Senate Refreshes Immigration Bill as France Prepares to Transpose EU Migration & Asylum Pact
Paris Opens IFTM 2026 Trade Show with Spotlight on Sustainable Mobility and Uzbekistan
French MP Questions Possible EU-Wide Visa Suspension for Georgian Citizens
Latest News
SNCF Rolls Out Mandatory E-Invoicing for Business Travellers from 15 September
From today all SNCF business-classed bookings require a Company Code, triggering automatic e-invoices compliant with France’s VAT rules. Mobility teams gain faster reimbursement cycles but must ensure FCE codes are created and maintained for all entities.
Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stay for French Nationals to 30 Days Starting Today
As of 15 September 2026, French visitors to Thailand can stay visa-free only 30 days instead of 60. Companies must adjust travel and assignment lengths, obtain visas for longer stays, and ensure staff avoid frequent land-border ‘visa runs’.
Record €80 Billion Inbound Tourism Windfall as France Welcomes More Visitors than Ever
France expects to earn a record €80 billion from foreign tourists in 2026, an 8 % jump over last year, even as domestic travellers cut back. The figures, unveiled at the IFTM trade show, underline the resilience of inbound demand and flag tighter capacity and higher costs for corporate travel planners.
Record Inbound Tourism & IFTM Top Resa Kick-Off Mark France’s Travel Rebound
At the IFTM Top Resa trade show in Paris, France reported a 5.4 % jump in foreign visitor arrivals and encouraging winter bookings, even as French residents cut back on travel. The numbers confirm France’s resilience as Europe’s top destination and signal improving conditions for corporate meetings and incentive planners. The government stressed that ongoing internal Schengen border controls will not hinder airport arrivals, but advised companies to prepare for forthcoming EES checks.
Record Foreign Visitor Surge Sets New High as Domestic French Tourism Softens
Tourism Minister Serge Papin reported record international arrivals and €80 bn in projected 2026 revenues, even as domestic French holiday-making slipped 4-5 % over the summer. The split market will tighten accommodation supply in key regions and may create visa-processing stress for employers that rely on foreign seasonal staff.
Eurostar Flags Week-Long Engineering Delays on French Network; Advises Extra Buffer Time
Eurostar warns of engineering-related delays on French tracks through 20 September and urges passengers to arrive early as border checks intensify. Corporate travellers on high-demand Paris-London-Brussels routes should build in buffer time, book flexible tickets and monitor daily alerts to mitigate meeting disruptions.
EU grants France and eight other Schengen states extra leeway on EES biometric checks
On 14 September, the European Commission authorised France and eight other Schengen members to keep applying a ‘light’ version of the Entry/Exit System, waiving mandatory biometric capture when queues build up. The move averts expected bottlenecks at Paris-CDG and other French airports but underscores ongoing technical delays. Companies should still plan for sporadic disruptions until full EES deployment is achieved.
EU grants France more time to roll-out full EES biometric checks
On 14 September the European Commission informally allowed France and eight other states to keep postponing mandatory biometric capture under the Schengen Entry/Exit System. The reprieve avoids bottlenecks at French airports and Channel ports but means companies must still prepare for a hard switch-on later in the year.
Asian media highlight fresh EES delay and its impact on Korean and Japanese business travellers to France
South-Korean broadcaster SBS revealed on 14 September that Brussels has pushed back strict biometric checks for France and eight peers, easing concerns for Korean and Japanese executives flying to French trade fairs. The delay should shorten queues but does not change visa-overstay or ETIAS requirements.
Channel biometric border checks postponed again, easing pressure on Dover–Calais crossings
Technical glitches have forced France to delay the start of full biometric border checks at Dover and Calais that were pencilled in for 7 September. The 14 September announcement averts immediate congestion for freight and coach traffic but signals that carriers must continue preparing for an eventual hard launch.
EasyJet’s French pilots postpone 13–14 September strike after talks progress
On 14 September easyJet’s French pilots’ union (SNPL) said it was suspending a planned 13–14 September strike and rescheduling it to 24–25 September after management offered new roster stability measures. The move averts immediate disruption yet keeps the threat alive, so business-travel programmes should stay on alert.
Paris airports warn of two-hour queues as EES stress-tests continue
EUROCONTROL’s 14 September update warns that Entry/Exit System rehearsals at Paris-CDG could push passport-control waits up to two hours. Airlines and airport operator ADP are deploying staff and staggered boarding to cushion the impact, but travellers with tight connections should build in buffers.
EU Visa Working Party meets in Brussels with France pushing for fully digital Schengen visa by 2028
At the 14 September EU Visa Working Party, France urged partners to move the Schengen visa fully online by 2028 after a successful remote-application pilot. Faster, paper-free processing could slash lead times for corporate travellers, but funding and data-security questions remain.
French air-traffic controllers lift September strike alert, stabilising flight operations
Industry bulletins circulated 14 September confirm that SNCTA, France’s largest air-traffic-controllers’ union, has withdrawn its September strike threat after reaching a staffing and pay deal with the DGAC. The move eliminates an immediate disruptor for European flight schedules but vigilance remains advisable.
Campus France refreshes online visa-validation guide as record number of international students arrive
Campus France published an updated step-by-step visa-validation manual on 14 September, adding deadline reminders and booking tips to help foreign students—many of them sponsored by employers—avoid status gaps. The tweak targets a record-high intake and should ease prefecture backlogs.
TLScontact rolls out real-time appointment alerts in Beirut as demand for French visas spikes
On 14 September, TLScontact activated an SMS/email alert function for its Beirut visa centre, giving applicants real-time notice when French-visa appointment slots open. The move aims to beat scalpers and help business travellers secure timely meetings amid surging demand.
France issues updated map of SPS border-control posts for live animals and food products
The Agriculture Ministry’s 14 September release of a unified SPS Border Control Post map gives businesses – and relocating staff – a one-stop reference for where live animals and regulated food products can legally enter France. Using the correct post is mandatory, and the new tool should streamline planning.
‘No French ATC strike today’—Wego update reassures corporate flyers
Wego’s 14 September bulletin says no French ATC strikes are planned this week, a relief for companies after a summer of aviation chaos. Travellers can book meetings and connections through French hubs with standard risk buffers.
Traveller reports highlight continued passport-control bottlenecks at Paris-CDG despite biometric waiver
A 14 September Reddit thread detailing 90-minute passport queues at Paris-CDG shows that border congestion persists despite Brussels temporarily waiving biometrics. Poor signage and ad-hoc lane management remain pain points for business travellers.