France immigration rule changes
8 dated rule changes to France programmes, from 2024-01-26 to 2026-05-01. Each item links to the programme page and the official source we recorded it from. This is a record of what we captured, not a complete legislative history.
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2026 (1)
French Citizenship by Descent (Jus Sanguinis via a French Parent): The fiscal stamp (timbre fiscal) fee for French nationality DECLARATIONS — a separate acquisition track from descent, e.g. birth-and-residence-in-France or marriage-based declarations — rose from EUR 55 to EUR 255. This fee applies to declaration-based nationality tracks, not to a Certificat de Nationalite Francaise request confirming pre-existing descent-based nationality under Article 18, which remains free.
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2025 (3)
France Talent Passport — Salaried Employee (Salarié Qualifié): An arrêté of 21 August 2025 set a fixed gross annual reference salary of €39,582 for the Passeport Talent — salarié qualifié category, decoupling the threshold from the SMIC; the figure did not change with the 2026 SMIC increases.
source →France Talent Passport (Passeport Talent): An arrêté of 21 August 2025 set a fixed gross annual reference salary of €39,582 for the Passeport Talent — salarié qualifié track, decoupling it from the SMIC.
source →French Citizenship by Descent (Jus Sanguinis via a French Parent): Decret n. 2025-648 amended the 1993 decree governing procedures for nationality declarations and decisions on naturalisation, reinstatement, loss, forfeiture, and withdrawal of French nationality. The decree is primarily procedural; specific practical effects on descent-based CNF requests have not been independently confirmed.
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2024 (4)
France Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur): France's Loi Immigration enacted — tightened family-reunification rules and language requirements for PR/citizenship; VLS-TS visitor visa itself unchanged.
source →France Talent Passport — Salaried Employee (Salarié Qualifié): Loi Immigration of 26 January 2024 reorganised the Passeport Talent tracks under Articles L421-9 to L421-16 CESEDA. Salaried-employee track preserved, with the salary threshold still defined by reference to the SMIC at that time.
source →France Talent Passport — Innovative Startup Founder (Création d'Entreprise): Loi Immigration of 26 January 2024 retained the Innovative Startup Founder track but tightened the recognition criteria; BPI France updated its assessment framework in early 2024.
source →France Talent Passport — Researcher (Chercheur): Loi Immigration of 26 January 2024 maintained the Chercheur track and the 2-year naturalisation eligibility for distinguished researchers.
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