France Targets Auto-Renewals & Raises Fees; Portugal GV Paused

France Moves to End Automatic Permit Renewals

The French Parliament is currently reviewing a bill that would eliminate the automatic renewal of long-term residence permits. This shift means residents will no longer be able to rely on a passive approach to maintaining their immigration status.

Moving forward, applicants will need to actively prove they still meet the criteria for residency during each renewal cycle. This increases the risk of losing legal status for those who are unprepared or fail to meet the requirements upon re-application.

Increased Fees for 10-Year Resident Cards

The cost of maintaining legal residency in France is set to rise. The draft budget for 2026 includes a provision to increase the state fee for a 10-year resident card by €100.

This fee hike signals a broader trend of increased legalization costs across the country, requiring expats to adjust their immigration budgets for the coming years.

Healthcare Loophole Closing for British Expats

France is planning to close a loophole that previously allowed British expats to access free healthcare without making contributions to the French system. Affected residents will need to recalculate their budgets to include private health insurance.

On a more positive note, some French departments have simplified the residence permit renewal procedure for Britons covered by the Brexit agreement. However, this streamlined process is highly dependent on the specific prefecture processing the application.

Portugal Pauses Golden Visa Citizenship Processes

Beyond France, Portugal has suspended processes related to expanding citizenship rights under its Golden Visa program. This pause has introduced significant uncertainty regarding the future of the program and naturalization timelines.

There are ongoing discussions about potentially extending the required timeline for citizenship from five years to ten years. Investors are advised to consult with their legal representatives for written updates on their specific naturalization timers.

How to Prepare for Stricter EU Immigration Rules

With analytics for 2025 showing a general complication of EU passport procedures for third-country nationals, proactive planning is essential to navigate the tightening regulations.

• Check the expiration dates of current residence permits and begin preparing renewal dossiers at least six months in advance.
• Do not rely on automatic renewals; ensure all compliance criteria are strictly met before applying.
• Reassess budgets for 2025-2026 to account for rising state fees and potential private healthcare costs.