What changes for residents in France in September 2026
Healthcare, pensions, employment amongst sectors to see changes
September is a busy month in France, marking the end of the summer holiday season and the start of the next school year.
Many homeowners will also see their taxe foncière, France’s main property tax, bills arrive.
Also the deadline for voicing an opinion on the new euro currency banknotes is September 21.
Alongside these key dates to remember, there are a number of important changes taking place affecting millions across France.
We review many below.
Electronic billing
Businesses, self-employed people and certain of those who let furnished properties must sign up for electronic billing by September 1, 2026, as part of new government plans to tackle VAT fraud.
They must sign up with one of the government’s approved e-billing platforms, allowing the receipt of electronic invoices.
Smaller businesses (250 employees or fewer) and self-employed individuals do not need to send electronic invoices until September 2027, but must be able to receive them by September 1, 2026.
Larger businesses must send invoices electronically by September 1, 2026.
Government officials are set to be lenient with property owners, and no fines are envisioned for this group in 2026.
However, others who fail to correctly sign up with an approved platform will receive a warning and three-month notice, after which they risk a €500 fine.
This will rise to €1,000 payable every three months if they repeatedly fail to sign up.
Property renovation scheme tightened
Another round of changes are coming into force for the MaPrimeRénov’ property renovation grant scheme.
Firstly, funding for several single-issue improvements (Parcours par geste) will be withdrawn, including for many types of ecological heating equipment and domestic hot-water production.
These improvements will still be eligible for funding, however must be made as part of a more comprehensive upgrade (rénovation d’ampleur).
However, rénovation d’ampleur project applications will be rejected if the home retains a gas boiler after the project is complete. If the property does not have a gas boiler, this will not impact the application.
The aim is to “prioritise the most environmentally beneficial projects to move away from fossil fuels… [and] avoid funding renovations that perpetuate household reliance on gas, thereby exposing them to future fluctuations in gas prices,” said the government.
More information is available in our article here, including an overview of the single-issue projects impacted.
Pension reform suspension and changes
Measures suspending France’s pension reform – included in the 2026 Social Security Bill – come into effect on September 1.
It allows those born between 1964 and 1968 to avoid the increased number of trimesters required to receive a full pension, allowing them to retire between three and six months earlier than if the reform had been implemented.
A table explaining how the suspension works is available here.
The 2023 reform is now suspended until 2028 and will be a major focus of the upcoming presidential election, with each candidate set to outline their plans to reintroduce, further reform, or scrap the changes altogether – with a victory in the campaign seen as an implicit mandate to carry out their proposals.
Note that other changes to pension calculations come into effect on September 1, including increased trimester calculations for women based on the number of children they have, and changes to early retirement for those working long careers.
Read about them here (changes for women) and here (long career requirements).
Limits to sick-notes
Sick-note validity will be limited to a certain number of days, after which a new one will be required.
The first sick-note issued for an illness will have a maximum duration of 31 days, after which a patient will need to obtain a follow-up note.
Additional notes will have a maximum duration of 62 days, although can be renewed several times, with each note having a new 62-day limit.
However, health professionals will be able to write sick-notes covering additional dates if the patient is suffering from an extended illness, or in cases where the Haute Autorité de santé (HAS) recommends extensions.
More information is available in our article here.
Potential reduction to medicine reimbursement
Those covered by France’s Assurance Maladie state healthcare will see a reduction in reimbursement from certain medicines if they refuse alternatives offered by pharmacists.
A portion, or in certain cases all, of the cost of a medicine is covered up front if the holder of a carte Vitale swipes their card during the purchase;
This is known as the tiers payant system.
From September 1, if a pharmacist offers you a substitute medicine that is a ‘biosimilar’ or ‘hybrid’ replacement for the reference medicine and you refuse, you will not be reimbursed in advance through the tiers payant.
Instead, you will have to pay the full cost and be reimbursed at a later date by Assurance Maladie at the established rate (taux fixé) of the reference medicine, which is typically lower.
For certain medicines, reimbursement calculations will apply not to the full-price reference medicine purchased but the cheaper alternative you refused (even if you did not buy this one).
