Foreign residents and employers sponsoring talent in France face a sharp increase in immigration costs after the publication of a ministerial decree that enters into force on 1 May 2026. Detailed guidance published by English-language newspaper *The Connexion* confirms that the standard fee for a first-issue one-year **carte de séjour** or multi-year permit will jump from €200 to €300, while the compulsory stamp duty (droit de timbre) doubles from €25 to €50. In practical terms, most new residence cards will now cost €350.
![France Hikes Residency-Card, Visa and Citizenship Fees from 1 May 2026]()
For applicants who would rather not navigate these changes alone, VisaHQ can simplify every step—from calculating the new fees to compiling compliant documentation—through its dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/). The platform’s online tools and customer support help individuals and HR teams submit flawless files, cutting down on prefecture visits and avoiding costly rejections.
Discounted categories are also affected: students, au pairs, seasonal workers and family-reunification applicants will see their fee rise from €50 to €100. Renewal fees move up to €250 (or €100 for reduced-rate cases). The decree introduces, for the first time, a €40 charge to exchange a foreign driving licence for a French one—an administrative step that non-EU assignees must complete after 12 months of residence. The most eye-catching change is in citizenship: naturalisation applications that previously cost €55 will now be subject to a €255 fee, representing a 364 % increase. The Interior Ministry argues that the hikes align France with “peer EU countries” and cover the cost of biometric cards, but migrant-rights group Gisti denounces an “explosion” in costs that will deter lower-income applicants. For companies, the timing is awkward. Budgets prepared under the January 2026 Global Mobility cost forecasts did not factor in higher French government charges. Relocation providers are urging HR teams to raise purchase orders quickly so that ongoing files can be paid before 30 April, although prefectures have indicated they will only accept applications accompanied by the correct new fees from 00:00 on 1 May. Assignees already holding Brexit Article 50 residence cards remain exempt, but the higher fees will apply to UK nationals arriving on local contracts from now on. Mobility advisers recommend educating employees about the cost differential between validation of a **visa long-séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS)**—also rising to €300—and a traditional residence-card application, as the two routes will soon be financially equivalent.
For applicants who would rather not navigate these changes alone, VisaHQ can simplify every step—from calculating the new fees to compiling compliant documentation—through its dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/). The platform’s online tools and customer support help individuals and HR teams submit flawless files, cutting down on prefecture visits and avoiding costly rejections.
Discounted categories are also affected: students, au pairs, seasonal workers and family-reunification applicants will see their fee rise from €50 to €100. Renewal fees move up to €250 (or €100 for reduced-rate cases). The decree introduces, for the first time, a €40 charge to exchange a foreign driving licence for a French one—an administrative step that non-EU assignees must complete after 12 months of residence. The most eye-catching change is in citizenship: naturalisation applications that previously cost €55 will now be subject to a €255 fee, representing a 364 % increase. The Interior Ministry argues that the hikes align France with “peer EU countries” and cover the cost of biometric cards, but migrant-rights group Gisti denounces an “explosion” in costs that will deter lower-income applicants. For companies, the timing is awkward. Budgets prepared under the January 2026 Global Mobility cost forecasts did not factor in higher French government charges. Relocation providers are urging HR teams to raise purchase orders quickly so that ongoing files can be paid before 30 April, although prefectures have indicated they will only accept applications accompanied by the correct new fees from 00:00 on 1 May. Assignees already holding Brexit Article 50 residence cards remain exempt, but the higher fees will apply to UK nationals arriving on local contracts from now on. Mobility advisers recommend educating employees about the cost differential between validation of a **visa long-séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS)**—also rising to €300—and a traditional residence-card application, as the two routes will soon be financially equivalent.
