16 recent and upcoming changes in France you may have missed in January

France rated above the UK and US in 2025 world economy rankings

France has been classed 11th in the world for its economy in a new ranking by The Economist, ahead of the UK (27th), US (17th), and Germany (20th).

The list comprises 36 countries. It is based on five indicators (and their % change year-on-year): inflation, inflation breadth (where prices are rising by more than a target level), GDP, employment and share prices.

France’s score is mainly due to its low inflation rate. Similarly, its growth contributed to the positive score, at 0.9% GDP in 2025. Its employment rating was also positive, showing a 1.5% increase.

Chimney use banned in many areas

Open fireplaces are to be banned in around 690 communes by the end of 2026 to reduce air pollution.

Areas already affected include Haute-Savoie, wider Strasbourg, 58 municipalities of Lyon and Saint-Étienne, while restrictions are set to come into force across 95 communes of Lille from November 1.

Some communes are extending restrictions to wood-burning stoves and inserts installed before 2002. Penalties start at €450 and can reach €1,500 in some areas. The rules vary by location – check with your local mairie.

Pets considered ‘luggage’

Pets transported in aircraft holds fall under the same compensation rules as checked baggage, the EU’s top court has ruled, after a dog escaped while being loaded onto an Iberia flight from Buenos Aires to Barcelona.

The owner sought €5,000 in damages, but had not made a special declaration of value at check-in. Iberia argued compensation should be capped under baggage rules.

Judges ruled that pets “are not excluded from the concept of baggage”, meaning standard airline liability limits apply (around €1,413 at the time).

Medical fees rise

Fees for certain specialist medical appointments increased on January 1, mainly affecting sector 1 doctors and sector 2 professionals under the OPTAM scheme.

Paediatric, gynaecology, and geriatric visits are among those that increased by €5, while a new €60 ‘long consultation’ for patients over the age of 80 was also introduced. 

This appointment is available once per year for recently hospitalised patients, combined care needs, or social-medical transition pathways.

Examples of updated tariffs include: paediatric visits for children under two rising from €39 to €40; geriatrician visits from €37 to €42; and gynaecologist appointments from €37 to €40. Reimbursement rates through Assurance Maladie remain unchanged.

Electricity bills stable

Electricity bills are expected to remain broadly stable in 2026 and 2027, particularly for households on regulated tariffs, the government has said.

The assurance comes despite the end of the Arenh scheme on December 31, 2025, which obliged EDF to sell part of its nuclear electricity to competitors at a fixed reduced price. Around 56% of households are on regulated tariffs, while others may see some increases.

According to the Finance Ministry, low wholesale prices for France’s low-carbon electricity should limit price rises in the short term. However, suppliers may still pass on costs linked to energy renovation certificates (CEE).

Property sales rise

Sales of non-new-build properties rose by 11% year on year between September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2025, according to Notaires de France.

A total of 921,000 transactions were recorded, marking a recovery after two years of decline following a 2022 peak. The notaires described the market as improving, but urged “cautious optimism”.

Nationally, non-new-build house prices rose by an estimated 0.2%, with increases of 0.5% outside the Paris region offset by a 1.3% fall in Ile-de-France. 

Flat prices rose by 1.3% nationwide. Some departments saw much stronger sales growth, including Gironde (+18%), Haute-Garonne (+17%) and Rhône (+16%), while Creuse was the only mainland department to record a fall.

Buyers’ purchasing power has also improved, with the average budget now buying around 6m² more space than two years ago.

‘Garden shed’ tax falls

The taxe d’aménagement is set to fall by 4.06% in 2026, the first decrease in nine years. It applies to property extensions, sheds, garages, verandas, swimming pools, wind turbines, and certain solar panels, for structures over 5m² or with a roof over 1.8m.

The one-off tax is payable within 90 days of completion via the Biens immobiliers section of the tax site, either in a single payment or split if above €1,500. Declarations are obligatory.

The 2026 rates are €1,011/m² in Ile-de-France and €892/m² elsewhere, with local authorities able to add additional percentages. Special constructions, such as pools (€251/m²) and chalets (€10,000/pitch), have set rates. 

Tax site change

The personal user area on the French tax website, previously known as Espace particulier, is now called Espace Finances publiques. 

