To settle in the Principality of Monaco, all foreign nationals aged 16 or older must apply for a resident's card (Carte de Séjour) from the Residency, Certifications and Lost-and-Found Section of the Police Department. The application process differs fundamentally depending on whether the applicant is a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA) or a third-country national. Non-EEA nationals must first obtain a French long-stay (Type D) visa before they can formally apply for Monégasque residency, as Monaco's borders are managed in partnership with France. All applicants, regardless of origin, must satisfy three core pillars of eligibility: securing registered accommodation in the Principality, proving financial self-sufficiency through a local banking institution, and demonstrating a clean criminal record.