Living in France Q&A: Residency Rights After Brexit

Every month the UK government hosts a Facebook Q&A, letting British nationals living in France, or planning to do so, ask questions about what will happen with their rights, access to healthcare, money and family lives after Brexit. Here are some of those questions, and their answers. Some questions and answers have been edited for length or clarity. The full set of questions and their answers can be found here.

I moved to France a few months ago to live with my partner. I’m currently unemployed and living off savings. I’m completely confused as to what steps I need to take to remain in France. I would like some information on which steps I need to take to remain living here. I am currently learning french and hoping once my skills improve I can look for employment. Could you also advise do I need to get a visa? If so what kind, and how do I go about starting this process?

At the moment you do not need a Carte De Sejour or a visa. All UK nationals lawfully residing in France by 1 January 2021 can stay living and working here, accessing public services and benefits as now. You will, however, have to apply for a residence permit before 1 July 2021. The French government will open a new residency application website in July 2020 to help you do this. We are waiting for the French authorities to confirm exactly what criteria and supporting documents they will require for the new residency application, although the Withdrawal Agreement means it should be straightforward and we expect they will take a flexible approach.

We will update our Living in Guide when more information is available. In the meantime, we’d suggest that you and your partner talk to your local CPAM office about what healthcare options are available to you as a resident. This link may be helpful.

My daughter has just got her CDS from Lille but despite living in France, having a mortgage and a job since 2003 she only got ONE year. What can she do? We were told appealing is no good.

I can appreciate that it is frustrating, but at the moment your daughter doesn’t need a CDS. It is worth noting, that whatever the validity of her carte de séjour, as a UK national living in France she will need to apply for a new residence permit under the Withdrawal Agreement before 1 July 2021. She will be able to apply online via a new residency portal which will open in July 2020. Despite not having a card with a longer validity now, she will be able to provide proof which may enable her to get a residence permit with a permanent right in the new WA system. Please see our Living in France Guide for more detail.

We have lived in France for 17 years, we applied for our Carte de Sejour at the prefecture in La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime in February 2019 and received our récépisse and were told we would receive a message when our CDS was ready to collect. They then stopped issuing the CDS until Brexit was done. We would like to know if we have to reapply or if we will be issued our CDS on the basis of our original application. Can you help?

We are raising this issue with the French authorities. Unfortunately, as it stands at the moment, you will need to make a fresh application for a new residence permit under the Withdrawal Agreement before 1 July 2021. You will be able to apply online from July 2020 via a new residency portal. We are waiting for the French authorities to confirm exactly what criteria and supporting documents they will require for the new residency application, although the Withdrawal Agreement means it should be straightforward and we expect they will take a flexible approach. Please keep an eye on our Living in France Guide for updates. Hope this helps.