https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The EU has moved to tighten rules on pet passports, closing a loophole that has been used by many British second-home owners since Brexit. https://www.thelocal.com/20260422/eu-tightens-rules-for-brits-travelling-to-europe-with-pets Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:29:35 +0200 eu-tightens-rules-for-brits-travelling-to-europe-with-pets The EU's new Entry & Exit System of border control started on October 12th - but a phased introduction means that not everyone travelling to and from France is affected by the new system. https://www.thelocal.com/20250930/ees-calendar-when-will-new-border-checks-be-enforced-between-france-and-uk Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:37:06 +0200 ees-calendar-when-will-new-border-checks-be-enforced-between-france-and-uk New data from the French government shows that British nationals now make up the fifth largest group of foreign residency-permit holders in France. https://www.thelocal.com/20260127/brits-now-fifth-largest-immigrant-group-in-france Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:51:33 +0100 brits-now-fifth-largest-immigrant-group-in-france Louis Sarkozy - son of the ex president and a candidate in next year's elections - has unveiled a plan to create a lottery to force new arrivals in France to do military service. https://www.thelocal.com/20251125/french-politician-proposes-lottery-for-compulsory-military-service-for-immigrants Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:53:38 +0100 french-politician-proposes-lottery-for-compulsory-military-service-for-immigrants Changes to border procedures as part of the EU's new EES seem to suggest that British tourists would require proof of medical insurance in order to enter France - here's a breakdown of the new rules. https://www.thelocal.com/20250929/whats-the-deal-with-ees-and-medical-insurance-for-british-tourists-in-france Mon, 29 Sep 2025 15:05:36 +0200 whats-the-deal-with-ees-and-medical-insurance-for-british-tourists-in-france The EU's new EES system is due to come into effect this autumn - but the rules and practicalities of crossing the border will be different for non-EU nationals who are resident in France with a carte de séjour or visa. Here's what this group should do when crossing the border. https://www.thelocal.com/20250904/what-should-residents-in-france-do-once-ees-passport-checks-start Thu, 04 Sep 2025 18:48:10 +0200 what-should-residents-in-france-do-once-ees-passport-checks-start If you're crossing the border into France, especially if you are travelling from a non-EU country, border guards have the right to ask for certain documents (in addition to the obvious one of your passport). https://www.thelocal.com/20250828/tickets-insurance-bank-details-what-can-french-border-guards-demand-from-travellers Thu, 28 Aug 2025 19:45:48 +0200 tickets-insurance-bank-details-what-can-french-border-guards-demand-from-travellers A petition has been launched in France to try and prevent the loan of the historic Bayeux Tapestry to the UK, calling the move "a crime against French heritage". https://www.thelocal.com/20250819/french-launch-petition-against-bayeux-tapestry-going-to-london Tue, 19 Aug 2025 13:29:40 +0200 french-launch-petition-against-bayeux-tapestry-going-to-london Reporting in the UK media suggests that in the future, all Brits travelling to France will need to show a return ticket - something that will particulary affect second-home owners who might be staying for several weeks and don't necessarily book their travel in advance. https://www.thelocal.com/20250811/will-brits-really-need-proof-of-a-return-ticket-in-order-to-enter-france Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:56:07 +0200 will-brits-really-need-proof-of-a-return-ticket-in-order-to-enter-france The UK has banned imports of raw milk cheeses from France and Italy on what it says are safety grounds - but the same cheeses are still on sale around Europe. https://www.thelocal.com/20250722/why-has-the-uk-banned-imports-of-french-and-italian-cheeses Tue, 22 Jul 2025 19:04:11 +0200 why-has-the-uk-banned-imports-of-french-and-italian-cheeses A second British student legally resident in France under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement has encountered problems accessing university accommodation, an issue that was highlighted earlier this summer by The Local. https://www.thelocal.com/20250717/another-british-student-in-france-hits-admin-roadblock Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:05:26 +0200 another-british-student-in-france-hits-admin-roadblock A French court ruling appears to pave the way to restore voting rights to some British citizens in France, who lost them after Brexit. https://www.thelocal.com/20250530/will-brits-in-france-get-voting-rights-back-after-court-victory Fri, 30 May 2025 18:42:13 +0200 will-brits-in-france-get-voting-rights-back-after-court-victory British dual nationals in Europe have been describing their anger and stress over misleading, vague and constantly changing information from the UK government on the subject of the new ETA travel visa requirements. https://www.thelocal.com/20250410/disgraceful-british-dual-nationals-express-fury-over-uks-changing-eta-advice Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:51:54 +0200 disgraceful-british-dual-nationals-express-fury-over-uks-changing-eta-advice Up to 45,000 Brits living in France face the prospect of having to renew and upgrade their post-Brexit residency permits within the next two years. https://www.thelocal.com/20250206/45000-brits-in-france-face-further-brexit-residency-hurdle Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:10:39 +0100 45000-brits-in-france-face-further-brexit-residency-hurdle New data from France's Interior Ministry shows that almost 18,000 Brits have been granted French citizenship since the Brexit vote in 2016, a tenfold year-on-year increase in applications. https://www.thelocal.com/20250205/more-than-17000-brits-have-become-french-since-brexit Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:13:31 +0100 more-than-17000-brits-have-become-french-since-brexit From paperwork to equipment, via avoiding congestion charges, here's what you need to know if you're driving to the UK in a French-registered car. https://www.thelocal.com/20241114/what-to-know-about-driving-to-the-uk-in-a-french-car Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:59:14 +0100 what-to-know-about-driving-to-the-uk-in-a-french-car She's one of the most famous paintings in the world and every year tens of thousands of people flock to Paris to visit her - but is it really true that Brits will be charged extra to view the Mona Lisa? https://www.thelocal.com/20241028/will-brits-really-be-charged-extra-to-see-frances-mona-lisa Mon, 28 Oct 2024 11:39:40 +0100 will-brits-really-be-charged-extra-to-see-frances-mona-lisa Whether you're living in France or just visiting, here's what France's decision to reintroduce Schengen border checks means for you. https://www.thelocal.com/20241021/what-do-frances-new-schengen-border-checks-mean-for-travellers Mon, 21 Oct 2024 14:26:09 +0200 what-do-frances-new-schengen-border-checks-mean-for-travellers Non-EU nationals who are living in France and who have children are being warned of new requirements once the EU's EES system of enhanced passport checks comes into force. https://www.thelocal.com/20241004/families-in-france-warned-of-major-ees-travel-change-for-children Fri, 04 Oct 2024 12:50:19 +0200 families-in-france-warned-of-major-ees-travel-change-for-children Moving to France has become a lot more complicated for Brits since Brexit, but latest French immigration data shows that thousands of them still move here. https://www.thelocal.com/20240801/thousands-of-brits-still-move-to-france-despite-post-brexit-paperwork Thu, 01 Aug 2024 14:37:19 +0200 thousands-of-brits-still-move-to-france-despite-post-brexit-paperwork