Moving to France? Keep Up-to-Date with French Visa Laws

We are in constant touch with our partner immigration attorney, Daniel Tostado, in order to stay “au courant” (aware) and be able to advise our clients. Of course, we don’t claim to be immigration experts, which is why we have Daniel and his team by our side…we count on them!

According to a recent article in the press, beginning January 2026, France will require a civics test for certain long-term residency and citizenship applications. The goal is to ensure applicants are prepared to participate in French civic life. This affects non-EU nationals applying for a multi-year residence permit, a 10-year residence card and French citizenship.

The good news is that first-time one-year visa holders are not concerned and applicants 65+ are exempt for residency (but not citizenship), as are those renewing an existing card!

So, for most of you, this doesn’t apply! If it does, then be prepared: The test consists of 40 multiple-choice questions in French covering French values, institutions, rights and duties, history, and daily life. You will need 80% correct to pass. It’s taken digitally at an exam center (45 minutes). More good news is if you fail, retakes are allowed.

To prepare, you just need to study the Livret de Citoyen, like I did for citizenship. It was actually a lot of fun learning so much of French history that wasn’t taught in a U.S. high school! And while it might make you take time to study and learn, this is a new but manageable step for those planning a long-term future in France—and one that reflects France’s emphasis on integration and civic participation.

Daniel’s comments were: “It is an extra formality to accomplish, in addition to having a valid language score, that I can foresee will trip-up more than one applicant who’d otherwise qualify for the 10-year card, but didn’t take the time to schedule the civics exam, take the test, and get the results before filing. On the whole, it’s a perfectly fine thing to ask of us would-be French residents and citizens—it’s good for us to know about ‘laïcité’ (separation of church and state) and the general principles of France.”

BTW, I translated the entire Livret du Citoyen into English using DEEPL. That was very handy—I could study in both languages and that doubled it down in my brain!

More from Daniel, and I summarize and paraphrase…

FRENCH & U.S. IMMIGRATION UPDATES: WHAT TO WATCH:

Possible changes for Visitor visa holders

A member of the French National Assembly recently proposed requiring Visitor-visa holders to contribute a fixed amount to French healthcare. While a billing mechanism technically already exists, it has rarely been applied in practice. Following this proposal, Daniel’s office met directly with the “député” and his team. The discussion also addressed the long-standing grey area around teleworking on the Visitor visa. Using language we helped draft, the député has formally asked the Ministry of the Interior for clarification. A response is expected in January, for which they will be watching closely.

Here’s a video by Daniel Tostado that summarizes how the day went.

Automatic Renewals: A Step Forward—or Not?

Another amendment proposes making renewals for multi-year and 10-year residence cards automatic. While the measure has passed the National Assembly, it now heads to the more cautious Senate. In practice, nearly all 10-year card renewals are already approved, so this may not solve a pressing problem. A more impactful reform, in their view, would be:

• Longer initial visas.
• Multi-year renewals after the first year, particularly for Visitor visas.

Stable finances, housing, and health insurance rarely change year to year—yet applicants and prefectures alike repeat the same annual process.

Meanwhile, in the United States…

Two proposals signal potentially major shifts in U.S. citizenship law:

• Birthright citizenship: The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments challenging an executive order aimed at denying citizenship to children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents—calling into question a principle anchored in the 14th Amendment and over a century of legal precedent.

• Dual nationality under threat: A bill has been introduced that would eliminate the right of Americans to hold multiple nationalities. While current Supreme Court precedent protects dual citizenship, a future review could reopen the issue.

Combined with renewed efforts to denaturalize U.S. citizens, these developments represent a significant shift in how American citizenship is defined and protected. Within Daniel’s firm, their U.S. and France-barred attorneys have been closely analyzing these changes—and their potential consequences for internationally mobile families.

I will tell you now, that I’m very pleased that I’ve applied for French Citizenship and fingers crossed that I hear good news soon, because if the U.S. actually denies dual citizenship, guess which country I’d be choosing?

Words of advice:

• If you’re thinking of moving to France, contact us for a consultation so that we can get you going in the right direction. Visit our website for more information.

• And if you’ve already consulted with us, and you’re ready to apply for your visa, contact Daniel Tostado for the smoothest sailing through the process. You won’t regret having professional advice and help.

Happy holidays!

A la prochaine…