It remains the same login area to file annual income tax returns, pay property taxes and declare property use via the Biens immobiliers service. 

Aside from the name change, there are no alterations to the interface or how the site functions, and the access button remains in the top-right corner of the website. The espace professionnel used by businesses is unchanged.

New speeding charge

‘Excessive speeding’ of more than 50km/h above the limit is now classified as a délit (criminal offence), rather than a traffic infraction, meaning offenders will receive a criminal record. The offence carries a maximum fine of €3,750 and up to three months in prison, replacing the previous €1,500 fine.

Existing penalties remain in place, including possible vehicle confiscation, licence suspension of up to three years, six penalty points, and bans from driving certain vehicles. A new three-year ban on reapplying for a licence has also been added if a licence is cancelled.

Tax bands to be raised?

France’s Finance Commission has backed raising income tax bands in line with inflation as part of the late 2026 budget. 

If approved, thresholds would rise by around 1.1%, matching 2025 inflation, preventing households from paying more tax or moving into higher brackets simply because wages have increased. Without the adjustment, an estimated 200,000 households could face higher bills.

The final decision rests with MPs when the bill is debated in early 2026.

Smic increase

France’s minimum wage, the Smic, increased by 1.18% on January 1, bringing a full-time (35-hour) net salary up from €1,426 to €1,443 per month. Around 2.2 million workers, or 12.4% of employees, earn the minimum wage.

The increase is automatic, based on inflation over the previous year and household purchasing power. No further increase is expected until 2027 unless inflation exceeds 2% later this year.

Phones at the wheel

From February 1, 2026, drivers in Lot-et-Garonne found using a phone while driving face a six-month licence suspension and a €135 fine issued directly by the prefecture, in addition to standard national penalties. The suspension takes effect immediately. 

Lot-et-Garonne follows Landes, which introduced similar measures in November 2025. Prefectural authorities can also apply additional rules, including automatic loss of three points and licence suspension of up to three years.

The move comes after record levels of phone use and accidents in 2025. The measures could be expanded nationwide if they reduce accidents.

Scam warning

Authorities have issued fresh warnings about scams using QR codes, now common on menus, adverts, and electric car chargers. They can be hijacked by fraudsters placing fake codes over legitimate ones.

To stay safe, check the source of a QR code before scanning. Avoid unknown codes, and if a code appears on official correspondence, compare it with similar documents. 

Avoid unknown codes, and if a code appears on official correspondence, compare it with similar documents. 

After scanning, verify the website carefully: look for spelling errors, incorrect branding, and ensure the URL matches the official address (for government sites, ending in .gouv.fr). 

Never provide payment or personal details unless certain the site is genuine. Use two-factor authentication when logging into accounts accessed through QR codes.

Swiss motorway sticker

Drivers crossing from France into Switzerland are reminded to update their annual motorway sticker, the vignette autoroutière, required for all vehicles under 3.5 tonnes using Swiss motorways and certain major roads. 

The sticker is valid until January 31 of the following year. It can be purchased at Swiss Post offices, service stations, and some border points, or online for Swiss addresses. An electronic version is also available via the official government site. 

The cost remains 40 Swiss francs (around €43). Incorrectly displayed or missing stickers can result in a 200-franc fine (around €215). 

Drivers who exit the motorway immediately after border entry onto local roads at Rheinfelden, Kreuzlingen, and Basel/Saint-Louis are exempt.

New fishing rules

Recreational anglers must now report certain catches via the EU’s RecFishing app, under rules that came into force in January. 

The requirement applies to so-called ‘critical’ species, including sea bass, pink sea bream and tuna. The EU says the system will improve data collection on recreational fishing and support the sustainable management of marine fish stocks.

Fine for idling engines

A mayor in north-east France has begun fining drivers for leaving their engines idling near shops and schools, citing concerns over air pollution and public health.

Pierre Perrin, mayor of Souffelweyersheim near Strasbourg, introduced the measure in December in designated high-footfall areas. 

The move relies on Article R318-1 of the French road code, which prohibits vehicles from emitting smoke or gases that could endanger public health or cause discomfort. Breaches are classed as fourth-class offences, carrying a €135 fine.