Record 7,267 residency card applications from Britons in Dordogne

The department, thought to have the most British residents, has seen card applications quadruple due to Brexit. No British applicant has been rejected so far

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The Dordogne department has now received over 7,000 applications for residency cards for Britons and printed more than 6,000 cards – a record in France.

It comes as almost 118,000 Britons in total have applied since the new website opened in October last year. This does not include those who already applied via the ‘no-deal cards’ website in late 2019

The latter group only have to reapply on the new website if they have since moved to a different department of France.

All other adult Britons who were living in France in 2020 and therefore able to benefit from the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement deal, must apply via the new website by June 30, 2021 and have a card by October 1, 2021.

The Dordogne is estimated to be the department of France with the most British residents and it took measures to prepare for the extra demand.

It in ordinary year it deals with around 2,200 residency card requests in total from foreign residents.

The prefecture told The Connexion it would invite all those who have not yet applied to do so without waiting for the June 30 deadline.

No British applicants have been rejected so far, officials said.

The full breakdown for the department as of last week was:

  • 6,262 cards already printed and either sent out or about to be sent out
  • 201 applications not yet dealt with
  • 140 dossiers waiting for people to send in missing documents
  • 230 cases where the prefecture is waiting to be able to call the person in to scan their fingerprints and take their photographs (mostly because they people have been stuck abroad due to the pandemic)
  • 7,267 applications received in total

Those with difficulties may seek help from one of the bodies accredited by the UK government to assist. Dordogne residents can also email the prefecture with queries on: pref-brexit-sejour@dordogne.gouv.fr

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