https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed It's been an on-again, off-again plan, but from May 2026 a fee will be applied to anyone who needs to swap their foreign driving licence for a French one. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260423/france-to-impose-fees-for-driving-licence-exchange Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:36:52 +0200 france-to-impose-fees-for-driving-licence-exchange You've done everything right; sent in the application to renew your French residency permit in good time, supplied all the required documents, waited patiently for the préfecture to deal with your request. And then your card expires while you're still waiting - what should you do? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260416/what-to-do-if-your-carte-de-sejour-expires-while-youre-waiting-for-a-renewal Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:24:03 +0200 what-to-do-if-your-carte-de-sejour-expires-while-youre-waiting-for-a-renewal It's not uncommon for people who move countries to have assets and income in more than one place - so what does this mean for your tax residency status in France? Here's what the rules say. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220825/explained-the-rules-on-tax-residency-in-france Thu, 25 Aug 2022 16:33:30 +0200 explained-the-rules-on-tax-residency-in-france 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.fr/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 From new rules on French language tests and civics tests to changes in travel, healthcare and museum entry prices, here's what changes for foreigners living in France in 2026. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251211/everything-that-changes-for-foreigners-in-france-in-2026 Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:31:19 +0100 everything-that-changes-for-foreigners-in-france-in-2026 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.fr/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 Cricket fans, mark your calendars: the first Ashes Test begins this Friday, launching another chapter in one of the sport’s most storied rivalries. Here’s how you can keep up with every ball from France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251119/where-can-i-watch-the-ashes-in-france Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:01:41 +0100 where-can-i-watch-the-ashes-in-france If you're visiting France and you're not a citizen of an EU country, your visits may be limited by the '90 day rule' - here's how it works, what changes under EES border checks and how to calculate your trips so that you don't overstay your allowance. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220419/calculator-how-to-work-out-your-90-day-allowance-in-france Tue, 19 Apr 2022 14:15:22 +0200 calculator-how-to-work-out-your-90-day-allowance-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.fr/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 The French interior ministry has confirmed to The Local a change in the rules on citizenship which means that most retirees living on a foreign pension will be refused. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250820/retirees-with-foreign-pension-no-longer-eligible-for-french-citizenship-says-interior-ministry Wed, 20 Aug 2025 13:40:28 +0200 retirees-with-foreign-pension-no-longer-eligible-for-french-citizenship-says-interior-ministry With firm start dates now in place (probably) for the start of the EU's new systems of biometric passport checks and online visa waivers, we answer your questions on how these systems will work for tourists, foreign residents of EU countries and second-home owners in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250724/travel-to-france-your-questions-answered-about-ees-and-etias Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:49:03 +0200 travel-to-france-your-questions-answered-about-ees-and-etias When doing certain French admin tasks you could be asked to present 'aspostillé' documents - here's what that means and how to do it. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230822/french-bureaucracy-how-to-get-a-document-apostille Tue, 22 Aug 2023 18:45:04 +0200 french-bureaucracy-how-to-get-a-document-apostille It might seem like a general term for any type of residency card, but France's 'carte de résident' is in fact a specific document that is only available to certain people. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240215/explained-what-exactly-is-frances-carte-de-resident Thu, 15 Feb 2024 13:06:38 +0100 explained-what-exactly-is-frances-carte-de-resident France's new immigration law brings in tougher language requirements for foreigners seeking residency or citizenship. But, as every student of the French language knows, for every rule there is an exception. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240208/who-is-exempt-from-frances-new-language-test-rules Thu, 08 Feb 2024 15:32:19 +0100 who-is-exempt-from-frances-new-language-test-rules As the new immigration law means that more people in France will need to take French language tests, we take a look at whether you will need to take classes in order to pass the exam. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250129/do-you-need-to-take-classes-before-the-french-language-test Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:36:26 +0100 do-you-need-to-take-classes-before-the-french-language-test From joining a political party or pressure group, to the act of volunteering for a social cause in your area, there are plenty of ways to be politically active in France, even if you may not be able to vote. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241113/how-to-get-involved-in-politics-in-france Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:22:37 +0100 how-to-get-involved-in-politics-in-france Getting residency in France comes with conditions, and in some cases limits on how long you can be out of the country. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210909/reader-question-how-long-can-i-stay-out-of-france-and-keep-my-residency-rights Thu, 09 Sep 2021 13:19:52 +0200 reader-question-how-long-can-i-stay-out-of-france-and-keep-my-residency-rights From 'French preference' for jobs and housing to visas, cartes de séjour and French language tests, here's a look at how the far-right Rassemblement National's policies could affect foreigners living in France, or hoping to move here someday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240613/what-a-far-right-prime-minister-could-mean-for-foreigners-in-france Thu, 13 Jun 2024 18:34:41 +0200 what-a-far-right-prime-minister-could-mean-for-foreigners-in-france Purchasing property in France as a foreigner has several extra hurdles - here's a look at some of the restrictions and other challenges you will want to be aware of beforehand. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240613/what-restrictions-are-there-on-foreigners-buying-property-in-france Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:30:18 +0200 what-restrictions-are-there-on-foreigners-buying-property-in-france Sleepless nights, panic attacks and cancelled travel plans - these are just some of the problems caused for the dozens of readers who have shared their stories of long delays at French préfectures in renewing their residency permits. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240603/its-so-stressful-life-is-on-hold-foreigners-in-france-share-frustration-at-prefecture-delays Mon, 03 Jun 2024 18:48:24 +0200 its-so-stressful-life-is-on-hold-foreigners-in-france-share-frustration-at-prefecture-delays