Socialist deputy Fatiha Keloua-Hachi tabled a bill, published 26 October and debated informally on 27 October, that would grant automatic renewal of four-year ‘passeport talent’ and ten-year ‘carte de résident’ permits, provided holders have no criminal record and continue to meet income criteria.
Prefectures processed nearly 1.3 million residency renewals in 2024, and unions representing foreign-nationals’ departments say staff are overwhelmed, with appointments in Paris and Lyon backlogged up to eight months.
Under the draft law, eligible foreigners would receive a secure digital attestation and pay renewal taxes online, eliminating in-person biometrics unless the chip fails. The Interior Ministry estimates this could halve appointment volumes and let officials focus on first-time applicants and asylum cases.
Business-immigration advisers welcomed the proposal: “Automatic renewal would give employers much-needed predictability when planning long-term assignments,” said Audrey Gauthier of Fragomen France. Critics on the right argue it could weaken integration checks and reduce leverage over unpaid taxes.
The measure needs cross-party support to be added as an amendment to the 2026 Finance Bill; insiders say the government is ‘open in principle’ but wants guarantees on fraud controls.
Prefectures processed nearly 1.3 million residency renewals in 2024, and unions representing foreign-nationals’ departments say staff are overwhelmed, with appointments in Paris and Lyon backlogged up to eight months.
Under the draft law, eligible foreigners would receive a secure digital attestation and pay renewal taxes online, eliminating in-person biometrics unless the chip fails. The Interior Ministry estimates this could halve appointment volumes and let officials focus on first-time applicants and asylum cases.
Business-immigration advisers welcomed the proposal: “Automatic renewal would give employers much-needed predictability when planning long-term assignments,” said Audrey Gauthier of Fragomen France. Critics on the right argue it could weaken integration checks and reduce leverage over unpaid taxes.
The measure needs cross-party support to be added as an amendment to the 2026 Finance Bill; insiders say the government is ‘open in principle’ but wants guarantees on fraud controls.
