Residency rights and border changes: What's new and changing in France in 2026

EES roll-out

‘Phasing in’ of the EU’s new digital borders scheme (EES) will continue to ramp up gradually to full operation by April 10, it is planned.

The EES must be operational for at least 35% of all relevant crossings by mid-January, and half of all French border points (airports, ports etc) must be operating it to some level by then. 

The Port of Dover, notably, is expected to introduce it for car travellers in January.

All non-EU/non-EEA/non-Swiss visitors to the Schengen area (NOT people who live there) must be prepared to go through the procedures, which may include inputting information, including a fingerprint scan and the taking of a facial image, at a self-service kiosk at some sites.

Foreign people not affected must travel with proof, such as their residency card.

This year may also see the introduction in France of the Travel to Europe app, to help people pre-register data before arrival, following trials in the second half of 2025.

Measures to help foreign residents of France avoid long queues are also hoped for; the launch of EES initially removed their option to use Parafe passport e-gates.

Travel authorisation scheme 

The EU will launch a travel authorisation scheme, ETIAS, probably in October 2026. This will be an obligatory digital pre-authorisation to enter the Schengen area, which in future must be applied for on a website or via an app. 

It will affect the same people as EES (other than those with short-stay Schengen visas).

Once obtained, this authorisation (requiring a €20 fee) will be valid three years or until the expiry of the passport it is linked to.

After it comes in, there will be a ‘tolerance period’, so it is unlikely to be strictly enforced until April 2027, at the earliest.

Britons and their close family with five-year Brexit Withdrawal Agreement cards coming up to expiry this year should apply to renew them, preferably no later than two months before the expiry date.

Tens of thousands expire this year and holders should check the websites of their prefectures for renewal information.

You should be issued a récépissé receipt valid for foreign travel with the old card even if it expires.

Language and civic knowledge tests

New rules on language and civic knowledge tests apply to residence permits and French nationality applications submitted from January 1.

If you are applying for a first multi-year card (carte pluriannuelle), you must take a recognised French language test (such as the TCF, TEF or DELF) and submit a certificate showing a pass at CEFR level A2 or above.

For a first 10-year carte de résident, level B1 is required, and level B2 for naturalisation or French citizenship via marriage.

Applicants at these levels must also pass a new ‘civic exam’, introduced by an interior ministry decree of October 10, 2025. 

The test is a computer-based multiple-choice exam combining 28 general knowledge questions with 12 scenario-based questions, tailored to the type of application. A minimum score of 80% is required to pass.

You can try The Connexion's mock-civic test (in English) here.

The interior ministry estimates that over 100,000 applicants per year will need to sit the civic exam. The fee is €69, in addition to language test costs (typically around €100). Results are issued within 48 hours.

Some applicants, including refugees and certain nationals covered by bilateral agreements, are exempt. Over-65s do not have to take the tests.

Authorised test centres started opening in late 2025, with more than 120 centres operational nationwide by the end of December.

Tolerance period for ETA 

The end of a tolerance period for the UK’s ETA travel authorisation scheme is expected from February 25, 2026.

Anyone travelling to the UK from France who is not a UK or Irish citizen, or a resident of the UK, should apply for an ETA several days or weeks before travelling. 

UK and Irish citizens (including those with another nationality) should ensure they have a valid UK/Irish passport to prove they do not require this.

• The cost of most kinds of residency cards and of French citizenship could increase if proposals in the 2026 budget are approved. Many cards could rise by €100 and citizenship by €200.