Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

Subscribe via RSS ↗ · 7 entries shown

Country All countriesAQAntarcticaAUAustraliaBRBrazilCACanadaCNChina (Mainland)EGEgyptFRFranceDEGermanyHKHong KongIEIrelandITItalyJPJapanMXMexicoMAMoroccoNLNetherlandsNZNew ZealandPTPortugalSGSingaporeZASouth AfricaKRSouth KoreaESSpainAEUnited Arab EmiratesGBUnited KingdomUSUnited States
Category All categoriesVisa & immigrationResidencyCitizenshipTaxationLabourHousingHealthcareOther
In force 1 Jan 2026
Announced Residency

A2-level French required for most multi-year residence permits

From 1 January 2026, applicants for most multi-year residence permits must demonstrate A2-level French language proficiency (previously only A1 was required for some categories). The requirement rises to B1 for permanent residency and B2 for naturalisation. Talent permit holders are exempt from the A2 requirement but not from the higher thresholds for naturalisation.

Who it affects: Non-EU applicants to multi-year residence permits from 1 January 2026, except Talent permit holders.

Légifrance — French Official Legal Publication ↗ · Service-Public.fr — Official administrative portal ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Dec 2024
In force Residency

Republican Engagement Contract mandatory for first residence permits

From December 2024, applicants for a first multi-year residence permit must sign the Republican Engagement Contract, committing to respect "the principles of the Republic" (laïcité, equality, freedom of expression, etc.). Breach can ground residence-permit refusal or revocation. Criticised by civil-society organisations as introducing a vague and potentially arbitrary test.

Who it affects: All new applicants to multi-year residence permits from December 2024.

Légifrance — French Official Legal Publication ↗ · Ministère de l'Intérieur ↗ · Service-Public.fr — Official administrative portal ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Sept 2024
In force Residency

Exceptional regularisation for workers in shortage occupations

Law 2024-42 created a time-limited, exceptional regularisation route (admission exceptionnelle au séjour) for non-EU workers without legal status who have been employed for at least 12 months in officially-recognised shortage occupations (métiers en tension) and have been in France for at least three years. Implementing decree issued August 2024; the route runs as an experiment through end-2026.

Who it affects: Non-EU workers in irregular status employed in French shortage-occupation sectors.

Légifrance — French Official Legal Publication ↗ · Ministère de l'Intérieur ↗ · Service-Public.fr — Official administrative portal ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2024
In force Residency

OFII digital integration platform (Forum Réfugiés) rolled out

The French immigration and integration office (OFII) launched a new digital platform from July 2024 to manage the Contrat d'Intégration Républicaine (CIR) — the mandatory integration contract for new residents. Replaces paper-based booking and progress tracking for French-language and civic-education courses.

Who it affects: New non-EU residents subject to the CIR (most non-Talent permit holders).

OFII — Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration ↗ · Service-Public.fr — Official administrative portal ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2024
In force Residency

Asylum fast-track procedure expanded

Law 2024-42 expanded the scope of the accelerated asylum procedure (procédure accélérée) to include applicants from a wider set of safe countries of origin, those posing a public-order threat, and re-applications following negative first decisions. OFPRA (French asylum agency) decision timelines targeted at 15 days under this route. Contested in administrative courts; key provisions remain in force.

Who it affects: Asylum applicants from designated safe countries or under fast-track triggers.

Légifrance — French Official Legal Publication ↗ · Ministère de l'Intérieur ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2024
In force Residency

Family reunification income and language conditions tightened

Income conditions for family reunification were raised from the SMIC to the SMIC plus a margin indexed to household size. Language requirement for accompanying family members raised from A1 to A2. Minimum prior residence for the French-resident sponsor remains 18 months. Changes were contested by associations representing migrant families but were upheld in their core elements.

Who it affects: Non-EU residents seeking to bring family members to France.

Légifrance — French Official Legal Publication ↗ · OFII — Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration ↗ · Service-Public.fr — Official administrative portal ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 26 Jan 2024
In force Residency

Loi Immigration (Law 2024-42) enacted — largest reform in a decade

Law 2024-42 "pour contrôler l'immigration, améliorer l'intégration" received the Constitutional Council's partial validation on 25 January 2024 and was promulgated on 26 January 2024. The law reshaped residence-permit categories, created the Talent permit framework, strengthened integration obligations (including the Republican Engagement Contract), lengthened the carte de résident residency condition from 5 to 7 years, and introduced a dedicated residence permit for non-EU medical professionals (PADHUE).

Who it affects: All non-EU applicants to French residence permits, naturalisation, and family reunification.

Légifrance — French Official Legal Publication ↗ · Gouvernement.fr ↗ · Ministère de l'Intérieur ↗ · verified 2026-04-19