Taxes, border rules: Dates to note for practical changes in France in April 2025

April 1:  Notaire fees rise from 4.5% to 5% in departments around France, starting in Paris.  

April 2: The UK’s ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) scheme comes into force. It affects non-British/Irish citizens who do not have a prior visa/right to abode in the UK.*

April 5: The first of the spring school holidays begins for Zone B, running from until April 22. Zone A has holidays between April 19 and May 5, And Zone C/Corsica between April 12 and April 28

April 10: Income tax declarations are set to open. Declarants have until mid-May / early June to declare.

April 17: The French rail service SNCF could be hit by a strike between April 17 and June 2, in response to a request from ticket inspectors and in protest at working conditions.

April 21: Easter Monday, a public holiday. Good Friday (April 18) is only a public holiday in the Alsace and Moselle areas.

General reminder

*Applications for the UK’s ETA border security scheme opened for citizens of EU and EEA countries, Switzerland and European microstates from March 5. 

From April 2, nationals of these countries must have obtained prior authorisation before travel to allow them to enter the UK unless they have a visa or right of abode. 

This was already in place for citizens of all other countries that have visa-free access to the UK for short visits. 

Applications cost £10 per person (€12) and must be made online through gov.uk or the UK ETA smartphone app. 

The price is rising to £16 (€19) from April 9. UK and Irish nationals – including people with dual nationality who have a UK or Irish passport – do not need an ETA, but it is required for their EU-nationality family members. 

So, for example, if you are British but have a French wife or husband, or children of any age, they will need an ETA to enter the UK.