Foreign residents may soon pay significantly more to stay in France. The draft 2026 finance bill presented to parliament on 28 November proposes raising the fee for a standard ten-year carte de séjour pluriannuelle from €200 to €300 and hiking most other residency and long-stay visa equivalents by 30–50 %. Replacement cards for lost or stolen titres de séjour would double to €50.
Budget rapporteurs argue that France is merely “aligning with the European median,” noting that Spain charges roughly €218 and Germany about €100 for comparable long-term permits. But migrant-rights groups such as Gisti call the increases an “explosion” in costs that will disproportionately hit low-income families and international students.
![French Draft Budget Would Add €100 to Most Residency Cards from 2026]()
For multinationals, the hike will raise the price-tag of impatriation packages. A family of four renewing multi-year cards could face €400 in additional fees, excluding prefecture appointment costs and translation expenses. Relocation firms expect clients to accelerate renewals in the first half of 2026 if the bill passes unchanged.
The Ministry of Finance projects €120 million in extra annual revenue, earmarked partly for prefecture digitisation. Opposition lawmakers have tabled amendments to exempt researchers and the “talent passport” category, but the government retains a comfortable majority for fiscal measures under Article 49-3 of the Constitution.
The Senate will debate the measure in mid-December; if adopted, the new tariffs would apply to applications lodged on or after 1 January 2026. Mobility managers should budget now for higher government fees and update cost projections for 2026 assignments.
Budget rapporteurs argue that France is merely “aligning with the European median,” noting that Spain charges roughly €218 and Germany about €100 for comparable long-term permits. But migrant-rights groups such as Gisti call the increases an “explosion” in costs that will disproportionately hit low-income families and international students.
For multinationals, the hike will raise the price-tag of impatriation packages. A family of four renewing multi-year cards could face €400 in additional fees, excluding prefecture appointment costs and translation expenses. Relocation firms expect clients to accelerate renewals in the first half of 2026 if the bill passes unchanged.
The Ministry of Finance projects €120 million in extra annual revenue, earmarked partly for prefecture digitisation. Opposition lawmakers have tabled amendments to exempt researchers and the “talent passport” category, but the government retains a comfortable majority for fiscal measures under Article 49-3 of the Constitution.
The Senate will debate the measure in mid-December; if adopted, the new tariffs would apply to applications lodged on or after 1 January 2026. Mobility managers should budget now for higher government fees and update cost projections for 2026 assignments.
