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 You might not have thought about it too much as you enjoyed an extra day off work, but it is perhaps unexpected that France - proudly secular since 1905 - has so many public holidays based around Catholic festivals. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220816/reader-question-why-does-secular-france-have-catholic-holidays Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:49:00 +0200 reader-question-why-does-secular-france-have-catholic-holidays We can explain this. But you might think we’re joking… https://www.thelocal.fr/20220323/reader-question-can-you-explain-frances-poisson-davril-tradition Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:00:17 +0100 reader-question-can-you-explain-frances-poisson-davril-tradition France's rules on citizenship have undergone several big changes in the last year - so we held a live Q&A to answer the key questions from members of The Local. Here's a roundup of the main topics. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260324/it-seems-very-unfair-key-questions-answered-on-french-citizenship-changes Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:38:16 +0100 it-seems-very-unfair-key-questions-answered-on-french-citizenship-changes How strictly does France enforce its vaccination requirements for children? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260320/reader-question-is-it-compulsory-to-vaccinate-children-in-france Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:59:23 +0100 reader-question-is-it-compulsory-to-vaccinate-children-in-france The Local France's Editor Emma Pearson was live online on Friday to answer member's questions on the new rules around French citizenship. You can read her answers in the comments section on this article. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260319/join-our-live-qa-on-frances-new-citizenship-rules Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:05:32 +0100 join-our-live-qa-on-frances-new-citizenship-rules After the first round of voting in French local elections, several cities are on a knife edge - meaning that every vote counts in round two. But can you vote in the second round if you didn't vote in the first? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260316/can-i-vote-in-the-second-round-of-the-french-local-elections-if-i-didnt-vote-in-the-first Mon, 16 Mar 2026 08:54:33 +0100 can-i-vote-in-the-second-round-of-the-french-local-elections-if-i-didnt-vote-in-the-first If you're visiting France from a non-EU country your time here is limited, unless you have a visa - but what happens to people who overstay and how strictly are the rules enforced? https://www.thelocal.fr/20210331/reader-question-what-happens-if-i-over-stay-my-90-day-limit-in-france Wed, 31 Mar 2021 16:47:58 +0200 reader-question-what-happens-if-i-over-stay-my-90-day-limit-in-france The rules for those in receipt of unemployment benefits - chômage - have recently been tightened up, including around leaving the country. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260121/reader-question-can-you-leave-france-if-you-are-on-chomage Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:17:03 +0100 reader-question-can-you-leave-france-if-you-are-on-chomage If you've spent time in France over Christmas one thing you're likely to have noticed is the amount of fish and seafood that is around, so what are the roots of this festive tradition? https://www.thelocal.fr/20191223/why-do-the-french-eat-so-much-seafood-at-christmas Mon, 23 Dec 2019 15:30:00 +0100 why-do-the-french-eat-so-much-seafood-at-christmas Foreigners living in France may be considering applying for French citizenship - but what does that mean for your original citizenship? https://www.thelocal.fr/20220128/reader-question-does-france-allow-dual-nationality Fri, 28 Jan 2022 17:39:20 +0100 reader-question-does-france-allow-dual-nationality French parents have a reputation for being strict with their children, but physical punishments like smacking or spanking are covered by the legal code. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251208/reader-question-is-it-illegal-to-smack-or-spank-children-in-france Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:12:22 +0100 reader-question-is-it-illegal-to-smack-or-spank-children-in-france If you're one of many foreigners in France faced with taking a French language test in order to secure residency or citizenship, it might be helpful to know how the test is marked and what examiners are looking for. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240219/reader-question-how-is-the-french-language-test-scored Mon, 19 Feb 2024 17:48:35 +0100 reader-question-how-is-the-french-language-test-scored European travellers to the UK now require an electronic ETA visa waiver, with the UK government warning that they will start barring entry to those who don't have the required waiver. UK nationals are exempt, but what about their French partners, spouses or children? https://www.thelocal.fr/20250303/will-i-need-an-eta-visa-for-my-french-spouse-or-children Mon, 03 Mar 2025 12:03:31 +0100 will-i-need-an-eta-visa-for-my-french-spouse-or-children Many road users rely on video cameras to record anything that happens on the road – but use of the devices fall into something of a legal grey area in France https://www.thelocal.fr/20240307/are-car-dashcams-and-cycle-helmet-cameras-legal-in-france Thu, 07 Mar 2024 10:54:30 +0100 are-car-dashcams-and-cycle-helmet-cameras-legal-in-france Unlikely but true, France does indeed have 12 different time zones. But there is no need to change your watch if you're travelling from Paris to Toulouse. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220325/reader-question-how-does-france-have-12-different-time-zones Fri, 25 Mar 2022 12:37:00 +0100 reader-question-how-does-france-have-12-different-time-zones The Local has received clarification from the interior ministry on one of the most common questions readers have asked about France's new language rules - whether retirees are exempt from the requirement for French tests. The short answer? It depends. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240131/reader-question-are-pensioners-exempt-from-frances-new-language-test-rules Wed, 31 Jan 2024 14:59:19 +0100 reader-question-are-pensioners-exempt-from-frances-new-language-test-rules The EU's new Entry & Exit System (EES) of enhanced passport controls will be launched on October 12th, albeit in a phased in approach, but how will it impact non-EU residents legally living in EU/Schengen countries? https://www.thelocal.fr/20240427/reader-question-what-will-ees-mean-for-foreigners-living-in-europe Sat, 27 Apr 2024 07:59:09 +0200 reader-question-what-will-ees-mean-for-foreigners-living-in-europe When dealing with French admin, you might be instructed to consult 'your local préfecture' - but do you actually have to use the nearest préfecture to your home or can you deal with others? https://www.thelocal.fr/20251007/reader-question-can-i-deal-with-any-prefecture-in-france Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:42:29 +0200 reader-question-can-i-deal-with-any-prefecture-in-france France's Interior Ministry recently confirmed a change in the way that French citizenship applications are dealt with, specifically when it comes to income requirements. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250829/your-questions-answered-changes-to-french-citizenship-rules Fri, 29 Aug 2025 14:39:51 +0200 your-questions-answered-changes-to-french-citizenship-rules If you've been tracing your family tree and have found a French ancestor, does this mean you can claim French citizenship (and with it the right to live and work in 27 different countries)? https://www.thelocal.fr/20220318/reader-question-can-i-obtain-french-citizenship-through-ancestry Fri, 18 Mar 2022 14:06:49 +0100 reader-question-can-i-obtain-french-citizenship-through-ancestry