France to Significantly Increase Residency Permit and Citizenship Fees from May 1, 2026

New Fee Structure Takes Effect May 1

France is set to significantly raise the fees for various immigration-related procedures, including residency permits and citizenship applications, beginning on May 1, 2026. These increases are stipulated in the recently adopted 2026 Budget Law, which has been formally approved by the French Parliament. The government states that the adjustments are intended to bring French administrative costs in line with the European Union average and to generate additional revenue for the modernization of prefectures.

Details of the Increased Charges

The new fee schedule will impact a broad range of applicants. Key changes include:

• The fiscal stamp (timbre fiscal) required for French nationality applications will see a substantial increase from 55€ to 255€.
• The fee for the first issuance of most residency permits will rise to 300€, up from the current 255€.
• Residency permit renewals will now cost 200€.
• Temporary or provisional cards (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour - APS), which were previously untaxed, will incur a new fee of 100€.
• The general administrative processing fee (droit de timbre) for the issuance, renewal, duplicate, or change of a residency permit will double from 25€ to 50€.
• The 'droit de visa de régularisation' will increase from 200€ to 300€.

These changes are expected to generate an estimated 150 million euros (some sources indicate 160 million euros) in annual revenue.

Justification and Criticisms

The French government justifies these increases by citing the need to 'align French fees with the EU average' and to fund the modernization of prefecture services. However, advocacy groups, such as La Cimade, have voiced strong criticism, arguing that the higher costs will create significant barriers to accessing legal status, particularly for vulnerable individuals. They highlight that the official fees are only part of the total expense, with additional costs for translations, mandatory language, and civics tests potentially pushing the overall outlay for applicants well above 1,000€ per person. Concerns have also been raised about a potential surge in application appointments in the months leading up to the May 1 deadline as individuals seek to avoid the increased charges.

Exemptions and Broader Impact

While most categories of foreign residents will be affected, certain exemptions will remain in place. These include British nationals covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and recognized refugees. However, other groups, such as holders of the Talent Passport, will be subject to the new fee structure. The increases are part of a broader effort to reform immigration policies and are expected to have a significant impact on individuals and businesses sponsoring non-EU employees.