When must I update French address on ‘Brexit’ card?

Reader Question: I have a Brexit residency card and recently moved home in France. Do I need to inform authorities of my move, and if so is there a deadline on doing so? This address is only temporary and I will be moving again soon within France. 

It is correct that ‘Brexit’ card holders must inform authorities of a change to their address.

This should be done within three months of the change of address (when the new property becomes your principal residence).

However, you inform authorities of the change online through the Anef website, via the ‘Je déclare un changement de situation’ section.

There is no need to make a physical appointment at the prefecture, and the process is free. 

To update details through the Anef website, you will need to upload digital copies of: 

• Your current Brexit card

• Passport

• A proof of address for the new residence less than three months old (such as a utility bill)

You do not need to update your card to show a new address – this is an option if you wish to do so, and in the case of a Brexit card, it should be provided free of charge.

If you are planning to move more than once within a three-month period, it is advisable to wait until you are at your final address before making the request.

However, there is no limit on how many times you can update your address through the Anef website. 

If you have a five-year version of the card and it is coming up for renewal, note that you should request a renewal of the card two months before the current card’s expiry date, so you may wish to wait until this to inform authorities of the update if this is imminent.

However, you must still adhere to the three-month limit on informing the authorities of a change in situation.

Finally, cardholders who see their address changed not because of a move but due to administrative changes (such as mairie’s updating street names or numbers, etc) do not need to notify authorities of the change. 

They only need to inform authorities of the change when renewing, or if their card is lost/stolen/damaged and they need to obtain a new one.