Fees for residence and citizenship rise

France raised several immigration fees under the 2026 Finance Law, with the new rates taking effect May 1. The biggest jump is for citizenship applications, which now cost €255 ($290) instead of €55 ($63). First-time residence permits now run €350 ($398) at the standard rate or €150 ($171) at the reduced rate, according to the government.

The same fee hike covers renewals, duplicates and some temporary stays. Long-stay visa validation now costs €300 ($341) standard or €100 ($114) reduced, while provisional stay documents now cost €100 ($114). A new €40 ($45) fee for foreign driving-license exchanges starts May 4.

Who pays more

Expats, digital nomads, retirees and long-term residents are the main groups facing the higher costs. That includes people filing for a first card, renewing a permit, changing status or applying for naturalization.

Students, seasonal workers, job seekers, au pairs and family reunification applicants still get reduced rates, but their costs rose too. Some groups, including refugees, Brexit Withdrawal Agreement holders and retiree-card holders, are exempt, along with victims of trafficking and people under temporary protection for certain procedures.

What applicants need to do

The process itself hasn’t changed. Applicants still pay after approval, usually by tax stamp or online once they get an SMS notice from the prefecture or another authority.

The higher fees apply to applications received or interviews held after May 1. That means timing matters for anyone waiting on a filing, a validation or an appointment. Read our full France guide for the complete picture and check our visa updates for more policy changes.