Published: 15.10.2026

• 2026-10-15EU Rules Set Stronger Consequences for Irregular Stay and Failure to Comply with Return Decisions

  For third-country nationals staying irregularly in the EU, the rules provide for return decisions, possible entry bans and forced removal. Entry bans generally may not exceed 10 years but can reach 20 years in justified cases; detention for return purposes is limited to 12 months, with a possible extension to 24 months in exceptional circumstances.

• 2026-01-27France Issued More First Residence Permits and Intensified Removals in 2025

  France issued 384,230 first residence permits in 2025, more than 11% above the previous year. At the same time, regularisations declined, while arrests and removals of people in an irregular situation increased; 62,235 people acquired French nationality, almost 7% fewer than the year before.

• 2026-01-22France Considers Automatic Renewal of Long-Term Residence Permits

  The French National Assembly adopted at first reading a bill on automatic renewal of multi-year residence permits and resident cards. The bill would treat the administration’s failure to respond within four months as implicit approval; it has been sent to the Senate and is not yet law.

• 2025-12-31France Tightens Requirements for Long-Term Residence and Naturalisation from 1 January 2026

  A civic exam is now required for first applications for a multi-year residence permit, a resident card and naturalisation. Language requirements have increased to A2 for multi-year permits, B1 for resident cards and B2 for naturalisation; stricter employment and income criteria also apply to naturalisation.