Visas and residency cards

French officials consider ideas to help second-home owners

An automatic conferral of long-stay rights may pose legal issues

Residency rights and border changes: What's new in France in 2025

Language requirements for residency cards will get tougher, and border security changes are set to be implemented

Three charged with taking bribes to provide false French tests for residency cards

The charges relate to the test de connaissance du français. It is thought that more than 250 applicants could be involved in a region of west France

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IT problems and digitalisation of French residency cards ‘causing issues’

Some applicants reported to face a ‘serious infringement of rights’ during residency process

Confirmed: EU states EES border changes will not start this year

The potential for long Christmas/New Year queues has been averted

What are the income rules for self-employed people coming to France?

People must show their business is economically viable to be granted a visa

How long can someone remain outside of France before residency permit is invalid?

You must correctly inform authorities if leaving the country

French prefecture rejects Briton's long-stay EU residency card request

European guidelines show the applicant should have received the permit. We look at the rules surrounding the carte de résident de longue-durée - EU card

Briton applies for French residency card and finds he was adopted - and has siblings

‘We look very much alike, with the same personality,’ said 79-year-old after meeting his half-brother

Does 90/180 day rule affect visiting France if I have Spanish residency?

Rules on spending too long in another EU country are in place for everyone

British woman warns of struggle to report lost residency card

The issue was compounded by the difficulty in getting a face-to-face meeting at the prefecture

British teen refused French benefits for having 'wrong type of card'

Delay in receiving her post-Brexit residency card has left teenager unable to access housing and transport benefits during her internship

How young Britons in France can get a residency card at 18

The children of Brexit Withdrawal Agreement card holders need to apply for the right to stay

Will lack of time left on UK passport affect re-entry into France?

EU rules on passport validity requirements are strict

Stricter language rules for French residency cards planned from July

Original timetable for tighter ‘integration’ requirements had them set to be implemented by January 2026

Which passport lane for travellers with French residency cards or visas under EES?

We also look at whether the rules will be different for Brexit WA card holders after the new digital border changes start

How long does it take to renew a carte de séjour in France?

Readers share their experiences

How can I apply for a visa without finalising home purchase in France?

Short-term rental contracts may be an option

French authorities reject birth certificate as it does not say 'UK' on it

Family were looking to obtain a DCEM, essential for some under-18s travelling to the EU

Can we go over 90-day EU visiting limit for a funeral in France?

Limits on entering Schengen Zone are in place for all visa-free travellers

What are the visa rules for boat owners visiting France?

Non-EU nationals visiting France for more than 90 days will need to apply for a visa

Senator makes new easier visa pledge for second-home owners in France

Amendment easing second-home owner visitation rules was removed from this year's immigration bill by Constitutional Council

Couple use official '90-day' calculator for French trip – but told dates wrong

Border guards gave two different dates deadline for ferry passengers to return to the UK - both of which were different to the calculator's

Can dual UK-Irish citizens spend six months in France and six months in the UK?

Be aware of tax residency and healthcare rights

Brexit residency cards in France: Important to get correct receipt slip

Make sure document mentions the Withdrawal Agreement and is not just a generic version for a ‘first residency card’

How the Defender of Rights can help you in France

Free support for legal problems is available online, by phone, or at in-person meetings

Retiring to France: how to avoid visa pitfalls

Healthcare status and economic status must be correctly declared. We also look at what to do if your application is refused

How can I get proof of address in France if bills are in partner’s name?

A proof of address is required for many administrative tasks

Can residency cards be uploaded to French ID smartphone app?

France Identité app allows the digitisation of certain documents

French Immigration Law 2024: New residency card rules for (some) workers

Employees in sectors facing a labour shortage can now obtain one-year residency permits more easily

Post-Brexit admin is not detering British seasonal workers to France

UK specialists had feared numbers of people wanting to 'work a season' in a ski resort or picking grapes would dwindle

What documents do I need for a visa application to travel to France?

People from the UK, US and 68 other countries outside of the Schengen area need to apply if they want to stay for more than 90 days

UK ambassador to France: what travellers should know about border change

Dame Menna Rawlings discusses a pre-registration app, travel papers for Britons under-18s and passport gates - as well as the Olympics and updates on this special year in UK-France relations

Dual nationals in France: We are a help not a hindrance

Officials respond to far-right’s June proposal to ban citizens with double nationality from holding certain jobs

Hopes rise for simpler French visas and residency after new decree

MPs and senators also seek to bring back ‘automatic visa for British second-home owners’ proposal

Do all visa-holders need to do an interview when entering France?

