Going into 2026, I was apprehensive about the need to renew my ‘Brexit’ card for a ten-year version.
Working at The Connexion, I had read several reports and contributed to articles about difficulties facing non-citizens in getting residency cards renewed.
Living in the Alpes-Maritimes – one of France’s most popular destinations for foreigners – I knew there could be some issues.
However, the process went rather differently than I expected.
Initial application was easy
Moving to France in September 2020 just before the Brexit cut off, my five-year Withdrawal Agreement card (often called a Brexit card) was officially issued in April 2021.
Following official advice to leave renewing the card until two months before its expiry, this left me starting the process in February 2026.
Alpes-Maritimes was one of many departments to use an online applications process through the démarches numérique portal, although some departments have unique systems for cardholders applying for a renewal.
I was slightly concerned because I was on holiday at the two-month mark and thought that starting the application after this point would create issues.
However, I did not want to renew it before leaving for my holiday – more than two months before the expiry – as I thought it may negatively impact the application.
I did not need to worry however, as the process was straightforward and surprisingly quick.
The process of gathering the necessary information was easy (save a phone call to confirm my dad’s date of birth as parental information was required).
The other necessary documents to upload to the online platform – scans of my passport and current Brexit card, alongside proof of address – were things I already had at hand, and I submitted the application request on a Thursday afternoon.
By Monday, I had received a letter in the post containing my official récépissé and confirming my application had been accepted.
This document covered me for six months after my card expired (to October 2026) with the same working and residency rights as the card.
The rapid arrival of the document, and its method, surprised me.
When previously covering the process The Connexion reported that in many departments applicants would need to go to the prefecture to obtain their récépissé by hand.
This is still the case for many locations, but those with a high rate of applications such as Alpes Maritimes may also send them through the post.
In my case, the document arrived through first-class mail.
There was no indication during my application that the document would be sent this way, and the email confirming my request also did not mention that the document would be posted.
Still, it was significantly easier than having to go and pick the document up.
No issues on international trips
April 2026 came and went, and with it the expiration of my card.
I was not concerned and had initially expected the process to take longer than two months, but the rapid arrival of my récépissé had lulled me into thinking that everything would be sorted out quickly.
The récépissé served its purpose well – I kept it securely in my flat and did not bring it outside, opting to have my expired residency card in my wallet as a form of ID.
When I took a quick trip back to the UK in May there were no issues.
I presented the expired card and the récépissé at the airport alongside my UK passport and it took no longer than usual to be waved through security.
Officials did not question the récépissé and were clearly used to others using these documents to travel when cards had expired.
Again, this may be because Nice is a busy destination (France’s third-busiest airport and the largest outside Paris), but the document is not so rare that officials across France would be confused on seeing it.
On the way back, I even benefitted from using the Parafe e-Gates – recently available for non-EU citizens travelling to Nice – which made passing through security quicker than usual.
Queue was expected
I received a text in early June that my card was available to collect from the prefecture.
Four possible collection periods were given across the week, each with a 90-minute slot (this may vary on the size of your department).
The text did not provide any way for me to sign up for a specific date, just informed me that I was able to collect the card at one of these times.
It also handily confirmed that I did not need to pay to collect the card (Brexit card renewals are typically exempt from taxes, unlike most other residency cards).
I chose the next possible slot I could make, Friday between 08:30 - 10:00.
Being no stranger to prefecture appointments – and as staff outside informed me, the text counted as an appointment so I could skip the preliminary queue for those without an invitation to the prefecture – I arrived at 08:00.
Both times I have had to attend a prefecture appointment (in Seine-Saint-Denis for my original application, and updating the address on my card upon moving to Nice), queues had been long.
I was right to anticipate this happening once again, as there were already several dozen people ahead of me with appointments, despite the office not officially opening for another 30 minutes.
Again, this is because the Alpes-Maritimes is a densely-populated department, and those in smaller areas may not have to wait as long.
Placed in a queue for residency card renewals of all kinds, there were people of several nationalities alongside me, all waiting to renew various cards.
It took around an hour to get to the desk (all four guichets were being used) and I presented my récépissé, passport, and my old card.
The agent took around 30 seconds to find my card, ask me to sign a document confirming I had received it, then ask for my récépissé and expired document to be handed over to her.
All in all, I left the counter after about a minute, with no words exchanged except pleasantries.
And with that, my 10-year card was secure.
