What is changing for daily life in France this December?

Tax deadlines, gas prices, university applications and increases in doctors’ fees are among key points to look out for in daily life in December. 

This will be a quiet month for administrative changes with many more due to start in the new year - but there are still several coming up. 

Expected changes in January will include many from the 2025 budget, assuming that the bill is passed prior to December 31. 

Read more: French far right threatens to vote for dissolution ‘if budget cuts spending power’

Rise to €30 for doctor fees 

The cost of an in-person medical appointment with a GP will rise to €30 from December 22. 

It was initially thought this would not affect the 70% amount that social security reimburses for an appointment (most of the remaining 30% can be covered by top up mutuelle insurance if the patient has one). However, the government has announced plans to reduce this to 65% from next year, which is linked to the social security finance law that must be voted on by the end of 2024.

Appointment costs with certain specialists will also increase in December with some rising again in July 2025. 

Read more: When are doctor fees rising in France and will reimbursement be affected?

Gas price increase 

The benchmark price for gas as set by the Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE) will increase in December by around 2.5%. 

This is expected to have an effect on gas bills as the option for a regulated gas bill in France will fall away.

It is the sixth time this year that it has risen.

Property tax deadlines 

Deadlines to pay the taxe d’habitation (property tax for second-homes) fall on December 16 for non-online payments and December 21 for online payments. 

December 15 is also the deadline to request that future property taxes (both taxe d’habitation and the taxe foncière) should be payable in 10 monthly instalments from January to October. 

If you miss this but apply by December 31 the payments will be split into nine instalments (February - October) with February’s payment increased so as to ‘catch up’ for January.

Finally, December 31 is the final deadline for certain eligible low-income households to apply for plafonnement (a cap) on their taxe foncière bill from 2023.

Read more: Is it possible to apply for a cap on my French property tax bill?

Income tax change deadlines

Corrections to this spring’s income tax declaration (for 2023 income) can be made online until December 4, after which the portal will close. 

Read more: How to correct an error in French tax income declaration

Barrier-free Normandy motorway 

Works to make the A13 fully toll-barrier free should be finished by the end of December. 

The changes would see the A13, which runs between Normandy and Paris, the longest and busiest motorway in France so far to remove its physical toll booths. The booths will be replaced by an automatic system that reads vehicle numberplates. 

The A14 motorway which links the A13 to the west of Paris made the switch earlier this year. 

Read more: Works underway to complete Normandy motorway's barrier-free toll system

Read more: How to pay on French barrier-free motorways

Christmas bonus 

The prime de Noël, a one-off annual bonus paid by the Caf family benefits offices to lower-income households, will be issued on December 17. 

It was originally planned for December 13, but the government announced at the end of November a slightly later payment date. 

Read more: France’s 2024 Christmas bonus: who is eligible and how much is it?

University applications

The calendar for those looking to study at a higher education level in France in 2025 will be available on government site Parcoursup from December 18 onwards. 

It will include information on courses offered by universities and higher education facilities as well as open days to visit universities.

Updated information relating to previous years applications such as the level of applicants enrolled, their post-study employment history etc will be available in 2025,.

Foreign student deadline 

Students outside of the EU/EEA/Swiss area looking to study at undergraduate level in France have until December 15 to apply. 

Hospitality staff wage increase 

Hotel and restaurant staff will see minimum wages increase across the board. 

Notably, this includes a minimum hourly wage for the lowest level workers (minimum conventionnel de l’échelon 1 du niveau I) of €12 gross per hour, higher than the €11.88 equivalent figure of the French minimum wage.