Many people entering the country are confused by the rules surrounding visas

What happens at an in-person appointment for a French visa?

We also look at how much it will cost and what documents and biometric data are required

Can I extend my 90-day visa-free period in France in an emergency?

Travellers from outside the Schengen area - including people from the US and the UK since Brexit - must adhere to the rules if they want to stay for longer within a 180-day period

Do I need prior French clients to apply for a profession libérale visa?

There are a number of conditions that must be fulfilled when applying

Residency card delays: French authorities pledge to reform system

The slow process for people living in France to apply a residency card could be cut after French authorities have promised to reform the system

Visa-free travel to France: EU agency warns over fake Etias websites

Over 100 unofficial sites have been uncovered - and many peddle misinformation, steal travellers’ data or charge extortionate fees

How to apply online for a French residency card

You can submit applications for some cartes de séjour - including for renewals - via the official website, but Brexit Withdrawal Agreement cards still require a visit to the prefecture

Can I stay in France via the 90/180 day rule if visa has expired?

Some nationalities require a visa to re-enter France even as a tourist

What are the various kinds of French residency cards?

People from the US and other countries outside the Schengen area - including Britons post-Brexit - can live, work and study in France but need to apply for a carte de séjour

What is the difference between a French carte de séjour and a titre de séjour?

The terms are often used interchangeably, we explain why

Will new biometric controls require proof of funds for France visit?

Visitors to the EU will be required to answer questions about travel plans within the bloc

Letters: French visa application complicated by inferior software

Connexion reader says applicants must pay more for insurance due to limitations of embassy computer

French residency permit delays at prefecture: what can you do?

Delays are causing stress and worry for many foreigners in France

7,372 short-stay French visas refused by London consulate in 2023

The UK is seventh-highest country for Schengen visa applications for France… and has one of the best acceptance rates. We look at possible reasons for refusal

Biometric border checks: what questions will be asked to enter France?

Queries can already be made by border guards, but digitalisation of border makes it more likely

French residency permit delays spark protest - how long should it take?

Demonstrators say titre de séjour renewals take too long - costing people their jobs and homes

Cost of short-stay visa to visit Schengen area to rise from June, 2024

Increase is needed due to higher costs and inflation, says European Commission

Tax, visas: Is there an English version of official French websites?

We review some of the key information pages used in everyday life in France

Updates: French long-term residency cards and UK life certificates

We reply to a reader’s concern about applying for carte de résident de longue-durée and look at a MP’s feedback on life certificates

Must I update French residency card due to street name changes?

Vehicle registration documents are affected and some people will also have to change their number plates

How will French/British couples be affected by UK’s ETA scheme?

A digital border scheme similar to the EU’s new controls is set to launch for Europeans next year

Visas for France 2024: is there an option for young workers?

Some younger people do not want to move to study, but rather travel inside the country or work

Permanent residency cards in France: 2024 renewal rules

We also look at the situation with Brexit Withdrawal Agreement cards

France and China ease visa rules - and leaders exchange presents

Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a two-day state visit to France to mark 60 years of bilateral relations between the countries

French residency card: how long does it take prefecture to issue this?

A récépissé is given to you while you wait for the response

UK jockey gets French residency card meeting after public complaint

James Reveley tells us about ordeals to obtain a titre de séjour after victory in prestigious ‘president’s race’ in Paris

How to apply for seasonal work in France as a non-EU citizen

Job adverts, work permits and visas - we explain the rules for employees and employers

Visas, French residency cards and other admin updates for April 2024

Plus, a standardised long-term residency status across all EU states stalls under Belgian presidency

French MPs still trying to ease visa process for second-home owners

Chasing letters to the minister, parliamentary questions - MPs continue to lobby for simpler temporary long-stay visas

Do I have to agree to Republican values to get French residency?

A contract is required for most people signing multi-year residency agreements

How many residency cards are being issued to Britons post-Brexit?

We look at the latest available figures

Will France's new language rules affect Brexit residency cards?

A number of visas required to live in France have been affected by the new immigration law

Fight continues to ease visa process for long visits to France

Campaigners are lobbying lawmakers about simplifications to the process – and are asking supporters to complete two surveys to gather experiences

Visas for France: how often are they refused and for what reasons?

Nearly 3 million visas were requested in 2023

Do I have to wait six months after expiry to renew French VLS-T visa?

VLS-T visas are separate to Schengen Bloc visa-free access days

How long is the wait for a French Ofii visa interview?

Validating your visa means you will be invited to a half-day at the French immigration agency - here is what to expect

Explainer: which self-employment visa to live and work in France?

