Brexit Withdrawal Agreement cards

Special residency cards exist for British people who were living in France before the end of the Brexit transition period on January 1, 2021.

They are officially called titre de séjour portant la mention Accord de retrait du Royaume-Uni de l’Union Européenne.

The cards give the holder the right to live and work in France without limitations and to benefit from similar rights to EU citizens in most respects except voting rights in local and EU elections.

The aim was to allow them to ‘continue to live as before’.

There are two kinds dependent on how long holders had been in France: ‘Permanent stay’ cards, issued for 10 years and renewable with minimal formalities, and cards issued for five years.

Over 165,000 applications were made in 2020–2021. Some people are still eligible and should contact their prefecture:

• Young people with a parent (or parent’s spouse) who has a WA card and who is reaching age 18 and need their own card if living in France. They should apply in the year after they turn 18.

• Close family members of a WA Briton joining them in France, where the relationship existed before 2021. They should apply within three months of moving. This includes dependent children or children under 21, dependent parent/s or grandparent/s, a spouse or long-term partner, a spouse’s dependent child or parent/s or grandparent/s.

Key References

• UK–EU Withdrawal Agreement

• French decree implementing the WA

• Regulation on supporting documents

If applying for a WA card, be clear about this intention in dealings with the prefecture.If you submit a ‘complete’ application, you should receive a récépissé (document confirming submission) with the wording A demandé la délivrance d’un titre de séjour de 5 [or 10] ans portant la mention ‘accord de retrait du Royaume-Uni de l’UE’ [Has asked to be issued with a five [or 10]-year residency card with the wording ‘WA of the UK from the EU’.

Swapping five-year card for a 10-year card 

If you are a Briton living in France with a five-year Brexit WA card, you may now be eligible to renew or upgrade it to a 10-year card free of charge.

The 10-year card confirms ‘permanent residence’ status under the WA and ensures more stable rights – including protection from losing your status unless absent from France for more than five years.

Holders of five-year cards in theory risk losing their rights if absent from France for more than six months in a year (with some exceptions such as serious illness, study, training or a work posting abroad).

You may apply if your five-year WA card is expiring soon (apply at least two months before; three is ideal) or, optionally, if you have now lived in France for at least five years, even if your card is not expiring.

The French government is encouraging prefectures to set up renewal systems via the Démarches Simplifiées (DS) internet platform (updated general national information is also expected at brexit.gouv.fr on service-public.gouv.fr and at interieur.gouv.fr).

Not all have done so, but several had live pages by early October 2025, including Dordogne, Lot, Rhône, Calvados, Cantal and Meurthe-et-Moselle.

Others said to be in the pipeline included Val d’Oise, Gironde and Morbihan.

Where this process is in place, identical template sites are used, but differ in the contact details at the bottom of the main page and in the exact web address used to access them.

If your prefecture does not offer it, you need to check its website for any alternative process, or make an appointment if your card is expiring in the next two months.

To check, visit your prefecture’s website.

Look in its information for foreign people’s residency cards for any relevant details.

This can often be found by clicking the heading Démarches then following subsequent headings such as Accueil des étrangers > Titres de séjour > Titres de séjour Brexit > Renouvellement.

If you see information directing you to use a DS page, click the link.

Log in via FranceConnect (using partner site log-ins such as for ameli.fr or impots.gouv.fr) or alternatively create a DS account.

Complete the online form and upload required documents in a digital format.

After applying you will be invited to the prefecture to take in three passport photographs, and paper copies of the supporting documents.

You will receive a récépissé (official receipt) confirming your application.

You may keep your old card while waiting for the new one.

The récépissé, together with your current card, is valid for travel.

It is worth noting that the Withdrawal Agreement and the French decree putting it into practice allow for a few cases where a person can become eligible for a full 10-year card without having been in France for five years; for example someone who retires after working in France for at least 12 months and has lived in France for at least three years (see here for more).

What is needed for you to make card exchange

Documents required to apply for an exchange to a 10-year card via the DS process must all be in digital format (scanned or photographed), such as .pdf, .jpg, or .doc files.

These include a valid UK passport (key identity information pages and entry stamp pages), proof of French residency less than six months old such as an electricity, gas, water, landline phone, or home internet bill, a rental agreement, or a rent receipt, and your current Brexit residency card.

If you are living with someone, you must provide an attestation d’hébergement, signed and dated, stating that you live with them at their named address. This must be accompanied by a copy of their residency card, French identity card, or passport, as well as proof of their residency if it is not shown on their ID document.

You may also include optional documents showing major life changes, such as marriage, divorce, or a spouse’s death, especially if these affect any wording on the card.

Documents in English do not need to be translated by a sworn translator, but a translation may be requested if they are difficult to read or understand.