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 The EU hands out thousands of Blue Cards to highly-skilled third country nationals each year, according to the latest figures. But which nationalities receive the most and which EU country gives out the most? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260204/which-nationalities-get-the-most-eu-blue-cards-and-where-do-they-go Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:56:51 +0100 which-nationalities-get-the-most-eu-blue-cards-and-where-do-they-go The European Commission has announced it will look into allowing certain non-EU professionals to stay in the EU beyond the current 90/180-day rule, as part of a future overhaul of its visa system. It also asked EU countries to make visa access "simpler and faster" for skilled workers. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260129/eu-announces-plan-to-extend-90-day-rule-for-certain-non-eu-workers Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:52:25 +0100 eu-announces-plan-to-extend-90-day-rule-for-certain-non-eu-workers The European Union on Thursday laid out plans to overhaul its visa system and step up deportations as part of a five-year migration strategy that cements a hardening line on the hot-button issue. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260129/eu-announces-new-push-to-overhaul-visa-system-and-deportations-policy Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:01:33 +0100 eu-announces-new-push-to-overhaul-visa-system-and-deportations-policy Second-home owners in France might be tempted to apply for a 12-month visa in order to avoid having to abide by the 90-day limit on visits to their property - but there are some things to consider before doing so. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251128/can-second-home-owners-in-france-get-a-one-year-french-visa Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:56:42 +0100 can-second-home-owners-in-france-get-a-one-year-french-visa France's 2026 Budget proposes a big hike in the cost of residency and citizenship fees for foreigners, rising to €350 for a carte de séjour or €255 for citizenship. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251201/french-government-proposes-hike-in-visa-and-residency-card-fees Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:56:07 +0100 french-government-proposes-hike-in-visa-and-residency-card-fees European affairs ministers gave the go ahead this week to new rules that will make it easier to suspend the right to visa-free travel for non-EU countries under certain circumstances. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251118/eu-ministers-agree-new-rules-around-suspending-visa-free-travel Tue, 18 Nov 2025 07:49:21 +0100 eu-ministers-agree-new-rules-around-suspending-visa-free-travel Finishing work and heading off to a glorious new life as a retiree in Europe is the dream for many, but just how easy is it to do in reality? We compare the rules in 9 countries in Europe. https://www.thelocal.fr/20231119/compare-which-country-in-europe-is-it-the-easiest-to-retire-to Sun, 19 Nov 2023 10:52:52 +0100 compare-which-country-in-europe-is-it-the-easiest-to-retire-to The European Commission is preparing a new visa strategy to attract "top talent from abroad that is needed to fill skills and labour shortages in the EU and drive research and innovation." https://www.thelocal.fr/20250902/europe-to-draw-up-new-visa-strategy-to-bring-in-skilled-non-eu-workers Tue, 02 Sep 2025 19:38:34 +0200 europe-to-draw-up-new-visa-strategy-to-bring-in-skilled-non-eu-workers Getting any type of French visa requires a certain amount of effort and paperwork, but some are more straightforward than others. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250708/what-are-the-easiest-french-visas-to-get Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:56:28 +0200 what-are-the-easiest-french-visas-to-get Certain non-EU nationals, including Indian citizens, can benefit from a new type of Schengen visa, which rewards travellers with an established travel history, and allows multiple entries to the EU/Schengen area over a long period of time. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250729/cascade-scheme-who-can-benefit-from-longer-term-schengen-visas Tue, 29 Jul 2025 12:34:17 +0200 cascade-scheme-who-can-benefit-from-longer-term-schengen-visas It's human nature to try and find a few shortcuts through France's notoriously tricky residency and tax systems, but as The Local's editor Emma Pearson has seen - taking advantage of 'loopholes' often causes more problems that it solves. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250611/opinion-give-up-the-search-for-loopholes-french-bureaucracy-always-wins Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:37:44 +0200 opinion-give-up-the-search-for-loopholes-french-bureaucracy-always-wins Working remotely from France is a popular option for foreigners, especially those whose French is not yet fluent enough to work for a French company. However, latest tax office guidance threatens stiff penalties for people who do not comply with visa and tax rules for this type of work. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250602/what-do-you-risk-if-you-work-remotely-from-france-without-the-correct-visa Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:41:30 +0200 what-do-you-risk-if-you-work-remotely-from-france-without-the-correct-visa The French tax office has exclusively clarified to The Local the rules around the tricky issue of working remotely for a foreign company while you are in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250602/tax-offices-clarifies-rules-for-remote-working-in-france Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:38:31 +0200 tax-offices-clarifies-rules-for-remote-working-in-france With the world of work rapidly changing, digital nomad visas are now in high demand as a way to experience life in another country while continuing to work remotely. Here are the European countries that you can obtain one for, and what’s involved. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240410/which-european-countries-offer-a-digital-nomad-visa Wed, 10 Apr 2024 19:25:15 +0200 which-european-countries-offer-a-digital-nomad-visa Foreigners in France are reporting increasing delays at the préfecture when it comes to dealing with applications for residency permits or citizenship - we'd like to hear from our readers about their experiences. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250603/tell-us-have-you-suffered-long-delays-at-your-french-prefecture Tue, 03 Jun 2025 16:03:45 +0200 tell-us-have-you-suffered-long-delays-at-your-french-prefecture From long delays to paperwork screw-ups and the impossibility of getting in contact with staff, foreigners in France have been sharing their tales of woe of the préfecture which has among the longest waiting times in the country for residency permit and citizenship applications. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250603/delays-chaos-and-no-contact-is-this-the-worst-prefecture-in-france Tue, 03 Jun 2025 15:52:34 +0200 delays-chaos-and-no-contact-is-this-the-worst-prefecture-in-france Some French visas require foreigners to show proof of private health insurance - here is the level of cover that is required and how to pick a policy. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250325/how-to-find-health-insurance-for-your-french-visa Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:26:32 +0100 how-to-find-health-insurance-for-your-french-visa France's visas are relatively cheap - but a visa is far from the only immigration-related expense. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250423/how-much-do-french-visas-cost Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:30:36 +0200 how-much-do-french-visas-cost Starting in April, a new company will run French visa application submissions in the United States. Here is what is changing for people applying for French visas from the US. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250327/us-to-change-french-visa-applications-company Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:27:36 +0100 us-to-change-french-visa-applications-company If you find the time outside of studying for exams and writing papers, you might be interested in taking on some part-time work. Here are the rules for working while on a student visa or residency permit in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250317/how-much-can-you-work-on-a-student-visa-in-france Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:19:49 +0100 how-much-can-you-work-on-a-student-visa-in-france