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France announces closure of web portal for post-Brexit residency applications

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
France announces closure of web portal for post-Brexit residency applications
Figurines are place in a circle on the British flag and the European Union flag in a photograph taken in the northern French city of Lille on February 5, 2019, less than 2 months before Britain exits the European Union - Brexit. (Photo by PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP)

The special web portal created to allow Brits living in France to apply for their post-Brexit residency cards will 'permanently close' on October 4th.

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The deadline for Brits who moved to France before the end of the Brexit transition period to apply for residency was extended from June 30th to Thursday, September 30th, and it has now been confirmed that the web portal will close on Monday.

Brits who moved to France before December 31st 2020 benefited from a simplified application process for the crucial carte de séjour residency card - which could be done on the specially created web portal, available in English and French.

French authorities have now confirmed that the portal "will permanently close on October 4th".

The previous deadline to submit applications had been June 30th, but French authorities extended this to allow an extra three months for anyone who had not been able to submit their application in time.

Figures from the Interior Ministry show that more than 5,000 applications were received during this extension period.

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READ ALSO What happens to Brits in France who don't register for residency before the Brexit deadline?

Once the portal closes, the only applications accepted from Brits under the Withdrawal Agreement will be:

  • Those living in France before December 31st 2020 who turn 18 after October 4th (minors are not required to have a carte de séjour)
  • Family members or spouses of Brits who were living in France before December 31st 2020
  • Brits who were living in France before December 31st 2020 and who have exceptional (force majeure) reasons for not submitting their applications before the deadline date

These applications will have to be made directly to local préfectures, rather than online

All other applications must be made before this date, and this applies to all Brits who moved to France before December 30th 2020, including

  • Those married to a French or European national
  • Those who have been here a long time
  • Those who previously had a European carte de séjour. Only residency cards issued since 2019 are valid. People who have cards issued before 2019 need to swap them for the new Withdrawal Agreement card
  • Non-Brits whose residency rights in France derive from a British partner, spouse or family member eg someone in France on a spouse visa as the spouse of a UK national

The only exception is Brits who have dual nationality and have a French or other EU nation passport, although they can apply for the new residency card if they wish.

For the full details of how to apply, click HERE.

Brits who moved to France after December 30th 2020 need to follow the new post-Brexit process, which involves getting a visa - full details HERE.

The deadline to be in possession of the carte de séjour has also been extended - until January 1st 2022 - to allow préfectures time to process the roughly 10,000 applications that are still outstanding.

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