What Interior Ministry instructions mean for retirees applying for French citizenship, challenging your property tax bill, and staying safe from mosquitoes… Plus wine terms and why it looks like autumn in parts of France already
In recent weeks, we’ve been investigating a shift in French citizenship application rules after British pensioners who have made their home here spoke of their disappointment at being rejected for French citizenship because of a lack of ‘French income’.
The Interior Ministry has confirmed to The Local that unwitting easy-target retirees with foreign pensions are no longer eligible for citizenship because of a ‘change in rules’ ordered by ambitious Elysée-focused minister Bruno Retailleau who’s busily proving his tough stance on immigration. So, we dug a bit deeper…
Analysis: Has France really made it impossible for retirees to get citizenship?
For those happy few who have gained French citizenship – or another EU nation, permitting them freedom of movement – one more administrative question remains. What do you need to do with the carte de séjour residency card that you no longer require?
Reader question: Do I need to renew my carte de séjour if I obtain EU citizenship?
As temperatures rise in Europe, tiger mosquitoes that were once found in warmer, more humid climates have made their way north and are now endemic in almost all regions of France.
Cases of ‘local or indigenous’ (autochtone) mosquito-borne illnesses – meaning those contracted via mosquito bites received in France – are still relatively rare, but they are becoming more common. So, how can you avoid mosquito-borne illnesses?
How to protect yourself from mosquito-borne illnesses in France
Advertisement
Autumn in France is property tax time, and many people will notice an increase in property tax bills this year as local authorities put up rates – but if you think the price hike is too much, or you have been sent a bill in error, here’s how you can challenge it.
How to challenge your 2025 French property tax bills
Winemakers in many areas of France have already started their annual harvest and supermarkets are prepping for their annual foire aux vins as they await this year’s wines. That means this is the perfect time to brush on your French wine terms and phrases, so you sound like you know what you’re talking about when picking up some bargains for Christmas in September…
13 French wine terms to make you sound like an expert
Take a walk through the streets of Paris or Bordeaux, or one of the southern French forests, and you’ll notice a distinctly autumnal sight – leaves falling from the trees and piles of dead leaves on the ground. Let us introduce you to faux automne (false autumn), an increasingly common natural phenomenon in France.
Why does it look like autumn in France already?