Praise and criticism: your Brexit card renewal experiences

Tens of thousands of Britons in France are set to renew their Brexit Withdrawal Agreement (WA) cards this year, with many already reporting both positive and negative administrative experiences. 

Last week (June 10), protests took place outside prefectures in cities including Nantes, Rennes, Grenoble, Lille, Toulouse and Marseille to highlight the delays and difficulties some foreigners are facing in renewing residency cards to remain in France.

Several Connexion readers are however keen to highlight prefectures where the process has been effective and “fuss-free.” 

We look at varying Brexit card renewal experiences from across the country, and include feedback on other types of residency cards too. 

Périgueux

T.S. My WA 5-year residency card expired early in June so I applied two months in advance via the online application process which was simple and easy to follow. They got back to me directly and I was given an appointment to supply all the documents and take fingerprints within a week. This went smoothly and I was then given a new appointment in three weeks. I was the only person in the waiting room and the process took all of 10 seconds. It was faultless, speedy and polite.

B.B. Amazingly organised with minimum fuss.

Limoges 

K.G. The 87 department has been superb.

F.S. No issues with Limoges prefecture - the epitome of efficiency according to our experiences. Got our permanent cards on time and fuss-free.

Angoulême

M.S. I doubt there were protests outside Angoulême prefecture. The process here is very efficient.

A.S. We completed a form and dropped the usual documents in a box at the prefecture. We got the email to collect the card (10-year) three weeks later. We were travelling during this time so they provided a temporary card. No complaints at all. And all done with a smile.

H.E. No issues at all with mine - all sorted within four weeks.

L.S. Charente prefecture got us sorted in a timely fashion! We’re very happy.

Montpellier

L.B. Montpellier is a mess. My husband‘s approval, which should have been automatic (I am an EU citizen), took 15 months and then another five for the actual card. 

Cahors

J.B. My experience in the Lot has been amazingly efficient.

St Brieuc

N.D. I got a response after about a week to say that my dossier was accepted after submission on February 12, and received an appointment for fingerprints on April 7. I was given a six-month récépissé, and was told I would get an SMS in about a month to collect a 10-year card. After seven weeks without news I emailed the prefecture, got a response after three days to say I could come and collect. All in all, very good service.

Guéret

T.W. My experience in the Creuse has been great. Very efficient and friendly.

Quimper

M.G. We booked our rendez-vous online and a few weeks later we collected our cards. No hassle, no stress - incredibly efficient and organised.

Ajaccio

M.R. No issue here in Corsica.

Arras

S.J. It took about six weeks.

Valence

J.B. No issues at the Valence prefecture. The postal procedure was efficient.

Créteil

S.A. It is horrible. I have been here 10 years with French children and I applied for my renewal in October and I am still waiting.

Vannes 

P.B. It took a while to get a suitable appointment but once done, it was nice and easy. I was issued with a temporary card and the new one was issued two months later.

Albi

M.S. The online application is a nightmare and it is impossible to get any answers on the phone. 

Nanterre 

J.V. Hauts-de-Seine is the worst department.

Carcassonne

I.P. It is just awful. They insist on three people in the same household arriving on different dates - 186 km return journey. No eco consideration, just bureaucracy taken to its limits! Plus, not able to cancel an appointment while one is away from France!

Read here to find out how to apply for Brexit card renewals in different areas of France, and share your renewal experience by emailing feedback@connexionfrance.com or add to our facebook post.