We look at visa applications for the self-employed, business start-ups and talent passports

New tougher French language rules for immigration: who is affected?

The rules for residency cards and nationality are changing but there are exemptions

LIST: what was kept and what was rejected in French immigration law

Conseil constitutionnel rejected a third of items including an ‘automatic visa’ plan for Britons owning second homes - but approved increasing the level of French needed for certain residency cards

French passport is named one of six best for world travel

The ranking counts how many destinations the passport holder can travel to ‘visa-free’

Visas and residency cards

French officials consider ideas to help second-home owners

Residency rights and border changes: What's new in France in 2025

Three charged with taking bribes to provide false French tests for residency cards

IT problems and digitalisation of French residency cards ‘causing issues’

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Money, inheritance, tax, pensions: What's new in France in 2025

Cars and driving: What's new in France in 2025

Letters: How are hybrid cars supposed to carry a spare tyre in France?

Letters: Retirement in France costs more than €15,000 a year

Residency rights and border changes: What's new in France in 2025

Are France’s other republics megalomania or fun?

Police warn drivers of car headlights rules in France

Confirmed: EU states EES border changes will not start this year

What are the income rules for self-employed people coming to France?

How long can someone remain outside of France before residency permit is invalid?

French prefecture rejects Briton's long-stay EU residency card request

Briton applies for French residency card and finds he was adopted - and has siblings

Does 90/180 day rule affect visiting France if I have Spanish residency?

British woman warns of struggle to report lost residency card

British teen refused French benefits for having 'wrong type of card'

How young Britons in France can get a residency card at 18

Will lack of time left on UK passport affect re-entry into France?

French residency cards: Key terms to know (and understand)

Visa advice: Moving to France with adult children

French 10-year residency cards: The three types and who can apply for them

Stricter language rules for French residency cards planned from July

Will EES registration be required in France for EU residency permit holders?

What to do if your French residency card is lost or stolen

UK updates its official site for Britons living in France about border changes

Can British spouse of French passport holder use EU queue under EES rules?

Brexit Withdrawal Agreement cards: French residency requirement rules

Which passport lane for travellers with French residency cards or visas under EES?

How long does it take to renew a carte de séjour in France?

How can I apply for a visa without finalising home purchase in France?

French authorities reject birth certificate as it does not say 'UK' on it

Can we go over 90-day EU visiting limit for a funeral in France?

What are the visa rules for boat owners visiting France?

Senator makes new easier visa pledge for second-home owners in France

Couple use official '90-day' calculator for French trip – but told dates wrong

Can dual UK-Irish citizens spend six months in France and six months in the UK?

Brexit residency cards in France: Important to get correct receipt slip

How the Defender of Rights can help you in France

Retiring to France: how to avoid visa pitfalls

How can I get proof of address in France if bills are in partner’s name?

Can residency cards be uploaded to French ID smartphone app?

French Immigration Law 2024: New residency card rules for (some) workers

Post-Brexit admin is not detering British seasonal workers to France

What documents do I need for a visa application to travel to France?

UK ambassador to France: what travellers should know about border change

Dual nationals in France: We are a help not a hindrance

Hopes rise for simpler French visas and residency after new decree

Do all visa-holders need to do an interview when entering France?

What happens at an in-person appointment for a French visa?

Can I extend my 90-day visa-free period in France in an emergency?

Do I need prior French clients to apply for a profession libérale visa?

Residency card delays: French authorities pledge to reform system

Visa-free travel to France: EU agency warns over fake Etias websites

How to apply online for a French residency card

Can I stay in France via the 90/180 day rule if visa has expired?

What are the various kinds of French residency cards?

What is the difference between a French carte de séjour and a titre de séjour?

Will new biometric controls require proof of funds for France visit?

Letters: French visa application complicated by inferior software

French residency permit delays at prefecture: what can you do?

7,372 short-stay French visas refused by London consulate in 2023

Biometric border checks: what questions will be asked to enter France?

French residency permit delays spark protest - how long should it take?

Cost of short-stay visa to visit Schengen area to rise from June, 2024

Tax, visas: Is there an English version of official French websites?

Updates: French long-term residency cards and UK life certificates

Must I update French residency card due to street name changes?

How will French/British couples be affected by UK’s ETA scheme?

Visas for France 2024: is there an option for young workers?

Permanent residency cards in France: 2024 renewal rules

France and China ease visa rules - and leaders exchange presents

French residency card: how long does it take prefecture to issue this?

UK jockey gets French residency card meeting after public complaint

How to apply for seasonal work in France as a non-EU citizen

Visas, French residency cards and other admin updates for April 2024