What changes could the future bring?

Second-home owners

Many British second-home owners feel aggrieved at the 90/180 days rule, having been able to easily stay longer in France as EU citizens prior to 2021 and Brexit.

They feel they bought under one set of rules, which later changed, and that an exception should be made for them. Many also say that the temporary long-stay visa process is complex and poorly suited to those who may want to apply every year.

What is more, they cannot benefit from any old pre-Schengen Agreement deals to easily extend their stays, as can Americans, notably. 

There have been bids for them not to be treated the same as other non-EU visitors and many senators and French MPs have given support, but so far with little effect. Senator Michel Canévet (Finistère, Union Centriste) asked the government if France could offer Britons the same as the UK offers Europeans and other visa-waiver nationalities: stays of up to six months at a time without a visa. The latter is a national UK rule.

In response, the Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that the UK chose to give up freedom of movement and that the 90 days rule is defined in EU laws so it was not possible for France to give different rights to Britons unilaterally. 

[Editor’s note: France cannot unilaterally change Schengen area rules but it can make its own rules regarding access to its territory].

Senator Martine Berthet (Les Républicains, Savoie) also wrote to the ministry about Britons and the 90/180 days.

In 2023, Facebook group France Visa Free called on members to lobby lawmakers for an amendment to be added to an immigration bill, to help Britons who spend part of the year in France. The Connexion also took this up. 

Support in both houses was such that an amendment was passed saying that British second-home owners should have an ‘automatic’ visa right, to freely visit France with no, or minimal, formalities. However, this was then removed from the bill by the Conseil Constitutionnel, on a technicality.

During 2024 France Visa Free also lobbied MPs and ministers asking for any simplifications to the temporary visa process that could perhaps be achieved by ministerial decree. They asked, for example, that simple ‘renewals’ be made possible for those coming annually, with no need to return to the TLS offices.

Then, in 2026, there was fresh hope when Senator Lauriane Josende said the 90-day rule and complex procedures for temporary long-stay visas were causing difficulties for British second-home owners in areas of France subject to débroussaillage (scrub clearance rules), asking the interior ministry, once again, if something could be done. 

Simplifications under review 

As of late 2025, there were indications that a potential simplification of the long-stay visa process for applications from the UK, and possibly some other countries, is under review.

The office of the interior minister said in a letter to Senator Berthet that it could mean supporting documents being uploaded digitally via france-visas.gouv.fr instead of applicants having to bring them to one of the UK’s three TLScontact processing centres.

However, the government said this is not expected until at least 2028, when a European regulation provides for this option.

No remote method has so far been announced for taking fingerprints, which is deemed necessary for visas. 

We note, however, that fingerprints may be kept on file for up to five years, and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, has spoken of plans to extend this to 10. 

TLScontact, which also now runs France’s visa centres in the US, has meanwhile launched a ‘postal application’ option there for an extra $110, which involves posting supporting documents. 

This bypasses the need for an in-person visit, as long as fingerprints have been provided in the last five years. However, this is only for short-stay Schengen visa applicants at present.

EU-UK ‘new partnership’: What might this bring? 

With the UK’s ruling Labour Party saying, in 2025, it wanted to ‘reset’ its relationship with the EU, France Visa Free lobbied for an EU-wide exemption from the basic 90/180 days rule, saying it wanted ‘reciprocity’, since EU citizens may visit the UK for up to six months consecutively.

Several elements in evolving plans for a new EU and UK deal for closer partnership should make life easier for Britons living in and coming to France. The results of a summit held on May 19, 2025 are expected to form the basis for further talks and formal agreements. Another summit is planned before the end of 2026.

The EU and UK agreed that they both wish to “deepen people-to-people ties.” They will work towards a “youth experience scheme”, so young people can spend time in the UK/EU for work, studies, au pair positions, volunteering or simply travelling, for a limited period. Such opportunities have been limited post-Brexit. This would involve a new kind of visa, and there may be quotas.

The UK will also become “associated” to Erasmus+ from January 2027: young Britons and young EU citizens will once again participate in educational and work placement exchanges. 

