France raised residence permit and naturalisation fees on 1 May 2026
France increased several immigration fees from 1 May 2026. If you are budgeting for a residence permit or a naturalisation application, the new amounts matter.
Residence permit fees
According to published summaries of the change:
- First issue of a residence permit (such as a temporary residence card or resident card), standard rate: tax up from EUR 200 to EUR 300.
- Reduced rate for students, seasonal workers and family reunification: up from EUR 50 to EUR 100.
- Renewal tax: unchanged.
- Stamp duty on issuance, renewal, duplicates and changes: up from EUR 25 to EUR 50.
- Temporary authorisation of stay (APS): previously free, now EUR 100.
The new amounts apply to permits where the decision is made from 1 May 2026.
Naturalisation
The stamp duty on an application for naturalisation, reinstatement or declaration of acquisition rose from EUR 55 to EUR 255. Reduced or waived amounts apply in some overseas territories.
Other changes mentioned
A new EUR 40 charge was reported for exchanging a non-EU driving licence for a French one.
Who is exempt
Exemptions reportedly cover EU/EEA/Swiss and Andorran nationals and their qualifying family members, beneficiaries of the UK withdrawal agreement, certain victims of trafficking or domestic violence, and some others. Algerian nationals are covered by a bilateral agreement, so the increases apply only to permits outside it.
How to budget
- Add the visa fee (often around EUR 99 for long-stay visas) to the post-arrival permit tax and stamp duty.
- Check whether your category uses the standard or reduced rate.
- Keep payment receipts. Stamps are bought online and attached to your file.
Why the numbers can vary
Multiple tax and stamp components are involved, and categories differ. The most reliable figure for your case is the one on the official France-Visas or Service-Public pages on the day you pay.
Visa Ray is a rule-based reference tool, not a law firm. Rules and fees change, so always confirm current figures with the official government source before you apply. You can run a free assessment on Visa Ray to see which pathways fit your profile.