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Who are the Brits in France who have not yet applied for post-Brexit residency?

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
Who are the Brits in France who have not yet applied for post-Brexit residency?
Une employée de la Préfecture de Police de Paris (D) remplit le dossier de demande de titre de séjour d'une jeune femme colombienne, le 21 septembre 2007 à Paris. Le président Nicolas Sarkozy s'est clairement prononcé le 20 septembre 2007 en faveur de quotas d'immigration afin de limiter le nombre d'étrangers accueillis chaque année sur le territoire français. (Photo by THOMAS COEX / AFP)

From fear of rejection to a simple misunderstanding, a new survey has revealed the different reasons why a number of British nationals living in France have not yet applied for post-Brexit residency, even as the deadline looms.

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British nationals living in France are facing a big deadline to apply for post-Brexit residency at 11:59 pm on June 30th 2021. Those who fail to apply risk losing local healthcare, employment and other rights when the new permit becomes compulsory from October 1st 2021. 
 
France has the highest number of British nationals vulnerable to a loss of rights.
 
According to the British Embassy, recent figures suggested some 135,000 out of 148,3000 Brits have applied for post-Brexit residency, leaving 13,300 at risk. Information about the application process can be found HERE.
 
A new joint survey by RIFT (Remain in France Together), a group supporting the rights of British people living and working in France, and the British embassy revealed the different reasons why people have not yet applied.
 
Firstly, there are those who are nervous about being rejected. One of the issues is that the conditions for legal residency in France is that the person has sufficient resources.
 

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This has caused a certain amount of consternation among those living on meagre resources in France, but there is no evidence (yet) to suggest Brits are being turned down because of a lack of incomings.
 
The Local understands that out of the tens of thousands who have applied there have only been handful of refusals and they were mainly down to serious criminality on part of the applicant. However no official statistics have been released.
 
 
However, failing to apply on time could create more problems, as you will need "reasonable grounds" for having missing the deadline. Those of have applied for residency and been turned down have the right to appeal the decision - full details HERE.
 
There are others who simply still don't know they need to apply.

Rights groups in France and the British Embassy have long been concerned about those Brits living off the radar in the country, who still might not be aware of the bureaucratic hoops they now need to jump through thanks to Brexit.

Even to this day The Local receives emails from people unsure whether they need to apply.

There has been a desperate communication drive by the British embassy, resident groups and campaigners to get the word out. However, campaigners say not enough has been done to raise awareness. More information can be found HERE.

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All British nationals who were resident in France before December 31st, 2020 are required to apply for the residency permit known as a carte de séjour – even people who have been here a long time, who are married to a French person or who previously had a residency card.

It also applies to people who already hold a European carte de séjour, are in the process of applying for a French nationality, or are married or PACSed to French or other EU nationals.

The only group who don’t have to apply are Brits who have already obtained dual nationality with an EU country, although they may apply if they wish. Children under 18 do not need to apply.

Other respondents said they haven't applied because they didn't know how to apply or they need help with the application process. You can get help HERE.
 
 
There were also Britons living in France who are simply leaving it until the last minute, but do intend to apply before the deadline on June 30th.
 
Finally, a large part of respondents are relying on their dual nationality (UK/EU member state), and therefore do not need to apply, though they can if they wish.
 
 
 
 
According to British in Europe, an organisation campaigning for the rights of UK citizens in the EU, there are five key groups of British nationals in France that are at risk of falling through the cracks:
 
- Those who know what they need to do but haven't got round to sorting out their paperwork to apply yet.
- The elderly or vulnerable who are being cared for, and who have very little access to internet and social media.
- Younger adults who have grown up in France and are fully integrated in French families who believe their EU spouse/kids mean they do not nee to apply.
- People who have lived here for decades, often in French families and who may have residency permits - some of whom don't identify as British.
- Third country national family members who rely on a UK national for residency rights.
 
 

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Anonymous 2021/06/30 17:17
I can help with paperwork / administration Française. Si vous ne comprenez pas le français de l’administration, demandez moi. Experte dans la paperasserie. If you don’t speak/understand French ask me! www.FrenchwithSimone.com
Anonymous 2021/06/25 10:50
You state that those in the process of applying for French nationality need to apply for the carte de séjour. What if you have a dossier/référence number for your application for nationality and the application is quite far along and you are just awaiting the call for the interview?
  • Anonymous 2021/09/23 16:29
    Hi, If you are not a French citizen by September 30th (and the application process for citizenship on average takes 18 months to 2 years) you will need a carte de séjour. A dossier or reference number for a citizenship application is not proof of your right to residency
Anonymous 2021/06/24 16:09
I know exactly zero people out of dozens who applied in good time who haven’t got their cards yet. Funny how these things work.....
Anonymous 2021/06/19 12:56
According to some at the Anthony prefecture some Brits are arrogant thinking the can stay whatever happens.
Anonymous 2021/06/19 12:38
I have concerns for people who have made applications, received attestation and await contact from préfecture. I know 3 people who chased up and were told there was no dossier. They had to apply a second time. Two other people were told that they had not replied to an email. They had not received the email and are technology competent. So 5 errors out of 12 people that I know have applied.

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