Is it too late to apply for French residency?
Is it too late to apply for French residency under the Withdrawal Agreement?
If you are resident in France, there is still time to apply for your WARP card (Withdrawal Agreement Residence Permit) up until the end of June 2021. If you want to have the legal right to live permanently in France after this date, obtaining a WARP is an obligation – it is not optional. If you are not resident in France, you must establish your permanent residency before the 31 December 2020 deadline.
After 31 December, non-EU/EEA nationals face less favourable treatment, and a Visa will be required to enter France for only 90 days in any one 180 days. Non-EU/EEA nationals wishing to move to France will have to go through a complex immigration process.
If you are a British citizen planning to move to France in 2021, these are the steps you will have to undertake:
You must apply to the French Consulate in London for a long-stay visa before you leave the UK.
On arrival, you will need to have your long-stay visa validated as a residence permit within 3 months (or in some cases apply for a residence permit within 2 months).
Holding a residence permit (or visa validated as a residence permit) is compulsory.
There are various different categories of residence permits, each with its own set of conditions e.g., not economically active, self-employed and employed.
If you require help with processing your WARP application or indeed moving to France in 2021, the team at Patsy Valentin are on hand to provide guidance and support. We provide a comprehensive hand-holding service in France.