A long-running dispute over the length of time non-EU citizens can spend in France has resurfaced in the Senate—this time framed as a public-safety issue rather than a Brexit grievance. In a written question published on 21 September 2026, centre-right senator Lauriane Josende urged Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to create either a dedicated permit or a lighter application process allowing UK nationals who own property in France to stay longer than the standard 90 days in any 180-day period. Josende argues that the current six-month temporary long-stay (VLS-T) visa is ill-suited to owners who need to carry out mandatory “débroussaillage” (undergrowth clearance) before France’s summer fire season. The record 5 000-hectare Trévillach blaze in July—much of it fuelled by uncleared private land—has made vegetation management a priority for local authorities. Yet many Britons, she writes, have exhausted their 90-day Schengen allowance by the time summer deadlines expire, and face weeks-long waits for a consular appointment at one of only three UK visa-application centres. While Parliament passed an “automatic visa” amendment for second-home owners in 2024, it was struck down on procedural grounds by the Conseil Constitutionnel. The senator stresses that nothing in French law prevents a tailored visa: the question is administrative will. She floats options ranging from a multi-entry pass valid for several years to a streamlined online renewal of the existing VLS-T, eliminating the six-month cooling-off period between visas. For relocation managers and real-estate professionals, the proposal would remove a persistent pain-point that has deterred some UK buyers since Brexit. Insurance firms, estate agents and fire-safety contractors would gain more predictable access to clients. Conversely, the Interior Ministry must weigh security screening workloads and reciprocity with the UK’s own Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. Even if the government declines to legislate, Josende’s intervention keeps property-linked mobility on the policy agenda ahead of France’s 2027 presidential race. Companies with expatriate staff who own French holiday homes should watch the minister’s formal response—expected within six weeks—and be ready to adjust immigration-compliance advice accordingly.
Source: The Connexion
