The French parliament’s newly-adopted 2026 budget quietly contains one of the most significant price increases for foreign residents in more than a decade. Beginning 1 May 2026, the **timbre fiscal** that must accompany an application for French nationality will jump from €55 to €255, while the fee for the first issuance of most residence permits will rise to €300 (from €255) and renewals to €200. Temporary or provisional cards—often used by recent graduates, humanitarian cases or parents of children in care—will cost €100.
According to explanatory notes published alongside the budget, the goal is two-fold: to “bring French fees into line with the EU average” and to generate an estimated €150 million in annual revenue for prefecture modernisation projects. Existing exemptions remain for Britons covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and for recognised refugees, but most other categories—including Talent Passport holders—will feel the pinch.
Lawyers warn that the official stamp is only the tip of the iceberg. Applicants still face translation costs, compulsory language or civics tests (around €170 combined) and extensive document procurement that can push the real outlay well above €1,000 per person. Corporates that routinely sponsor non-EU assignees are already updating cost-projection spreadsheets and advising 2026 arrivals to budget extra time for reimbursement approvals.
![France to Hike Fees for Residency Permits and Citizenship from May 1]()
Those navigating these shifting requirements needn’t go it alone. VisaHQ’s dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) offers real-time updates on government fees, personalised document checklists and hands-on application assistance, making it easier for individuals and corporate mobility teams to anticipate costs and meet deadlines.
From a strategic-mobility standpoint, the timing matters. The fee hike lands barely four months after tougher language thresholds and a new written civics exam came into force and only six weeks before the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) becomes fully mandatory. Global mobility teams should therefore communicate early with employees and spouses whose cards expire after May, and—where possible—submit renewal dossiers before the deadline to lock in the lower fee.
For companies that cover naturalisation costs as part of long-term retention programmes, the five-fold increase may trigger policy reviews. Some are already considering a cap on reimbursable government fees or shifting focus to long-term residence permits instead of passports. In the short term, expect a rush on prefecture appointments in March and April as applicants try to beat the price rise.
According to explanatory notes published alongside the budget, the goal is two-fold: to “bring French fees into line with the EU average” and to generate an estimated €150 million in annual revenue for prefecture modernisation projects. Existing exemptions remain for Britons covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and for recognised refugees, but most other categories—including Talent Passport holders—will feel the pinch.
Lawyers warn that the official stamp is only the tip of the iceberg. Applicants still face translation costs, compulsory language or civics tests (around €170 combined) and extensive document procurement that can push the real outlay well above €1,000 per person. Corporates that routinely sponsor non-EU assignees are already updating cost-projection spreadsheets and advising 2026 arrivals to budget extra time for reimbursement approvals.
Those navigating these shifting requirements needn’t go it alone. VisaHQ’s dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) offers real-time updates on government fees, personalised document checklists and hands-on application assistance, making it easier for individuals and corporate mobility teams to anticipate costs and meet deadlines.
From a strategic-mobility standpoint, the timing matters. The fee hike lands barely four months after tougher language thresholds and a new written civics exam came into force and only six weeks before the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) becomes fully mandatory. Global mobility teams should therefore communicate early with employees and spouses whose cards expire after May, and—where possible—submit renewal dossiers before the deadline to lock in the lower fee.
For companies that cover naturalisation costs as part of long-term retention programmes, the five-fold increase may trigger policy reviews. Some are already considering a cap on reimbursable government fees or shifting focus to long-term residence permits instead of passports. In the short term, expect a rush on prefecture appointments in March and April as applicants try to beat the price rise.
