Channel Tunnel power failure halts Eurostar and LeShuttle on busiest travel day
France cuts salary threshold for ‘Talent – Qualified Employee’ permit to €39 582
Paris deploys 10 000 police and offers free night-time transport for New Year’s Eve
Latest News
Mandatory civic-knowledge exam to join French language test for residence cards and naturalisation from 1 January 2026
From 1 January 2026, first-time applicants for multi-year residence cards or French citizenship must pass a 40-question civic-knowledge exam in addition to meeting language thresholds (A2–B2). Critics call the new test onerous, while employers must plan for longer processing times and higher compliance costs.
French Jewish immigration to Israel surges 45 % in 2025
Israel says 3,300 French Jews immigrated in 2025, a 45 % increase on 2024 and the highest total since 2015. Rising antisemitism in France and targeted Israeli recruitment programmes are driving the trend, prompting French companies to review talent-retention and succession strategies.
Four ministerial orders spell out which French-language certificates count for residency and nationality
Four new orders, published last week and circulated on 29 December, list the exact French-language tests and diplomas that prefectures must accept for residence permits (A2/B1) and nationality (B2). The move ends years of discretionary practice and lets HR teams standardise documentation.
China keeps reduced visa fees through 2026 – French travellers continue to pay only €45
China has extended its visa-fee discount for another year, keeping the cost for French nationals at €45 until 31 December 2026. Combined with an ongoing fingerprint waiver and short-stay visa-free scheme, the measure lowers travel costs for French firms resuming activity in China.