Skip to main content
THE CITIZENSHIP DESK
MC flag

Monaco

MCO

Monaco is a sovereign city-state on the French Riviera bordering France on three sides and the Mediterranean Sea to the south, covering roughly 2 square kilometres and home to around 39,000 residents. It is the world's second-smallest country by area and the most densely populated. Monaco levies no personal income tax on residents — a defining feature that has long attracted high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and professional athletes.

While not a European Union member and not part of the Schengen Area as a full signatory, Monaco operates an open border with France and its residents benefit from practical freedom of movement across much of Europe. The principality uses the euro and maintains close economic and administrative ties with France through bilateral treaties. Property costs rank among the highest globally, and obtaining residency requires demonstrating substantial financial means and securing accommodation before applying.

Naturalisation
10 years
Tax system
No Income Tax
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Dual citizenship
Not allowed
Capital
Monaco
Region
europe
Population
39,000
Cost-of-living
130 /100
→ If you hold a Monaco passport, see the Monaco nationality guide

Passport Rank

#12

Visa-Free

150

destinations

Visa-free travel

A Monaco passport has visa-free access to 150 destinations. See the full Monaco passport breakdown →

Passports that enter Monaco without a prior visa (91)

Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.

AL flagAlbaniaAD flagAndorraAG flagAntigua and BarbudaAR flagArgentinaAU flagAustraliaAT flagAustriaBS flagBahamasBB flagBarbadosBE flagBelgiumBA flagBosnia and HerzegovinaBR flagBrazilBN flagBrunei DarussalamBG flagBulgariaCA flagCanadaCL flagChileCO flagColombiaCR flagCosta RicaHR flagCroatia+73 more

Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.

Immigrating to Canada from Monaco

Current IRCC processing times for Monaco nationals, by application type.

Visitor visa (outside Canada)No processing time available
Super visaNo processing time available
Study permitNo processing time available
Work permitNo processing time available
Sponsor a dependent childNo processing time available
Adopted child (citizenship)Not enough data
Government-assisted refugeesNot enough data
Privately sponsored refugeessponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data

Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.

As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →

Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.

Sources & last verified

Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)

Country Details

Capital
Monaco
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Languages
French
Population
39,000
Tax System
No Income Tax
Dual Citizenship
Not allowed
Naturalisation
10 years
Schengen / EU
No
Climate
Mediterranean
GDP per capita
$288,002
Life expectancy
86.5 yrs
Population growth
-0.75%/yr

GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).

Indices

Cost of Living

130

Safety

85

Healthcare

82

Quality of Life

78

Tax Summary

Tax System
No Income Tax
Territorial Taxation
No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation
10 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship
Not allowed

Cost of Living by City

← scroll the table →

Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
CityRent 1BR centreRent outsideGroceriesUtilitiesTransit pass
Monaco$5,500$4,200—$180—

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Monaco

9°J
9°F
11°M
14°A
18°M
22°J
25°J
25°A
22°S
17°O
13°N
10°D

Rainfall range: 10–90 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 15h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

  • Schengen C Short-Stay Visa
  • Residence Permit (Monégasque)
  • Carte de Résident Privilégié
  • Work Permit
  • Family Reunification
  • Student Visa
  • Long-Stay Visa (D)
  • Diplomatic / Official Visa
  • Transit Visa
Authority
Direction de la Sûreté Publique
Official Portal
www.gouv.mc/Action-Gouvernementale/Les-Services-de-l-Etat/La-Securite-Publique/La-Direction-de-la-Surete-Publique
Phone
+377 93 15 30 15
Email
surete.publique@gouv.mc

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years
10
Language Test
Yes (French)
Civic Test
No
Oath Required
Yes
Dual Allowed
No
Fee
$250
Processing
~24 months

Safety

GPI Rank

#8

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

  • ⚠Luxury goods counterfeiting sold near Port Hercule tourist areas
  • ⚠Fake charity solicitations targeting high-net-worth visitors on casino grounds

Regulators & official sources

Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Monaco, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.

Ordre des Avocats Defenseurs et Avocats pres la Cour d'Appel de Monaco

Monaco Bar

Professional body for lawyers admitted in Monaco. There is no dedicated immigration-adviser regulator; residence and employment permissions are handled by Monaco government departments.

Ordre des Avocats Defenseurs et Avocats pres la Cour d'Appel de Monaco

Sources & last verified

Index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-20.

Related Guides

Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list

Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Related on The Citizenship Desk

Life logistics

Reference tables

Visa routes

Official visa and residence routes for Monaco, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.

Residence

Residence Permit

Residence

Monaco residence permit for anyone aged at least 16 who wants to reside in Monaco for more than three months in a year or settle there.

A temporary card valid for 1 year may be issued after a residence-permit application is submitted; later card type and validity depend on status and renewals.
Prince's Government of Monaco · reviewed 2026-07-12

Work (sponsored)

Domestic Staff Work Permit

Work (sponsored)

Monaco route for private individuals hiring domestic staff at their Monaco residence, with Employment Office authorisation and work-permit handling.

Sponsor requiredCase-specific; timing depends on employer affiliation, Employment Office validation and the completed authorisation/work-permit form.
Prince's Government of Monaco · reviewed 2026-07-12

Employment Authorisation through the Employment Office

Work (sponsored)

Employer-led Monaco recruitment route where job offers are reported to the Employment Office and priority candidates are considered first.

Sponsor requiredCase-specific; the official recruitment procedure includes a 4 clear day period for the Employment Office to forward suitable priority candidates after a job offer is submitted.
Prince's Government of Monaco · reviewed 2026-07-12

Sources & last verified

Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.

Sources & last verified

  • Last verified