EU Entry/Exit System hits Day-90 milestone: biometric checks now live at half of France’s external border posts
Storm Goretti knocks out power and halts Paris-Normandy trains, disrupting business travel
Tractor Protests Gridlock Paris as Farmers Block Key Arteries Ahead of Mercosur Vote
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France Launches Mandatory Civic Exam and Tougher Language Levels for Residence and Citizenship
Effective 1 January 2026, most applicants for French multi-year residence permits, ten-year resident cards and citizenship must pass a 40-question civic knowledge exam and meet tougher French-language levels (A2–B2). The changes, highlighted in Crown World Mobility’s update on 8 January, add time and cost to assignment planning and make integration training an essential budget line.
Storm Goretti Triggers Red Alert: Trains Halted and Ferries Delayed Across Northern France
Météo-France issued a red wind alert for the Manche and orange alerts for 32 other départements as Storm Goretti hit on 8 January 2026, forcing SNCF to suspend regional trains in Normandy and Brittany and prompting ferry delays on key cross-Channel routes. Companies should expect disrupted employee travel and supply chains through at least 9 January.
Passport Still Being Stamped? France Explains Slow Roll-Out of EU Entry/Exit System
A French government Q&A released 8 January 2026 confirms that passport stamping will continue until the Entry/Exit System’s phased roll-out is completed on 10 April 2026. Technical delays at airports and Channel crossings mean travellers must still obtain manual stamps to prove lawful stay limits, a critical compliance point for assignees and frequent flyers.