France Visa Free group lobbies UK MPs over 90/180 days rule
The group helped push French authorities for an automatic visa for British second-home owners last year
France Visa Free founder Steven Jolly says he wants "to secure a fair, reciprocal and inclusive mobility agreement with the EU
Leonid Sorokin / Shutterstock / Steven Jolly
Members of the ‘France Visa Free’ Facebook group, who helped to push last year for an automatic visa for British second-home owners, are now lobbying UK MPs about Labour’s hoped-for ‘EU reset’.
The automatic visa was among the immigration law amendments removed at the last minute by the Conseil constitutionnel, which ruled it was insufficiently related to the original law.
The group is asking MPs to raise the issue of the 90/180 days rule with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other ministers.
Founder Steven Jolly said they are asking them to “seek to secure a fair, reciprocal and inclusive mobility agreement with the EU that provides for a six-month visa waiver in both directions”.
Last year, many French MPs and senators agreed with easier visiting rights for British second-home owners on grounds that they contribute to the local economies of communes where they have homes, and many bought pre-Brexit under more flexible rules.
The campaigners are also inviting the British co-chair of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) to raise the matter in its discussions. The PPA, created by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), is for MPs and MEPs to discuss mutual areas of interest.
The UK Tourism Alliance has already drawn attention to the fact that an automatic review of the TCA will start in 2026, which will be an opportunity to discuss how the post-Brexit arrangements are working.
It says a review of the 90/180 days rule would be welcome as it “restricts UK residents”, in particular those with EU second homes and businesses who need staff to travel to the EU for work.
The Road Haulage Association, meanwhile, says the rule is “stifling UK business” as it restricts lorry drivers who regularly travel to the EU.
UK MP Mark Pritchard has already asked the minister for the Cabinet Office if he will discuss the merits of a ‘six-month visa waiver scheme’ to replace the 90/180-days rule.
Cabinet Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, in his answer, said the UK and EU have different visa-waiver arrangements: UK immigration law allows visa-waiver visitors such as EU citizens to come for up to six months, while 90/180 days is standard for visa-waiver visitors to the EU.
However, “the UK government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals”.
For more information, visit the France Visa Free Facebook group here.
