Brexit cards: why some French prefectures ask for extra documents

Officially, France’s list of documents for a 10-year Brexit Withdrawal Agreement (WA) card is short and simple. However, documents asked for can reportedly vary from this at certain prefectures.

One prefecture told The Connexion that the interior ministry has confirmed to them they have a discretionary right to ask for more items if they deem it necessary.

What the government says

Article seven of a 2020 arrêté (French government order) sets out the required documents for a 10-year card as being a valid (UK) passport, a passport photo, existing residency card if relevant (or, if not, a document showing date of moving to France), and proof of living in France before the end of 2020.

Meanwhile, official website Service-Public provides the current list for an upgrade for five-year cardholders as: passport + proof of address (such as a utility bill) + three passport photos + expiring card. These documents were also confirmed to The Connexion by the interior ministry.

France’s 2020 arrêté and a linked decree related to Britons’ residency rights do not state categorically that prefectures may not ask for more.

The Withdrawal Agreement allows authorities to check eligibility, but requires documentary requests to be necessary and proportionate.

Eligibility officially requires a period of five continuous years living in France (barring permitted temporary absences) during which the applicant met relevant EU residency conditions, for example by working or being self-employed, or by having sufficient resources and healthcare cover.

A reader’s experience

One British reader, who asked to remain anonymous, stated that the Angoulême, Charente, prefecture had required, for a 10-year card, an explanation of why they and their partner wanted to live in France; names, date of birth and location of any children; evidence of income; and the contract of agreement to abide by the principles of the French Republic.

This had to be sent as a hard copy to the prefecture, making up almost 50 sheets of paper between them, the reader said.

The prefecture told us that the principles agreement is optional, though many users choose to submit it voluntarily. Not doing so has no effect on a renewal decision, an official said.

“Furthermore, additional supporting documents may be requested from the applicant in order to verify that the conditions regarding residence in France are indeed met, in particular with regard to whether their main residence is genuinely situated within the country.

“This possibility has been confirmed to us by the DGEF [interior ministry section for foreign nationals’ residency] and may be applied on the basis of objective evidence specific to each individual case.

“Requests for additional supporting documents therefore fall within the applicable regulatory framework and are intended to ensure that applications are processed in accordance with the rules.”