From 1 May 2026 the tax-stamp fees that accompany almost every French immigration application have increased by between 33 % and 355 %, according to a FrenchEntrée news digest on 5 May. The standard stamp for a first-issue temporary or multi-year carte de séjour now costs €350 (up from €225), while renewals climb to €250. Concessionary rates for students, seasonal workers and au pairs double to €150 on first issue and €100 on renewal.
![Residence-permit and naturalisation fees rise sharply from 1 May 2026]()
For applicants feeling overwhelmed by the higher tariffs and updated procedures, VisaHQ can step in as a one-stop concierge. Through its dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/), the service clarifies which fiscal stamps you need, sources them electronically, and double-checks your dossier before submission—saving time, money, and last-minute prefecture headaches.
The biggest jump affects naturalisation: the fee for a “décret” application rises from €55 to €255. Validating a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) also becomes more expensive, rising to €200 once online formalities are complete. The changes stem from the 2025 Finance Act, which seeks to make migrants pay a larger share of administrative costs and to finance digital upgrades to the ANEF online immigration portal. No transitional grace period is offered—applications filed from 1 May onwards must include the higher amount or risk rejection. Companies sponsoring foreign hires should adjust relocation budgets immediately, inform assignees who planned to apply this quarter, and check that procurement teams order the correct new-value fiscal stamps (timbres fiscaux) when booking prefecture appointments.
For applicants feeling overwhelmed by the higher tariffs and updated procedures, VisaHQ can step in as a one-stop concierge. Through its dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/), the service clarifies which fiscal stamps you need, sources them electronically, and double-checks your dossier before submission—saving time, money, and last-minute prefecture headaches.
The biggest jump affects naturalisation: the fee for a “décret” application rises from €55 to €255. Validating a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) also becomes more expensive, rising to €200 once online formalities are complete. The changes stem from the 2025 Finance Act, which seeks to make migrants pay a larger share of administrative costs and to finance digital upgrades to the ANEF online immigration portal. No transitional grace period is offered—applications filed from 1 May onwards must include the higher amount or risk rejection. Companies sponsoring foreign hires should adjust relocation budgets immediately, inform assignees who planned to apply this quarter, and check that procurement teams order the correct new-value fiscal stamps (timbres fiscaux) when booking prefecture appointments.