The UK and EU also reaffirmed commitment to “full and timely and faithful implementation” of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and Trade and Cooperation Agreement. These are the basis for Britons’ protections in France under WA cards, with regard to residency, work and social security rights.

The EU and UK also agreed to work towards common plant and animal health rules, which among other points is hoped to mean the UK will be able to issue pet passports recognised by the EU.

The deal states that more ‘dialogue’ will be held over mutual recognition of professional qualifications and over easing temporary stays for business. Both sides “recognise the value” of artistic and cultural exchanges, including tours by performers, and will “continue efforts to support” these.

The UK and EU will explore ways to have more mutual exchange of such data as fingerprints, DNA and criminal records and facial images. The EU and the UK agreed to hold regular high-level meetings on joint strategic interests, such as economy and trade, and justice and home affairs, as well as foreign and security policy dialogues every six months, and annual summits.

Minstry promises better card renewal processing

Following criticisms from the Conseil d'Etat and several critical reports from France's Défenseur des Droits, relating to long processing times for residency cards, especially renewals, the interior ministry promised reforms. 

In an official note to prefectures, Mr Nuñez noted that international crises and increased migration flows had led to extra work for prefectures’ residency sections. At the same time, he said, processing cards has become more complex, including extra security-related checks, and the number of kinds of cards had increased.

Mr Nuñez wrote: “The lengthening processing times lead, as a knock-on effect, to a risk of periods of rights stoppage.

"Yet, our services must give effect to the residency rights of foreign people legally present in France and allow them to exercise all the rights that flow from this in work and social protection.”

He said avoiding such stoppages, particularly for renewals and especially for those in work, must be a priority, calling for a “renewed and reinforced commitment”.

He announced a ‘2026 residency guide’, on good practice, alongside the following measures:

• To differentiate between routine applications, which can be sped up, and those needing closer scrutiny due to fraud risks.

• Recognising that some cards, such as ‘talent’ permits, require fewer checks as vetting is largely done at visa stage. Officials should also systematically provide longer-term cards (multi-year cartes de séjour, 10-year cartes de résident…) where someone meets the criteria, even if their application did not ask specifically.

• Ensuring digital procedures are supported by human assistance for vulnerable users, with clear and accessible processes.

• Prioritising renewals and making use of Anef tools to avoid stoppage of rights [such as providing attestations de prolongement d’instruction which extend rights during processing].

• Training staff to handle a wider range of tasks.

• Strengthening links with local services to assist the public.

Action plan

He also announced an ‘overall action plan’, with oversight from a new national committee, to “fight effectively against stoppages of rights and to drastically reduce the processing times for residency card applications”.

He said this will include:

• Updates and simplifications to lists of supporting documents for cards; it is especially important no other documents should be asked for.

• Ending the requirement for holders of long-term residency cards to declare changes of address.

• IT improvements to Anef, such as new systems to manage users’ requests, AI chatbot help, and use of AI in checking documents.

• To automate renewal of attestations de prolongement d’instruction for a period of up to 12 months.

• Stopping a system whereby follow-up of procedures underway on Anef, including collecting extra documents, can be assigned to staff at random instead of the original official.

• It will become possible to keep fingerprints on file for 10 years instead of five.

• An additional 500 workers will be assigned to help in residency card services, equivalent to an increase of 20%.

Mr Nuñez hoped to see “concrete and significant results in the short term”.

In a separate communication on integration policy, Mr Nuñez reiterated the importance of supporting foreigners in settling into life in France, while also underlining stricter expectations introduced in 2026.

He highlighted the requirement, in force since January 2026, for applicants to demonstrate a sufficient level of French and to pass a civic knowledge test in order to obtain certain cards. Prefectures were asked to ensure these rules are applied effectively.

The instruction also confirmed the government’s intention to make the online Anef system the single platform for residency procedures in due course, replacing older systems.

Officials were urged to ensure that attestations de prolongement d’instruction issued via the platform are widely recognised so users do not face disruptions to rights.

More broadly, the minister called for closer links between integration and employment, including faster registration of some new arrivals with France Travail and greater focus on helping fill labour shortages.

Prefectures were also asked to work with local partners to ensure new arrivals can access other services, such as healthcare, as required.