France Increases Residence Permit and Citizenship Fees Starting May 2026

France is preparing to increase several immigration-related fees starting May 1, 2026. The changes will affect foreign workers, international students, job seekers, and anyone applying for residence permits or citizenship.

For many applicants, the cost of starting or changing their legal stay in France will soon be higher. Employers sponsoring foreign workers may also feel the impact, especially when handling new residence permits or status changes.

France Increases Fees for First-Time Residence Permits

One of the biggest changes involves the first issuance of residence permits. From May 1, 2026, the standard fee will rise to €300, up from €200 today.

A lower fee still applies to some groups, such as:

However, even this reduced rate will increase from €50 to €100.

Some residence permits will not see any price increase. For example:

• Refugees
• Holders of retiree residence cards

The renewal fee for residence permits will remain unchanged at €200, or €50 for reduced-rate applicants.

Long-Stay Visa Regularisation Fee Also Increasing

Foreign nationals who need to regularise their visa status or apply for long-stay visas that act as residence permits will also pay more.

The fee will increase from €200 to €300.

This applies to applicants who complete administrative procedures after entering France or those adjusting their status within the country.

Higher Fees for Residence Permit Changes and Duplicates

If you need a new residence permit card due to changes, the cost will also increase. This applies to situations like:

• Change of address
• Lost or damaged permit cards
• Requests for duplicate permits

The fee will rise from €25 to €50.

Citizenship Application Fee Jumps Significantly

Another major change concerns French citizenship applications. The application fee will increase sharply from €55 to €255.

For people planning to naturalise in France, this means a much higher cost when submitting their citizenship request.

New Fees Introduced for Temporary Residence Permits (APS)

France will also introduce new charges for certain previously free permits. The Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS) temporary residence permit will now cost €100 for both issuance and renewal.

Currently, applicants do not pay anything for this permit. However, the fee will not apply to certain groups, including:

• Victims of human trafficking
• Individuals under temporary protection

New Fee for Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence

Another change affects residents who want to exchange a foreign driving licence for a French one. This procedure will now cost €40, while it is currently free.

France Immigration Fee Changes From May 1, 2026

Here is a quick overview of the main immigration fee changes France will introduce from May 2026, showing how the current fees compare with the new charges.

Application / Service	Current Fee	New Fee
First-time Residence Permit (standard rate)	€200	€300
First-time Residence Permit (reduced rate – students, seasonal workers, job seekers, family reunification)	€50	€100
Residence Permit Renewal (standard rate)	€200	No change
Residence Permit Renewal (reduced rate)	€50	No change
Visa Regularisation / Long-Stay Visa Acting as Residence Permit	€200	€300
Duplicate Residence Permit or Card Change (address change, replacement card)	€25	€50
French Citizenship Application	€55	€255
APS Temporary Residence Permit (issuance or renewal)	Free	€100
Exchange of Foreign Driving Licence	Free	€40

What This Means for Foreign Workers and Employers

These changes may seem small individually, but together they increase the overall cost of living and working in France for many foreign nationals.

Employers who sponsor international workers may also need to adjust their budgets, especially when hiring new talent from abroad or managing residence permit applications.

For migrants, students, and professionals planning to move to France, the key takeaway is simple: immigration procedures will become more expensive starting May 2026.

Why France Is Raising Immigration Fees

The French government says the new fees are part of a broader effort to increase public revenue and reduce the national deficit.

Another goal is to shift more administrative costs toward applicants rather than relying entirely on public funding.

In practical terms, this means people applying for residence permits, visas, or citizenship will now contribute more toward the administrative costs of processing those applications.