they have sufficient funds to live in Monaco without being employed there. This is proven through via a bank confirmation from a Monegasque bank and a bank deposit of a minimum of €500,000 
• Accommodation: You must provide proof of having accommodation in Monaco. This can be a property deed or a minimum 12-month lease that is appropriately sized for your household. A studio is not accepted for families. 
• You must provide a clean criminal record from every country you have lived in over the past five years. 

• Paternal: You are automatically a citizen if your father was Monegasque at the time of your birth. 
• Maternal: You can qualify for citizenship if your mother was a Monegasque citizen at the time of your birth and either: she was born as a Monegasque citizen or she acquired the nationality through naturalization or descent. 
• Residency: You must have lived in Monaco for at least 10 consecutive years as an adult over 18. 
• Integration: You must demonstrate ties to the Principality, including proficiency in the French language and a clean criminal record. 
• Renunciation: You must provide proof that you have renounced your original citizenship. 
• National Service: You must be exempt from military service obligations in your home country. 
• Marriages after July 1, 2022: You can apply for citizenship after 20 years of marriage and cohabitation. 
• Marriages before July 1, 2022: The previous requirement of 10 years will still apply. 
• Constraint: If you get citizenship through marriage, you cannot pass it on to your children. 

All documents that are not in French must be translated by a certified translator, and most foreign documents must also be legalized with an Apostille to be officially accepted by Monaco authorities. Additionally, anyone applying for naturalization must submit a formal petition written on paper and stamped paper and personally addressed to the Sovereign Prince. 

• Valid passport and a copy of your Type D long-stay visa if non-EU). 
• An original birth certificate 
• Marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or widowhood certificates where needed 
• Recent passport-sized color photographs  
• Police clearances from every country where you have lived for the last five years  
• An official letter or certificate proving you have renounced your previous nationality. 
• Official confirmation that you are exempt from military service obligations in your country of origin. 
• Evidence of French language skills, which are usually tested during the mandatory police interview. 
• 10-year residency proof such as pay slips, school certificates for children, utility bills and tax records for the full decade. 
• A bank reference letter from a Monaco bank confirming a deposit of €500,000 
• A notarized property deed or a registered 12-month lease for an appropriately sized residence. 

The application process for a Monaco passport is different from the residency application. You can only apply for the passport once you are officially a Monegasque citizen.  

• Step 1: You must first have your Certificate of Nationality. 
  • For naturalized citizens this is issued after the Sovereign Ordinance granting your citizenship is published and you have taken the oath. 
  • For Descent/Marriage: You have to apply for this certificate through the Directorate of Judicial Services to prove your legal right to the nationality. 

• Step 2: Submission of the application: The passport application is managed by the General Secretariat of the Ministry of State. You can download the specific adult or child form from the official MonServicePublic portal or collect it from the Ministry’s reception. 

• Step 3: Biometrics: You need to be in person even for children at the Ministry of State to have your photograph taken and digital fingerprints scanned. 

• Step 4: Collection: When everything has been submitted, the passport will be ready within 10 to 15 business days. You will receive a notification to collect it in person.  A legal guardian must be present for minors. 

• Adults (18+): Valid for 10 years. 
• Children (3–17): Valid for 5 years. 
• Infants (Under 3): Valid for 3 years. 

Monaco does not allow dual citizenship and strictly follows the rule of having only one passport. If you apply for Monaco citizenship through naturalization, you are required to officially give up your original citizenship and provide proof before your Monaco passport is issued. Similarly, if someone who is already Monegasque voluntarily takes another country’s nationality, they automatically lose their Monaco citizenship. 

Exception: Those to acquire Monaco citizenship through marriage can keep their original passport.