Foreign companies sending staff to France, and expatriates already in the country, have just been handed an unexpected cost increase. In an immigration alert published on 3 March 2026, global law firm Fragomen reported that the French government will raise – and in some cases introduce – a wide range of immigration-related fees as of 1 May 2026. The first-issue long-stay visa that acts as a residence permit will jump from €200 to €300, while the reduced tariff for students, seasonal workers and some family-reunification cases will double to €100. The fee for duplicating or amending a residence card goes from €25 to €50, and naturalisation applications will soar from €55 to €255.(fragomen.com)
Two completely new charges are also appearing. A €100 fee will apply to the once-free Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS) – a six-to-12-month permit used heavily by graduates moving into work – and a €40 fee will be levied for exchanging a foreign driving licence. Renewal fees for most residence permits remain unchanged at €200 (or €50 at the reduced rate), but the overall direction of travel is clear: more of the immigration administration bill will be paid by applicants rather than the public purse.(fragomen.com)
For organisations needing help to navigate these shifting requirements, VisaHQ’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) provides up-to-date fee information, step-by-step online applications and expert support, allowing employers, students and their families to manage visas and permits quickly and with confidence.
![France to Hike Immigration Processing Fees From 1 May 2026]()
For mobility managers the timing is awkward. Many 2026 budgets were finalised months ago on the basis of the old tariffs. Fragomen warns that employers sponsoring local hires, intra-company transfers and status changes should revisit cost projections immediately and allow for an extra €100–€245 per case depending on the permit type. Large graduate-intake programmes that rely on the APS could see six-figure impacts if dozens of hires are involved.(fragomen.com)
The fee hike is part of a broader push by the French finance ministry to narrow the public-deficit gap without raising headline taxes. Shifting part of the administrative burden onto users was signalled in the 2026 Finance Act, but the scale of the increase has taken many practitioners by surprise. Business chambers have already begun lobbying for a phased introduction, arguing that the short notice undercuts France’s message that it is "open for talent" in the run-up to the 2027 World Expo in Lyon.(fragomen.com)
In practical terms, foreign nationals who can submit applications or renewals before 30 April 2026 will beat the price rise. Employers are therefore accelerating document collection and medical appointments. Consular sections have not yet confirmed whether the higher fees will apply to dossiers already filed but not adjudicated by 1 May. Until formal guidance is issued, advisers recommend paying and lodging files as early as possible to lock in the lower rate.
Two completely new charges are also appearing. A €100 fee will apply to the once-free Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS) – a six-to-12-month permit used heavily by graduates moving into work – and a €40 fee will be levied for exchanging a foreign driving licence. Renewal fees for most residence permits remain unchanged at €200 (or €50 at the reduced rate), but the overall direction of travel is clear: more of the immigration administration bill will be paid by applicants rather than the public purse.(fragomen.com)
For organisations needing help to navigate these shifting requirements, VisaHQ’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) provides up-to-date fee information, step-by-step online applications and expert support, allowing employers, students and their families to manage visas and permits quickly and with confidence.
For mobility managers the timing is awkward. Many 2026 budgets were finalised months ago on the basis of the old tariffs. Fragomen warns that employers sponsoring local hires, intra-company transfers and status changes should revisit cost projections immediately and allow for an extra €100–€245 per case depending on the permit type. Large graduate-intake programmes that rely on the APS could see six-figure impacts if dozens of hires are involved.(fragomen.com)
The fee hike is part of a broader push by the French finance ministry to narrow the public-deficit gap without raising headline taxes. Shifting part of the administrative burden onto users was signalled in the 2026 Finance Act, but the scale of the increase has taken many practitioners by surprise. Business chambers have already begun lobbying for a phased introduction, arguing that the short notice undercuts France’s message that it is "open for talent" in the run-up to the 2027 World Expo in Lyon.(fragomen.com)
In practical terms, foreign nationals who can submit applications or renewals before 30 April 2026 will beat the price rise. Employers are therefore accelerating document collection and medical appointments. Consular sections have not yet confirmed whether the higher fees will apply to dossiers already filed but not adjudicated by 1 May. Until formal guidance is issued, advisers recommend paying and lodging files as early as possible to lock in the lower rate.
