Visa delivery policy review ordered by French PM
'France welcomed more than half a million additional immigrants in 2024 - an unprecedented level', said François Bayrou
Prime Minister François Bayrou says that calls to reduce immigration are '"legitimately strong"
LE PICTORIUM Alamy Stock Photo
An interministerial audit of visa-delivery procedures has been demanded by France’s prime minister as part of a review of immigration rules.
Enforcing more orders to leave the territory and boosting a new ‘border force’ were also among immigration action plan items set out at a recent meeting hosted by François Bayrou.
Mr Bayrou called the meeting to fix new immigration policy objectives.
Read more: Letters: France needs immigration to sustain its tax revenue
During the meeting, Mr Bayrou asserted that France in 2024, had “welcomed more than half a million additional immigrants, including almost 160,000 asylum seekers – an unprecedented level”.
Recent Interior Ministry estimates for the past year include:
345,110 first residency cards issued, up 1.5% from 340,019 in 2023 which was the highest figure in recent years apart from 2021 which was artificially inflated by many Britons living in France applying for their first post-Brexit cards.
130,952 ‘first applications’ for asylum (157,947 if requests for files to be re-examined are included), down 9.8% from 2023. Data for recent years show this figure is also lower than 2022 but higher than 2020 or 2021.
Mr Bayrou stated that France’s “capacity to welcome newcomers is not sufficient to face up to the integration requirements which result from these migration rates”.
Problems also occur when foreign people commit crimes in France, he said. “In this context, the expectations of our compatriots in favour of more control over migration flows are, legitimately, strong”.
Measures announced included:
An interministerial audit of policies on the delivery of visas, which France issued more of than any other European country; 2.8million in 2024. This figure included 75% of short-stay tourist visas plus 16% for those coming to work, and is less than pre-Covid levels, being comparable to 2014.
An experimental ‘border force’ created in 2023 and deployed notably at the border with Italy, will be deployed across the country. Members are drawn from police, gendarmes, customs officers and soldiers and – if needed – reserve volunteers.
A national ‘special action plan’ to increase the number of OQTF – orders for a person lacking legal residency status to leave France – that are executed and increased facilities for holding people deemed dangerous who are awaiting expulsion.
An ‘ambitious’ revision of laws allowing for illegal immigrants to be sent back to countries of origin, including allowing for ‘immediate execution’ of OQTF.
Due to the “unbearable” situation on the Channel coast, talks on better illegal migration cooperation with the UK
The fight against illegal immigration will be a diplomatic priority; for example, delivery of visas to a country’s nationals will take account of its cooperation, particularly with regard to taking back its expelled citizens. Algeria, in particular, is targeted.
Workers in certain jobs might gain residency
A new list of métiers en tension is being finalised between the government and employers’ bodies.
This relates to work sectors with insufficient supply, in which workers can apply for a residency card even if they are in an ‘irregular’ residency situation.
The employee needs to have worked in France for at least 12 months out of the previous 24, and have lived in France for three years.
The existing list dated from 2021, apart from an update in 2024 to add more agricultural jobs. It will now be updated annually.
There are regional variations for jobs included but in all regions farmers, home-help workers, cooks and cleaners are included, as well as building trades and many hotel and restaurant jobs.
