European Citizenship & Residency News
English summaries of the immigration, naturalisation, Golden Visa, and language-exam changes that matter for citizenship applicants.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on June 10, 2026: France Immigration Update: Salary Thresholds, Schengen Rules & Bureaucracy Impacts
Recent updates highlight increased minimum salary thresholds for skilled workers, impending stricter Schengen visa rules for 2025, and the heavy toll of French administrative delays on foreign residents.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on June 3, 2026: France Relaxes EU Blue Card Rules Amid Broader EU Migration Changes
France has eased its EU Blue Card requirements to attract experienced professionals. Meanwhile, the broader European Union has agreed on stricter measures to manage irregular migration.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on May 27, 2026: France Proposes 3-Year Immigration Freeze Amid Residence Portal Fixes
France's Justice Minister has proposed a three-year freeze on legal immigration. Meanwhile, the highest court ordered the government to fix its malfunctioning online residence permit portal to prevent applicant delays.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on May 20, 2026: France Immigration Updates: Talent Passport Tweaks & 2026 Naturalisation Changes
France is preparing to update its Talent Passport and naturalisation policies in 2026. From new biometric border checks to strict student work limits, here is what expats and citizenship applicants need to know.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on May 13, 2026: France Immigration Update: ANEF Portal Fix, Blue Card Tweaks & 2026 Language Rules
France is overhauling its immigration landscape with a mandated fix for the ANEF portal, updated EU Blue Card rules, and a stronger focus on language proficiency for 2026 residency renewals.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on April 29, 2026: France Immigration Updates: Fee Hikes & Stricter Court Reviews
France is raising state fees for residence permits and citizenship starting May 2026. Meanwhile, new legislation may allow judges to review classified files in immigration disputes.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on April 22, 2026: France Immigration Update: Massive Fines for Illegal Hiring & Faster Residence Permits
France is cracking down on illegal hiring with fines up to €62,250 per employee while hiring 500 new prefecture staff to speed up residence permit processing.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on April 15, 2026: France Promises Faster Residence Permits Amid ANEF System Glitches
France aims to speed up residence permit processing, but applicants face severe delays due to ANEF portal glitches. Meanwhile, new guidelines clarify how graduates can transition to business creation visas.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on April 8, 2026: France Hires 500 Prefecture Staff to Clear Residence Card Backlogs
France is tackling severe residence card delays by hiring 500 new prefecture staff. Meanwhile, the EU's biometric border system (EES) faces another delay due to French infrastructure readiness.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on April 1, 2026: France Pauses Asylum, Fast-Tracks EU Migration Pact & Talent Visas
France is urgently overhauling its immigration system to meet a June EU deadline. While asylum processing is paused, the country is prioritizing skilled professionals, students, and investors.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on March 18, 2026: France Raises Immigration Fees Amid Growing Visa Backlogs
France has increased its immigration and citizenship fees while facing significant visa processing delays. Applicants must prepare for stricter rules and longer wait times.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on March 11, 2026: France Immigration Update: Fee Hikes in May & EES Launch in April 2026
France is tightening its immigration system with higher visa and residence permit fees starting May 2026. Meanwhile, the new automated Entry/Exit System (EES) will strictly track Schengen stays by April.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on March 4, 2026: France Pushes for EU Business Mobility Amid Schengen Visa Tightening
France is lobbying the EU to simplify business mobility for entrepreneurs while tightening standard Schengen visa rules. Meanwhile, a successful mass renewal of 40,000 resident cards highlights a stable local system.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on February 25, 2026: France Immigration Update: Fee Hikes, Biometrics, and Prefecture Delays
France is raising residence permit and citizenship fees starting May 1. Applicants also face mandatory global biometrics and severe processing delays of up to nine months in certain prefectures.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on February 18, 2026: French Residence Permit Delays: Strikes & Closures
Medical worker strikes and prefecture closures in Marseille are causing significant delays for French residence permits. Meanwhile, France aims to attract 30,000 Indian students, increasing competition for housing.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on February 4, 2026: France Proposes 3-Year Immigration Freeze While EU Delays EES to 2026
A French minister has proposed a three-year freeze on legal immigration amid a rightward political shift. Meanwhile, the EU delayed its EES biometric border system to September 2026 due to airport readiness issues.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on January 28, 2026: France Weighs 3-Year Immigration Freeze & Hikes Talent Passport Thresholds
France is considering a three-year freeze on legal immigration while raising salary thresholds for the Talent Passport. Applicants must also pass a new mandatory civic exam for multi-year residence permits.
Published · By Laura Ferreira
Weekly update on January 21, 2026: France Updates Talent Visa Guides & Delays ETIAS to Late 2026
France has updated its Talent – New Business visa guidelines and delayed the ETIAS launch to late 2026. Meanwhile, stricter general migration policies may increase processing times at local prefectures.