In a late-night vote on 11 December, France’s National Assembly approved a Socialist-sponsored bill that would transform the way more than 2 million foreign residents renew their cartes de séjour. Today applicants must appear in person at the préfecture months before expiry, submit fresh documents and biometrics, and often wait weeks for a decision—an administrative burden that costs employers time and money and clogs prefectural counters.
The new text creates a “tacit-renewal” regime. Holders of multi-year (two- or four-year) permits and 10-year resident cards would simply file an online declaration through the ANEF immigration portal. If the prefecture raises no objection within two months, the card would be re-issued automatically. Only serious public-order offences or a break in eligibility (loss of job, long absences) could trigger a refusal. The bill also orders the government to slash renewal fees from €225 to €100 and cap processing times at 60 days.
Companies and individuals seeking hands-on help with French visa and residence-permit procedures can turn to VisaHQ. The service’s dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) offers real-time requirements, fee calculators and concierge support that guide users through both today’s in-person préfecture process and the forthcoming digital “tacit-renewal” model—saving HR teams and travelers alike valuable time.
![French National Assembly Backs Near-Automatic Renewal of Long-Term Residence Permits]()
Proponents—led by MP Fatiha Keloua Hachi—argue that streamlining will free up resources for first-time applicants and reduce backlogs that leave foreign workers and family members in legal limbo. Employers welcomed the vote, saying predictable status renewals will ease assignment planning and cut compliance costs. The Interior Ministry, however, opposed the measure, warning it could weaken France’s ability to expel foreigners who break the law and remove an important face-to-face integration checkpoint.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where the right-wing majority has already tabled amendments to restore in-person reviews. If the upper house rejects the text, a joint committee will seek a compromise in early 2026. Multinational HR teams should therefore monitor the parliamentary calendar and prepare for divergent prefectural practices during the transition year.
Practically, mobility managers should audit employees whose cards expire after mid-2026, budget for the proposed lower fees and begin shifting renewal documentation onto the ANEF platform. Immigration providers forecast that the “tacit-renewal” model—similar to the UK’s digital e-visa—will eventually be coupled with a smartphone residence-status app already in beta testing by the Interior Ministry.
The new text creates a “tacit-renewal” regime. Holders of multi-year (two- or four-year) permits and 10-year resident cards would simply file an online declaration through the ANEF immigration portal. If the prefecture raises no objection within two months, the card would be re-issued automatically. Only serious public-order offences or a break in eligibility (loss of job, long absences) could trigger a refusal. The bill also orders the government to slash renewal fees from €225 to €100 and cap processing times at 60 days.
Companies and individuals seeking hands-on help with French visa and residence-permit procedures can turn to VisaHQ. The service’s dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) offers real-time requirements, fee calculators and concierge support that guide users through both today’s in-person préfecture process and the forthcoming digital “tacit-renewal” model—saving HR teams and travelers alike valuable time.
Proponents—led by MP Fatiha Keloua Hachi—argue that streamlining will free up resources for first-time applicants and reduce backlogs that leave foreign workers and family members in legal limbo. Employers welcomed the vote, saying predictable status renewals will ease assignment planning and cut compliance costs. The Interior Ministry, however, opposed the measure, warning it could weaken France’s ability to expel foreigners who break the law and remove an important face-to-face integration checkpoint.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where the right-wing majority has already tabled amendments to restore in-person reviews. If the upper house rejects the text, a joint committee will seek a compromise in early 2026. Multinational HR teams should therefore monitor the parliamentary calendar and prepare for divergent prefectural practices during the transition year.
Practically, mobility managers should audit employees whose cards expire after mid-2026, budget for the proposed lower fees and begin shifting renewal documentation onto the ANEF platform. Immigration providers forecast that the “tacit-renewal” model—similar to the UK’s digital e-visa—will eventually be coupled with a smartphone residence-status app already in beta testing by the Interior Ministry.
