Changes on the Horizon: French law may offer long-stay visas to UK property owners

A recent legislative development in France aims to address the concerns of UK citizens who own second homes in the country post-Brexit.

The Senate and National Assembly in Paris have jointly approved a measure to automatically provide long-stay visas to British property owners, responding to the concerns raised by French politicians representing areas with a notable number of UK-owned properties.

The proposed law seeks to offer British second-home owners the flexibility to spend an extended period in France without being constrained by the 90-day limit imposed on British visitors in the Schengen Area. Since the Brexit vote, the UK government negotiated a restriction of 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area, covering most of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

The rule affecting all "third-country nations" has led some British property owners to choose extended stays in countries like Egypt, as they cannot legally remain in their French homes beyond the 90-day threshold. The French government emphasises that UK citizens staying in France for more than 90 days, regardless of the purpose, will need a long-stay visa.

Obtaining visas for extended stays in France has proven to be a time-consuming, challenging, and costly process. Advocates from France have applauded recent developments, suggesting that the implementation of automatic long-stay visas is a fair and equitable approach. This sentiment is particularly relevant when considering that French citizens can spend up to six months per visit in the UK without property ownership.

In addition to these positive steps, the UK government has revised its outright ban on French visitors using ID cards, specifically addressing challenges faced by educational visits from the EU. As a result, school groups from French schools will soon have the option to visit Britain using identity cards instead of passports.

 

Contact:

Alasdair Hedley
Head of International