France has quietly updated Title III of its Code de l’entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d’asile (CESEDA), the section that governs checks at external and internal frontiers and refusals of entry. The consolidated version that entered into force on 25 July 2026 transposes the last pieces of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum adopted in May 2024. Among the key changes is an explicit reference to the new EU Regulations 2024/1348 and 2024/1356 governing the screening of third-country nationals at Schengen borders. French border guards are now empowered to apply the common screening questionnaire and to consult the upgraded Eurodac database before allowing or refusing entry. For business travellers the most visible novelty is the possibility of temporary re-introduction of controls at France’s land borders under streamlined procedures. Companies moving staff across the Franco-German or Franco-Belgian borders during large events or security alerts may therefore face spot passport checks and must ensure that employees carry proof of right to stay and work. The decree also tightens carriers’ liability: airlines and ferry operators that transport an inadmissible passenger must repatriate the individual "without delay" and may be fined. Immigration lawyers point out that the French text mirrors the EU provisions on accelerated asylum at the border, meaning that certain applicants may see their protection claim processed while still in the transit zone. Although the measure mostly targets irregular arrivals by air and sea, it could affect high-mobility professionals whose travel documents raise doubts. Employers are advised to review their mobility compliance policies, especially for assignees who hold passports from newly visa-required jurisdictions. Finally, the update cross-references France’s forthcoming Entry/Exit System (EES), expected to go live in October 2026. Once operational, every third-country national—whether visa-required or visa-exempt—will have fingerprints and a facial image captured at first entry, creating another layer of compliance for multi-country business trips.
Source: Legifrance