Hybrid medicines are those with the same active ingredients but that typically have different dosage schemes (taking the medicine less or more often across a day) or forms (for example oral solutions as opposed to coated tablets).
Biosimilar medicines are those with similar active ingredients to existing biological drugs made from living organisms.
While these rules will apply to certain prescribed medicines, if your doctor has ruled out certain hybrid or biosimilar medicines in the prescription due to health conditions, pharmacists cannot offer you these alternatives.
“Accepting a hybrid or biosimilar drug when substitution is possible ensures continuity of treatment while helping to control healthcare costs, prevent supply shortages, and maintain sustainable access to treatments for everyone,” said Assurance Maladie.
Reduced unemployment benefits after mutual termination
From September 1, employees who agree to mutual termination (rupture conventionelle) with their company will see a reduction in the number of months they can receive unemployment benefits.
Changes mean that from September 1, 2026:
For individuals under the age of 55, the benefit duration is reduced to 15 months from the current 18 months
For individuals aged 55-56, the benefit duration is reduced to 20.5 months from the current 22.5 months for recipients aged 55–56 and 27 months for recipients aged 57 and over
Different reductions apply in overseas departments.
A rupture conventionnelle agreement is distinct from both a dismissal or resignation, and is sometimes preferred by employees looking to avoid having either of these on their professional record.
Second-hand electric vehicle purchase aid scheme
A new scheme using Energy Savings Certificates (certificats d'économies d'énergie, CEE) to help part-fund the purchase of second-hand electric cars will launch on September 1.
Vehicles purchased from approved dealerships and adhering to certain criteria (date of first registration, original battery, able to reach a certain distance without a charge) will be eligible for the bonus, which will be applied directly.
Vehicles must cost €25,000 or less and be owned for three years.
Currently, the average bonus is €337 but this could change as the calculations used are flexible.
Aid via the scheme could reach between €2,000 and €2,360 for people working certain jobs such as carers, as the government looks to reduce the number of highly-mobile workers using diesel and petrol-powered vehicles.
The scheme will be in place for at least four years, and more information is available in our article here.
Gas price increase
France’s benchmark gas prices will increase by 5.6% on September 1. It comes following a small drop in August (-0.8%) and a large rise in July (+7.4%).
Continuing tensions in the Middle East and its effect on the global gas market is partly responsible for the increase.
The benchmark is published monthly by the Commission de régulation de l'énergie based on market trends, which has been in place since the end of regulated gas tariffs in the country.
Companies do not have to adhere to the benchmark price but usually stick close to it to remain competitive and prevent clients moving to competing providers.
The increase does not affect households on a fixed-price contract.
Mobile phone ban for high-school pupils and rentrée changes
Pupils at lycées – equivalent to US high-schools or UK colleges/sixth-forms will no longer be able to use mobile phones during the school day.
They will be typically required to hand in mobile phones at the start of the day and have them returned when the school day ends, but each lycée will outline its policies.
More information is available in our article here.
Note, mobile phones were already banned in reception/nursery, and primary/middle schools in France.
Other changes for pupils returning to school include:
The national rollout of a class on managing budgets, learning about banking, insurance, etc, in the 4ème (age 13-14). The class is known as éducation financière
Students can be required to change schools due to the behaviour of their parents, if they are abusive or threatening towards school staff or other pupils
Other changes across busy month
A list of other changes includes:
Improved health insurance coverage against bronchitis for infants. Vaccines for heavily pregnant women (Abrysvo) and infants under two (Beyfortus) will now see higher reimbursement under Assurance Maladie, with the former rising from 30% to 65% coverage and the second covered to 100% if given during the early immunisation campaign for newborns
A public consultation on Aging in France (Vieillir en France, aujourd'hui et demain) remains open until September 20. It wants to obtain perspectives on aging, loss of autonomy, and elderly care in France. More information is available here
University fees are increasing in line with inflation, and for the 2026/2027 year are: €178 for an undergraduate degree, €255 for a master’s degree, and €398 for a doctorate/PhD, plus a student and campus life contribution (CVEC) of €105. Students who receive needs-based bursaries are exempt
Tax-at-source (prélèvement à la source) will be updated from September 1 based on information handed over in the spring income tax declaration, if it has not already been changed
