Brexit updates for Britons in France in January 2021
'Brexit building' opened in the Dordogne, income limits clarified for WA residency card applications and more
Dordogne reassures WA card applicants
The Dordogne prefecture has urged Britons not to feel stressed over WA residency card applications and says no applications have been rejected so far.
The prefecture has received 4,600 applications and ordered printing of 2,200 cards, of which 1,000 have been sent out. They had anticipated up to 8,000 requests, compared to a usual number of 2,200 residency permits for all nationalities combined.
They have opened a “Brexit building” with five staff and are receiving 80 Britons a day. Meetings are taking around 10-15 minutes.
Church of England helping in wider area
The Church of England is now able to assist with WA residency card applications across a wider area.
It was previously said to be assisting in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, but is now also helping Britons in Occitanie, Bourgogne-Franche- Comté, Centre-Val de Loire, Corsica and Grand Est.
It is no longer helping in Dordogne, which is covered by the Franco British Network.
Its hotline is on 05 32 80 00 05, Monday to Friday 09.30 to 12.00 and 13.30 to 16.00; Tuesday 17.30-20.00 and Saturday 09.30-12.00.
Income limits clarified
Where means tests are applied for WA residency card applications, it is the level of RSA benefit for a single person that is applied to all – and not the higher Aspa level for over-65s.
The section of the website listing documents required has been updated to confirm this. Recipients of the AAH and ASI disability benefits do not have to prove means.
These points also applied to applications on the website that was open in 2019 for the cards that would have been needed if there was no WA deal, a discrepancy that The Connexion flagged up to the Interior Ministry.
UK licence swap rules still unclear
There is still no France/UK agreement on exchange of driving licences.
Britons established as living in France by the end of 2020 who drive on UK licences have been told they can continue but they must exchange their licences for French ones by 2022. This is stated at brexit. gouv.fr but is not yet supported by legislation to permit the swaps.
It is unclear if a Brexit deal, if any, will have a bearing on this.
The swap would be via ants.gouv.fr and would follow standard non-EU citizens’ rules vunless otherwise agreed for Britons.
Newcomers will have to apply to swap within 12 months of moving to France.
This runs from, for example, the date of validation of a visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour.
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