France reaches record 4.5 million valid residence permits, Interior Ministry data show
Humanitarian residence permits in France soar 65 % on back of asylum demand
Forced removals from France up 21 % as enforcement accelerates
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First-time French residence permits rise 11 %—student titles dominate
New-issue residence permits climbed 11 % in 2025, fuelled by 118,000 student titles and a modest rise in high-skilled work permits. Consular and préfecture queues remain long, so employers should start dossiers early.
International Students Account for Half of France’s 2025 Immigration Surge
New Interior-Ministry statistics show France issued nearly 380,000 first residence permits in 2025, up 11 % on 2024; international students accounted for just over half of the total, while standard work permits fell 13 %. The data signal that France’s immigration mix is tilting toward higher education and humanitarian admissions, with tighter enforcement on economic and undocumented migration. Mobility teams will need to pivot toward Passeport Talent routes and prepare for higher fees and new integration requirements in 2026.